Karen Loves Elizabeth Montgomery!

My first gay crush was Elizabeth Montgomery.

I was age 6, and I thought she was so beautiful. But I was completely baffled by Samantha's willingness to marry dorky Darren, and to try to please him all the time.

My first feminist thought was: Why would a woman with that kind of power give it up for a man?

I also adored Samantha's mother, Endora, mostly because she constantly made fun of Darren. I can clearly remember thinking Samantha should keep her sweetness, but be powerful and exotic like Endora.


I didn't know what gay meant then, I just knew I loved Samantha. And if I married her, I'd let her be herself and use her magic. 

I knew I could make her happy!

Yes, a witch pretending to be mortal just to please someone was a perfect metaphor for a lesbian growing up in the early 70's. I didn't figure that out until many years later.

By then, I understood how society worked, and would disguise my crushes by saying I wanted to be like a female character. Or that I "admired" a certain female actress. I disguised them even from myself.

But at age 6, I didn't have to lie to myself. It seemed perfectly normal wanting to marry Samantha.

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

Jules Loves Zachary Quinto!

My first gay crush was Zachary Quinto
as Sylar/Gabriel Gray on "Heroes."

I know it wasn't the best show, but for some reason I kept watching. Not a big mystery with him on the show.

So, at age 14, I was head over heels for a telekinetic serial killer, who cut open peoples' skulls to study their brains.

I probably thought it was some kind of sex metaphor?

There's something about those huge but well-shaped eyebrows, and his rather large nose. I was in gay Jewish heaven, even if he's actually Irish-Italian.
After a few episodes, my gaze drifted downward.

He was fit, had clear skin, and he had some fine chest hair. I was in love with everything about him, serial killer or not. And I've had an enduring celebrity crush ever since.

The only trouble my crush got me in, was mentioning Sylar to my SECOND gay crush when we talked about it: "He is creepy. But oh my Zeus, what a hottie!"

Jules - New Orleans, LA
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Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - www.BornThisWayBlog.com

Charles Loves Prince Valiant!

I was a kid way back in the 1940's, and my first gay crush was Prince Valiant from the comic strip.

Prince Valiant was the hero. He had blue/black page boy hair, a square jaw, broad shoulders, and brilliant blue eyes.

It took me many years to understand what my attraction really meant.

But, I knew he was an icon that was vibrating something deep inside me.

And how does one explain a child's spontaneous reaction to an archetype? We are sexual from birth, and this imaginary, youthful, handsome male from the late dark ages captivated me. "Valiant" means brave, bold, and courageous. And I admired his strength, beauty, and heroic qualities.

We are such visual beings.
And we clearly respond to these things from birth.

Charles - Philadelphia, PA
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Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - www.BornThisWayBlog.com

Jim Loves Ringo Starr!

I had lots of gay crushes, but Ringo Starr
was my first real, celebrity gay crush.

When I saw The Beatles on the "Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964, my heart started pounding hard.

Then I felt somthing going on inside my jeans...

When they zoomed in on Ringo playing the drums,
I bent down and kissed him on the TV. My mom saw this and asked me what I was doing.

"I'm kissing Ringo. He is so cute. I just love him," I said. Then mom looked at me and said, "It's a good thing your dad didn't see you do that. He would have had your heiny."

I turned around and looked at mom, and said,
"So what if he saw me kissing the TV. I don't care. Besides, he doesn't care about me anyway. I wish grandma was alive. She would understand how I feel."

Then my mom came over and gave me a hug, saying
"I understand how you feel. I'm very proud of you."

Thanks, mom!

Jim - Bear Valley, WI
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Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - www.BornThisWayBlog.com

Hillery Loves Bobby Sherman!

My first gay crush was Bobby Sherman.
I loved his long hair and his smile.

I'm a 47-year old gay guy who has a very vivid memory of my first gay crush, though I'm not sure I was aware what it all meant at the time.

I had seen Bobby on "Here Comes The Brides," a hybrid comedy/drama western TV show. I'd also seen some of his records as cardboard cutouts on the back of Post Cereal boxes.

My memory is of me marching into kindergarten one morning, and telling all my friends that I had a dream that Bobby Sherman kissed me. I can still remember a lot of the details of that day very well (weird, I know). No one seemed to raise an eyebrow. A few kids said that was cool, and then we went back to playing at recess.

Much, much later I discovered this video of Bobby singing "Easy Come, Easy Go," my favorite song of his. Have you ever seen a hotter, tighter pair of leather pants?!?


I'm glad I didn't see that video when I was young, or I'm sure my head would have exploded from the excitement/hormones, etc. This memory is the thing I point to when asked whether I think I was born gay.
And I would say "Yes, I was"

I didn't act on my sexuality until much later,
but Bobby Sherman is the first gay-related memory
I have. And the memory is very strong to this day.

Hillery - Atlanta, GA
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Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - www.BornThisWayBlog.com