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>Here, I suspect that the few years age difference between us may matter. Until, say, 25 or 30 years ago, for most people, the only gay people they (thought) they knew of were flamboyant celebrities because those were the only ones who could be out without enormous risk to life and livelihood.


As an English major, I had lots of friends in the literary, art, theatre and dance worlds.
For every straight man in those worlds, there were at least 5 gay men.
In fact, I never met a straight male dancer and I'm doubtful that I ever met a straight male poet.
Most playwrights were gay, although one of my good buddies who continues to write and produce plays for his synagogue is definitely a straight man.
I belong to an art group in Yardley, Pa and several of the members, male and female are gay.

None of these people did anything to hide the fact that they were gay.
They didn't wear signs saying "I'm gay"
But I don't wear a sign saying "I love gorgeous women" either.