Chazzy Loves Bluto!

My first gay crush was Bluto!
In the early 60's when I was 7-years old, I watched Popeye cartoons on TV after school.

Popeye's arch nemesis and rival for the attention of Olive Oyl was a bearded, aggressively masculine sailor named Bluto.   

Bluto had huge shoulders and curvaceous pectoral muscles that were visible right through his sailor uniform. He would try to impress Olive and intimidate Popeye by flexing his huge biceps. 

This gave Olive palpitations and would send Popeye into a jealous rage. 

The animators gave Bluto various roles like cowboy, lifeguard, lumberjack, and biker. These all made him a virile counterpoint to the wussy, spaghetti-armed Popeye. 

In one cartoon I remember vividly, he was a circus strongman dressed in a black speedo and yellow tank-top. He made his muscles dance, bent steel bars, and lifted huge barbells as everyone in the crowd watched in awe. 

When little goody-two-shoes Popeye ate his spinach and beat him to a pulp, it was a travesty my young mind couldn't comprehend! I tried to talk with my little friends about how cool Bluto was and how he deserved to win at least once in a while. 

But they were not having any of it. To them, Bluto was 'the bad guy' and that was that. 

I had to pretend that I liked Popeye better so that nobody would suspect that I was 'weird.' 

Chazzy - Connecticut
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Wayne Loves Christopher Reeve!

My first gay crush was Christopher Reeve/Superman.

I was 5-years old, and my uncle took me to see "Superman." I was so psyched because I had a few Superman comic books and finally I was going to see the 'real thing'.

When he finally appeared on screen, saving Lois Lane after she fell out of the helicopter, I was in awe over his smile and big blue eyes.


I had seen some old Superman shows on TV too, but Christopher as Superman was just amazing to me!

Wayne - Kenora, Ontario, Canada
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Brittany Loves Queen Beryl!

I was about 4 or 5 when I had my first gay crush.

It was in the mid 90's when "Sailor Moon" captivated a whole generation of little boys - and girls!

However, I was much more attracted to the red-haired, busty villainess Queen Beryl. I remember clearly being entranced by her. And the doll I had of her was absolutely my favorite toy back then.

Heck, I'm pretty sure that she ended up cultivating a lot of my tastes. I'd still probably date her today if she was a real woman.

Today, I've got one foot in the pansexual closet and one foot out. But suffice to say that if anyone asked me for the first time I really knew I was gay, I'd point to Queen Beryl as my catalyst.

Brittany - Alberta, Canada
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Robert Loves Race Bannon!

My first gay crush was Race Bannon!

Back as a 7-year old Midwesterner, I'd had passing crushes on male classmates and a few female cousins' boyfriends.

But at 9, I fell hard for Race Bannon, Jonny Quest's bodyguard.

He was tall, handsome like Rock Hudson, and prematurely grey or platinum blond. 

He had an advanced fashion sense, was a pilot, loved Jonny and pal Hadji, and kicked exotic bad-guy butt every week without sweating.

My dad was uncomfortable with my obvious affection for Race, and my little brother told everyone I loved him. Which was fodder for neighborhood bullies who already couldn't resist hassling me (even though we had the only real pool in the neighborhood at our house).

The show only lasted 2 years, just long enough to have my first real-life experience at age 11.


I dated a few Race Bannons over the years (letdowns), and when living in India, a few Hadjis too. Today I'm in my mid-50's and married to the best guy on Earth.

But Race (we remain on a first name basis) will always be my first "famous gay" crush.

Robert - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
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Rachael Loves Starfire!

My first gay crush was both Starfire (voiced by Hynden Walch) and Raven (voiced by Tara Strong) from Cartoon Network's "Teen Titans."

I loved Starfire's naive unfamiliarity with Planet Earth, and Raven's witty, cynical nature. I was very enamored by their fantastic superpowers and, of course, perfect, animated bodies.

I didn't know at the time that what I was experiencing was my first gay crushes(who did?), but the two of them turned out to be the model for the women I like today.

I even tried to make myself a Raven costume, which just ended up being a lot of purple fabric scraps. My mom thought that was the cutest thing ever. But she's still unaware of just how deep my "hero worship" - pun intended - truly went.

Rachael - Kentucky
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Robert Loves Bluto!

My first gay crush was Bluto!

I was obsessed with cartoons as a kid in the early 70's in Bellvue, WA.

I would get up really early, ready to watch everything from "Josie & The Pussycats" to "Betty Boop."

Which leads me to my crush, which I know might sound crazy. But hey, straight boys love Betty Rubble. They even go so far as to call pretty girls, 'Betties.'

Until around age 4, the only man I'd really seen was my dad. Then up pops Bluto, the first cartoon "Daddy" I'd ever seen - and I was smitten. At that age I didn't know what those feelings were, but I knew I liked 'em!

Bluto was tall, dark, all muscles, and all man! His giant arms and pecs tickled me where I had never been tickled before. Sure, he was a bit ugly and mean, but my crush on the "bad boy" was born.

As the years rolled on and the more "Popeye" I watched, the hotter I thought he was. In fact, there's an episode from the 50's where Popeye gives him a shave and a haircut. And when he is done, he's a dreamboat.

Later, at my first swimming lessons at the public pool in the dressing room, I saw a whole room of naked guys with hairy chests and muscles just like Bluto. And in my young mind, I knew I was onto something great!

I loved Erik Estrada, Lyle Wagonner and Gil Gerard too. But it was my little crush on the tall, dark and handsome Daddy Bluto that started it for me!

