Missed National Coming Out Day

ComeoutYesterday, October 11, was “National Coming Out Day.” As I understand it, the date was selected to recognize the second “March on Washington” (for LGBT rights) which was held on October 11, 1987. I didn’t attend. Back then, I was deeply in the closet.

However, I did attend the third “March on Washington” (for LGBT rights) held on April 25, 1993. That is where I met my partner and is the date that my spouse and I called “our anniversary,” which is often what gay men choose as an anniversary date — the date that they met.

However, I was still in the closet. It took me a long time to come out.

What do I think about “coming out day”?
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Defriended Because I Am Gay and Married a Man

I knew it would have to happen sometime. Yesterday, I was checking a certain popular social network and noticed a message that someone defriended me. I clicked on a link and found that his page was still active, so the dropped connection was not due to his account becoming inactive (which happens more often than one would think.)

I used to work closely with this guy for years, and I thought we had built a solid friendship. But I changed jobs and he moved away. We relied on that social network to keep us connected.

I contacted this guy to ask if the defriending was a mistake, and his reply was…
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All Leather Riding

Tuesday was a pleasantly cool, dry Autumn day — perfect leather weather!

After I rode home from work at noon, instead of taking a nap, I felt energized to go for a ride to view my home state’s autumn. My spouse was busy studying through an on-line course in which he has enrolled so I didn’t want to hang around home and make noise if I were not napping.

I opened my biker leather gear closet and …
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Targetting the Icon of Mummified Habit and Unthinking Conformity

Looking for content suitable for this blog, I reflect again on comments on a previous post titled Not the Ordinary Gay Guy’s Blog submitted by regular readers.

My friend Kevin stated that I am genuine and speak from the heart. My friend OBMIT said that I don’t blog about stereotypical gay topics (except in ways that bring their ill-advised focus to light.)

But what floored me was the comment from reader Bill…
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It Is Just As Dark At 3:30am

ClockDue to certain budget or non-budget situation of the U.S. Government caused by the miserable failures of non-representatives in Congress, I am on a temporary job assignment.

I have skills that are needed and thus deemed essential, but in a different job from usual. That’s one good thing about building up professional skills and credentials all these years. Those skills are valued and allow me the flexibility of accepting a temporary assignment when needed.

The only thing is…
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What I Look for in Motorcycle Boots

Chipshinelug221I have blogged over the years about motorcycle boots, and some of my posts have gone into a lot of detail about choices men can make for motorcycle boots. Rather than write another tome, let me answer a question from a regular reader:

You know a lot about boots and you ride a motorcycle everyday. So give me the scoop, boil it down for me — what does Booted Harleydude consider when he is looking at new motorcycle boots?

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How Boot Leathers Wear

Lucphython01From time to time, I look back at the great comments and suggestions received on my post titled, “Not Your Ordinary Gay Guy’s Blog” and find reminders of subjects to write about. Thanks to Stephen who said,

I would welcome further commentary on, well…boots! For example, the qualities of various leathers, how they wear, … how various leathers are treated, and with what for particular purposes.

Okay, I’ll take a stab at it.
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Bully and the Bullied Together Back In Our High School

I wrote a post last September about a former bully who apologized to me as an adult. We renewed our acquaintance at an informal high school reunion some 37 years after we graduated from high school. We promised each other then that we would find a way to reach out to current high school students as a team to explain how things were and that things get better.

Yesterday, we finally had that opportunity.
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Importance of a Rainy Day Fund

People around the world are watching closely what is going on (or not going on) in the U.S. Congress regarding the exceptionally divisive battle over the U.S. Federal Government budget. It is ugly, awful, and downright shameful how each side of the political spectrum blames the other for the mess they brought on to all of the world. The world economy is already suffering and will get worse with a looming shutdown of the Federal Government.

How will that affect me?
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Posted in Job