Nic Loves Daniel Truhitte!

I was in love with Rolfe from
"The Sound of Music." Hardcore.

I was around 6 in the early 80's, and I remember watching it on TV with my family.

I'm sure my father saw the shimmer in my eye. But I'm sure he was thinking I wished to be a puppeteer in "The Lonely Goatherd."

Nope, dad. 'Cuz in my prepubescent mind, I was slowly sticking my hands down Rolfe's lederhosen.

Yes, I'm painfully aware my first gay crush is from a musical. And yes, he turned out to be a Nazi. But that's only because Leisl didn't love him right.

Sure, she was pretty or whatever. But in my mind,
I knew that Rolfe was looking for love that only a man could fulfill. A very, very young man from the cornfields of Ohio...

Sometimes at night, I'd imagine him throwing stones at my window to get my attention. But, alas! The horrid reality was that the rural midwest had very few blond, blue eyed, muscly bicycle-telegram boys.

I don't intend to share this crush with many people, because I'm kind of afraid to admit that deep down inside: I really DO like musicals and they really DID shape my life.

Nic - Chicago, IL
__________________________________________________

Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - BornThisWayBlog.com

Shannon Loves Ralph Macchio!

My first gay crush was Ralph Macchio
in "The Karate Kid" movie.

He played a young man named Daniel Larusso, who experienced bullying, for being the new kid in town. And I could relate, as I was picked on and bullied a lot at school.

I was 11-years old, and
it was the first time I was physically attracted to anyone. I also knew since he was a guy too, that made me different.

Being raised in in Tennessee, I didn't even know what the word gay meant. But with my crush, it didn't take me long to realize what I was.

I remember asking my mom to buy me one of his posters, and the weird look on her face. She asked me, "Why do you want a poster of him?" and I replied, "Cause I really like him a lot." I didn't realize then that it was strange to her for me to have those feelings. To me, it just seemed natural.

Thanks for starting this blog and allowing me to share this story. It's important that other young people realize that it's natural to have these feelings, whether you're gay or straight.

Shannon - Phoenix, Arizona
________________________________________

Click here - "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
Click here - "Born This Way Blog""
Click to follow my blog with Bloglovin' Tweet Me!

Jerome Loves Lee Majors!

Lee Majors was my first gay crush!

While Sebastian Cabot as Mr. French, and Patrick Duffy as "The Man From Atlantis" sparked some interest, the sustaining crush fire happened when I first saw Lee Majors in his bionic, superhuman state. With all that running in slow-mo, his open shirt and chest hair revealed, accompanied by cool sound effects.

I was a bit suppressed by a religious upbringing, and didn't know I was gay until I was 34. But looking back, I know he lit that fire. I bought his lunchbox, and started calling myself Steve "Ostin" on my assignments in 2nd grade. 

I was 7-years old.

Maybe it was innocent, as I was so young. But watching Lee Majors in that role for several years, influenced the kind of man that I would come to admire and love:

Heroic, selfless, strong. And, hairy.

Then, while I was still impressionable, he became "The Fall Guy," the life of a Hollywood stuntman.

And he just got hunkier. 

That hairy chest, devil-may-care attitude, and all rough 'n tumble with a cigar.



The show wasn't that well-written, but I suddenly didn't care about the plot.

I may not have known that I was gay, but I knew that I wanted him to be my best friend. And he's become the model for probably all the other men I've ever been interested in.

Jerome - Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
____________________________________________________________________________________

Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - BornThisWayBlog.com

Sean Loves Larry Wilcox!

My first gay crush was Larry Wilcox,
as Officer Jon Baker on "CHiPs."

It was the late 70's, and I was around 7-years old when
I first became mesmerized by his feathered blonde hair and snug-fitting uniform pants.

While most people were in love with his partner Ponch (Erik Estrada), I just couldn't get enough of Jon.

In middle school, "CHiPs" was cancelled. But luckily, every afternoon they ran double
re-runs I could not miss!


Watching them while doing my homework, and drooling over Jon, was my daily routine. And I absolutely hated the seasons after Larry Wilcox left the show.

So by the time I was 12, that obsession pretty
much erased any doubt that I was gay.

Sean - Connecticut
___________________________________________________________________________

Click here: "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - BornThisWayBlog.com

Jamie Loves Parker Stevenson!

My first gay crush?

Parker Stevenson!

Shaun Cassidy was the favored Hardy Boy, but Parker was my man.

He was blonde, beautiful, tall, and more masculine than 'Mr. Da Doo Ron Ron.'

And he looked way better in tight jeans than Pamela Sue Martin ever did...

By the time he got to "Baywatch" - and became Kirstie Alley's "Big One" - he was prime beef.

He joins Lee Majors, John Schneider, and Jameson Parker in my all-time, gay crush hall of fame.



Jamie - Whitehall, OH
_________________________________________


Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - BornThisWayBlog.com

Ed Loves Kirk Cameron!

My first gay crush was Kirk Cameron on "Growing Pains."

And I guess I'm really ashamed to admit it, considering what a raging homophobe he is today.

There were probably earlier crushes I ignored, but my first serious crush around age 15 was Kirk Cameron. 

Yep... My crush was the Bible-carrying, gay-hating, 'Stephen Hawking is an idiot and evolution is a LIE!'-spewing Mike Seaver.

But back then? I would have rather severed a limb than miss an episode of "Growing Pains!" Just the title of the show is quite suitable for the way that I was feeling at the time.

Too bad I never had the courage to admit it...
Not then, and not today 25 years later. I may be alone, but at least I'm not married & living a lie.

