John Loves Peter Jennings!

My first gay crush was news anchorman Peter Jennings.

It was the late 1960's, and I was about 12-years old.

And I thought he was the most handsome newsman on TV.

He was so polished, professional, and a beautiful man.

It was around this time when I first started to be old enough to watch and understand the news, and I looked forward to it every night. It made me very sad when I heard he had died of lung cancer back a few years ago.

But Peter Jennings was still handsome and professional right up to the very end.

I still miss you, Peter. Anderson Cooper is hot, but he still can't hold a candle to you!

John - Raleigh, NC
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Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - BornThisWayBlog.com

Craig Loves Les McKeown!

My first gay crush was on Les McKeown,
singer for The Bay City Rollers.

I was a young teen when the Bay City Rollers became the first real "boy band" in 1976.

And their sexy lead singer Les McKeown touched something inside of me that I couldn't comprehend at the time.

Seeing his open shirt with that broad smile was mesmerizing to me.



Looking back, my attraction to him was probably the first sign I was somehow "different" from other boys.

Craig - Indianapolis
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"Bay City Rollers: The Definitive Collection
Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - BornThisWayBlog.com

Drew Loves Neil Cassady!

My first gay crush was Neil Cassady.

In 1979, when I was 15, I somehow got a copy of Jack Kerouac's "Desolation Angels."

And I read it in one night.

"On The Road" followed in my collection, along with most of the rest of Kerouac's books.



I was immediately fascinated by Neil, who inspired the Dean Moriarty character. And, the relationship he shared with whatever Kerouac stand-in.

I filled up my journal thinking about a man like Neal Cassady, coming into town in a '48 Ford. And giving me a wink and telling me to hop in, as the two of us head down the highway, away from the hell of my adolescence.

Here, Neal's on the left, and Jack's on the right. To this day, what a handsome man he was.

I had this poster on my wall in college. Even though I was an English Major and closeted, I later found out that all my friends totally knew what was up with me and Neal Cassady.

"And they danced down the street like Dingledodies,
as I shambled after them..."

Drew - Palm Springs, CA
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Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - BornThisWayBlog.com

Brian Loves Burt Ward!

My first gay crush was Burt Ward.

Twice a week for 2 1/2 years, I was in front of the TV waiting to see Robin, the Boy Wonder. When the neighborhood kids and I played Batman & Robin, I always played the villain.

Why? So I could find different ways to tie up Robin!

Those tights with a hint of bulge was the beginning of my wet dreams. Looks like Burt had some too?

So I guess that was also the start of my little rope/handcuff fetish.

And here's Burt Ward's official website with lots of great info, photos, and merchandise.

Alas, I couldn't find any used tights...

Brian - San Angelo, TX
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Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - www.BornThisWayBlog.com

Jordy Loves Scott Thompson!

My first gay crush was Scott Thompson
from "Kids In The Hall."

My parents must have left a 12-year old me alone with our TV, and our one and only channel, CBC. Because I know I wasn't allowed to watch "Kids in the Hall." But what kid listens to their parents?

I saw the beautiful blonde Scott in a sketch where he declares to the other members of the troupe that he's gay.

And I finally found out what the Catholic school kids on the bus were calling me. 'Gay' meant a man who thought other men were cute. I thought the other Kids were cute, too. Well, except for Kevin...

So how could 'gay' be wrong?

Of course, I had to hide it in my conservative town. But seeing Scott be so free about his sexuality in the early 90's was an inspiration.


I don't know that I would be here today without Scott to look up to, especially his flamboyant character Buddy Cole. Finally being able to see someone like myself was a revelation.

Jordy - British Columbia, Canada
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Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - www.BornThisWayBlog.com

Peter Loves George Michael!

George Michael was my first gaycrush,
which happened when I was around 8-years old.

Immediately after Saturday morning cartoons ended, Casey Kasem's Top 10 Countdown came on. I still had some cereal in my bowl and loved music, so I kept the TV on to watch.

I distinctly remember Casey saying something like, "And now our number 1 song comes to us from the UK. This singing duo is climbing the charts, and here they are. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!"

Once the video started, 
I literally could not believe what I was seeing.

I was hypnotically glued to the screen, watching a young George Michael in boom-boom shorts and fingerless gloves.

And then: 
He began skipping and dancing around the stage. I have no idea how long I stared with my mouth agape, but once it was over, I ran upstairs to my room and began kissing my pillow groaning:

"Oh Wham, oh Wham..."

I was only a couple minutes into this when my older sister walked in and said, "What are you doing?!" 
She ended up tattling on me to my mom. The two butt swats I got had no effect, as my love of George Michael never passed. Yup, I still love him today.

And to my sister Mandy: I love and forgive you. *smile*

Peter - Los Angeles, CA
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Click here: "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book 

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

Brian Loves Lance Bass!

My first gay crush was Lance Bass from *NSync

Which is strange, as I definitely didn’t know I was gay at the time.

I didn’t even know what the heck gay meant, except it’s what all the boys called you when you annoyed them.

But there was always something about Lance Bass that attracted me.

He's the reason I was on Team *NSync instead of Team Backstreet Boys.

Although, Nick Carter was nothing to sneeze at, either...

While all the girls drooled over Justin Timberlake as lead singer - and all the boys were proclaiming how gay the boy bands were, all the while ogling Britney Spears - I had my eye on Lance.

At least I had good Gaydar for a 10-year old...

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