Steven Loves Scott Bakula!

My first gay crush was actor Scott Bakula!

I was age 13 in 1991, and I fell madly in love with Scott on "Quantum Leap."

He had those kind eyes and that big nose. And even though he was so big and strong, he had that sweet voice.

I wanted him to hold me tight, and kiss me all over my face.

I watched way too much TV back then, and had simultaneous crushes on the dad from "The Wonder Years," Ken Howard from "Coach," and basically the entire cast of "Wings" (particularly Antonio the cab driver).

But Scott was the first guy I seriously thought about kissing and making out with. While I had no idea what to do in bed, I did know that every time he took his shirt off, I didn't want to look away.

No one ever knew about my crush, and I pretended that I had the hots for Paula Abdul every time the video for "Promise Of A New Day" would show on VH1.

I'd always agree with my best friend that Paula looked so hot dancing in that grass. Little did he know I was actually hot for Scott!

Steven - Frederick, MD

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

Christina Loves Phylicia Rashad!

My first gay crush was actress Phylicia Rashad!

I had always watched "The Cosby Show" but it wasn’t until I was 8 that I really started to notice the beautiful Phylicia Rashad. 

In 1988 we had just moved, and I was watching the show while my parents unpacked. There was a scene where she just floats into the room, hair flowing back, skin glistening, with a smile on her face. 

All of a sudden I felt a rush and I felt hot!

From that moment on, every time Clair Huxtable came onscreen, those same feelings arose. When I hit puberty, the feeling became more intense. I thought she was the Queen!

I used to steal magazines that she was in from my parents, and I recorded every episode of "The Cosby Show" on VHS. I certainly didn’t tell anyone that Phylicia Rashad got my blood boiling, but everyone knew I loved her.

And don't even get me started on how hot she looks dancing in the opening credits!

Christina - Alameda, CA

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

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Kevin Loves John Wesley Shipp!

My first gay crush was John Wesley Shipp. I was 9!

My mother had returned to working in the late 70's, so I was left with my grandmother every afternoon after school.  

Each day I got off the school bus at 2:45pm - just in time to get a cookie and sit with her.

Together, we both watched "The Guiding Light," her favorite soap "story."

I can remember feeling "tingly" in my bathing suit area, every time John wore his. I just wanted to touch his chest, biceps, and inner thighs!  

I was still way too young to understand why I felt this way, but I knew that John was somehow stirring these feelings.    

I didn't feel this way again about another guy, until Tom Selleck started taking his shirt off on "Magnum PI" for me every week!

Kevin - New York, NY

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

Doogie Loves Russ Tamblyn!

My first gay crush was actor Russ Tamblyn!

Ever a hopeful romantic in 1962, I first "fell in love" (at age six) with actor and dancer Russ Tamblyn as The Woodsman in "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm."

As a gymnastic dancer, Russ also appeared in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (1954), as “Tom Thumb” (1958) and as Riff in "West Side Story" (1961). 

They often dyed his beautiful ginger locks. But to this day, if I had a physical “type,” it would be a diminutive ginger with a big smile, such as I first adored in Russ. 

Athletic dancers like Russ and Gene Kelly later spurred me to petition my backwoods high-school to start a gymnastics team. Their verdict: 'Gymnastics is not a suitable activity for boys.' Thank heaven for civic theatre where I occasionally danced in the chorus. But I was forbidden formal training in dance or gymnastics.  

Back then, I often had to settle with just doing backstage work. But I eventually found a new love in writing for theatre and film.

Doogie - Ocala, Florida

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

Ken Loves Sergio Franchi!

My first gay crush was singer Sergio Franchi! 

On Sunday October 14, 1962 I was 11-years old. 

And back then, Sunday night meant only one thing:

Gathering around the TV to watch "The Ed Sullivan Show." 

The number one song on the radio was "The Monster Mash." But when Ed introduced the very exotic and dashing Italian tenor, I sat up and took notice as he stole my heart singing "Core Ngrato." 


"Ungrateful Heart" ... ironic, no? 

He was simply the most handsome man I had ever seen! I decided then and there to save my pennies and travel from rural Massachusetts to Rome, where we would become great friends. And, perhaps more?

Suffice it to say, I was in love! 

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