Robert - Hollywood, CA
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Scot Loves Buddy Blue!

My first gay crush was Buddy Blue, a character
on the animated TV show "Rainbow Brite."

I was about 4-years-old when the show premiered in 1984.

And I was enamored by the cute, athletic guy, who was dressed from head to toe in MY favorite color - BLUE! I mean, what's NOT to love?

To this day, I am still baffled that my parents were actually so surprised that I was gay.

I had all of the "Rainbow Brite" toys and even (great gay gasp) "Rainbow Brite" curtains!



I'm also baffled why Buddy Blue never had the courage to ask Red Butler to ride the rainbow with him...

Scot - Columbus, OH
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J. Pierre Loves He-Man!

My first gay crush was He-Man!

It all began with He-Man (defender of the Universe) in about 1988, when I was around age 5.

Odd to think about now, as I have never dated a blonde guy.

But there was something about his boots and furry underwear that screamed out to me:

"Hey, this is HOT!"

My dad bought me most of the He-Man action figures, even though I suspect he suspected it was more than just child's play.

I mean, let's face it: He-Man was not the only one with the bulging muscles. Even the bad guys were ripped!

I included She-Ra in the mix, because as time went on, I wanted to be her and be with him - LOL!

J. Pierre - Cape Town, South Africa
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Paul Loves Prince Eric!

I was 9-years old when Prince Eric from "The Little Mermaid" stole my heart.

He was chiseled, sensitive, and able to maintain a perfect coif at all times - even against strong sea winds!

And of course, he's royalty.

One day, I remember going shopping with my mom in search of birthday presents for my younger sister.

I came across a book of Disney paper dolls. While my sister had no interest in them, I tried desperately to convince Mom otherwise. I just had to have that picture of Prince Eric in his underwear!

I suppose a cartoon prince was the safest crush for a gay, Midwestern boy from a conservative family. I mean, he wasn't even 3-dimensional. 

Sitting in religion class at my Catholic school, I filled the perimeters of my notebooks with doodles of Prince Eric, all the while learning about the "evils of homosexuality."

That year our family took a beach vacation.

I ventured out into the water by myself one evening. With nothing but waves as far as I could see, it was easy to imagine being swept away and washing up on a distant shore.

Someplace where a handsome prince would be waiting to rescue me — and make me "part of his world."

Paul - Columbus, OH
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David Loves Jack Larson!

I was around 7 when I developed my
first gay crush, on TV actor Jack Larson.

I was a big fan of the show "Superman" in the 50's. Superman himself didn't do much for me, but I was totally into Jimmy Olsen, played by Jack Larson.

He and Lois Lane, were always being captured and put into harm's way, always rescued at the last minute by Superman.

I recall a few episodes that for whatever reason, Larson was shirtless. I saw some photos from those episodes many years later, and I still got turned on. He was quite the sexy man.

A shrink could probably have a field day with this, but - I think I wanted Superman to rescue me from my crazy parents? I totally identified being stuck in a dangerous situation. 

But I wasn't sure if I wanted him or wanted to be him. I was, however, delighted to find out years later, that Jack Larson is gay. And, that he had been partnered with Montgomery Clift for some time.

David - Austin, TX
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Dottie Loves Lynda Carter!

I had 3 gay crushes. Is that wrong?

My first gay crush was on
Wonder Woman in the 70's.

Actually, it was for Lynda Carter, who played Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman.

I loved how she ran around in almost nothing in high heels, using the golden bracelets to protect her from harm.

The way she twirled around and flung the Lasso Of Truth was phenomenal. I wanted to take a ride with her in that invisible airplane.

My second gay crush was in 1988, during the time I was working on my masters degree. I needed a break, so a friend and I went to see "DOA" with Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan. During the movie, I thought a lot about her. She was so pretty and cute, and I sought out other movies she starred in.

My third gay crush was Geena Davis' character in "The Long Kiss Goodnight." I loved the way she kicked ass in that movie.

Dottie - Redmond, WA
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Luke Loves Cloud Strife!

My first gay crush was Cloud Strife.

Being the nerd I was at age 11, I crushed out on this tortured soul from "Final Fantasy 7."

I felt that way too, so he was pretty awesome.

And I was not.

He was an all-around, broody action guy who fell in love, lost it, but never stopped fighting.

And his hair was pretty damn awesome and sexy.

Of course, he wasn't full-on physically attractive until he was rendered in full CGI glory in "Advent Children" and given a smoldering voice.

I was too young to really play the game, so I would just sit on the floor of my brother's room, and watch him play "Final Fantasy 7" for hours.

Luke - Victoria, Australia
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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
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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
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Magno Loves Macaulay Culkin!

Macaulay Caulkin was my first gay crush.

I was around 10-years old, and loved watching him on the "Wish Kid" TV show.

He's a bit older than me, but since this aired here in Brazil a few years after it aired in the US, it was like we were the same age.

The show was animated, but Macaulay is seen in person at the start of each episode. 

And I was totally in love with him!

I would daydream about him all the time. I even dreamed of us meeting and dating. It was never any sort of sexual fantasy, though. After all, I was just a kid and so was he.

Later I was introduced to "Home Alone" (and its sequels), and I was still terribly in love with him. And it was me who fancied being alone with him! Wish kid thinking, right? Hahaha!

I don't recall when that crush silliness wore off, but today when I watch Macaulay - and I did see "Party Monster" BECAUSE of him - I don't have any kind of romantic feelings towards him at all.

Magno - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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