Ed - Iron Mountain, MI
________________________________________

Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - BornThisWayBlog.com

Tony Loves Sgt. Knox!

My first gay crush was Sgt. Knox.

I was age 7 in 1980, and I was addicted to Japanese Anime.

Growing up outside of Boston, I would watch "Star Blazers" on TV, religiously at 3PM every weekday on the UHF dial.

Remember the UHF dial, people?

The show centered around a crew following a signal from a distant planet. On the way there, they picked up a bunch of Space Marines from the edge of our solar system, to help save the Earth.

The leader of those space marines was a man named Sgt. Knox. And in a moment, my taste in men was formed for the rest of my life.
Knox was loud, brash, and occasionally crude. Built like a Mack truck, he didn't take crap from anyone. The American dub featured a voice actor who sounded like he was from Long Island or New Jersey, which only made him even more compelling.

I suppose the subtextual military homoeroticism might have set off my nascent Gaydar, but I think the scene where we got to see Knox bare-assed also may have been a factor. And I was in love.

Those eyebrows! Those teeth! That huge f*cking gun!
His belt had a lot of pouches, like a handy lesbian.

AND HE HAS KNEE PADS BUILT INTO HIS UNIFORM!

Since my first gay crush was a cartoon character, there wasn't much chance of meeting him in real life. But he secured my attraction to square-jawed bears. They protect you from aliens!!!

Tony - Los Angeles, CA
________________________________________________

Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - BornThisWayBlog.com

Winter Loves Esteban!

My first ever gay crush was Esteban, from the
80's cartoon "The Mysterious Cities of Gold."

I was around 8-years old when I first saw the show, and I was incredibly drawn to his character.

Even then, I felt different from my peers. And the way he gathers other outcasts to join him on his travels, was my first glimpse into building a family of choice.

There was a scene where he bathes naked in a river, and I have a vague memory of my mom scolding me for getting too close to the TV screen, as I stared in rapt fascination. I found out years later that she told my grandmother she suspected I might be gay.

I'm sure that I mentioned to a few people that I "really liked" Esteban. I don't know if I was obvious about it being a crush, though. I guess I wouldn't have made any effort to hide it, because I didn't realize that most boys didn't crush on other boys. That realization came when I was older.

Winter - Raymond, NH
_____________________________________________________________________

Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - BornThisWayBlog.com

Lydia Loves Sara Gilbert!

At around age 12, I started realizing I liked girls. There were a few girls I found myself attracted to, but no one did it quite like Sara Gilbert.

It started out as just a thing for her character Darlene on "Roseanne," but even now I still find myself a little attracted to her.

I caught the show mainly in re-runs, and the Darlene I fell for was was dark, moody, brooding, and wore ripped-up jeans. And I identified with her.

Later I found out that Sara Gilbert really is a lesbian, has a partner, and two children. So I'm happy for her!

And, I kinda feel like my Gaydar picked up on that, even though she was acting as someone else on TV.
Lydia - Nashville, TN
______________________________

Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - www.BornThisWayBlog.com

Patrick Loves Joey McIntyre!

My first gay crush was Joey McIntyre from
New Kids On The Block, when I was about 10.

My older sister was a big fan of them too, and had the "Hangin' Tough Live" concert video. Which we watched religiously.

She liked Donnie and pretended he was singing to her, but I secretly longed for Joey.

Especially when he sang "Please Don't Go Girl."


And I never refused when she wanted to watch it!!!

I even went out and bought his CD when he first went solo, so my crush lasted a good while. Haha!

Patrick - Ohio
__________________________________

Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - www.BornThisWayBlog.com

Robert Loves Lyle Waggoner!

My first same-sex crush was Lyle Waggoner, circa 1975. I was about 6 or 7-years old at the time.

Lyle was exactly how I still like my men:

Big 'n manly, with beefcake handsomeness.

And thank you forever, Carol Burnett, for making him take his shirt off on your show.

Then he moved on to that cartoon come to life, on "Wonder Woman" as dashing Major Steve Trevor. What wasn't there to like? 

I'll never forget the first nudie magazine I ever stole. My childhood best friend's dad kept a stash of Playboys under his bed he snuck out. 

But amongst those magazines was this strange anomaly: a Playgirl. And there in the centerfold was my dream guy, Lyle Waggoner.

Naturally, I always wanted him to swipe that one for me, swearing it was only because he was on "Wonder Woman" and I wanted to grow up to be Steve Trevor.

It's been more than 30 years since then, and I recently reconnected with that childhood friend on Facebook. It was the first time he officially found out I was gay, and his only reply was:

"I should have known when you made me steal that Lyle Waggoner magazine from my mom."

Yes, Lewis - you really should have! But thanks for the magazine, which I still own today.

Robert - Los Angeles, CA
____________________________________________________________________________

Click here - "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
Click here - "My First Gay Crush Blog"
Click to follow my blog with Bloglovin' Tweet

David Loves Jerry O'Connell

I was 11 when I hit puberty, and it was very evident what aroused me and what didn't. It wasn't until I was 13 though, that I had my first celebrity crush.

It was Jerry O'Connell on TV's "My Secret Identity." And of course, what young gay boy doesn't feel like he has a secret identity?

I was in love with this kid who was kind of awkward but kind of cool. I even tried to dress like him with a T-shirt under an opened button-down shirt.


He was cute and fun, and I always secretly hoped that he'd be shirtless during the episode. Years later I found him again on "Sliders," and I've followed his career ever since.

Nowadays, I like my men a lot bigger and beefier,
but I will always have a weakness for my Jerry.

David - Seattle, WA
_________________________________

Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - www.BornThisWayBlog.com