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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.
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>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.
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>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.

But notice that you're not talking about gay accountants or lawyers or doctors or ..., and you're not talking about women at all. 40 or 50 years ago, for most people, if they knew or knew of someone who was gay, that person was in the arts because in the arts, it was safe to be gay and out (well, at least for some--can't help but think about Rock Hudson, who had to hide his sexuality to be a movie star). And, of course, it's only in the last few years, that you can be gay and serve in the US military.

Today, at least on the coasts and in big cities, you find out gay people in almost every profession because being out won't cost them their jobs or their families or their lives.

Tamar

Tamar