CLINTON ST. QUARTERLY Sex is a Private Matter Walt: Tim: Walt: Tim: Walt: Tim: Walt: Tim: Walt: Tim: Walt Straights seem to think that homosexuals behave outrageously. Don’t they? When a straight sees a man and a man kissing, or a woman and a woman, they totally object! But then a man and a woman will do it. Neither one should be sexual in a public place. People who are sensitive — intelligent or in control — don’t. They have sex in private. A spontaneous display of affection on the street is okay. Yeah, hugging is all right! French-kissing and the physical gyrations — some people really get into it. And I think it’s really disgusting! Mormonism Your religion is M ormonism. My God! What do the Mormons think of gayness? I’d be better off dead! Suicide is a preferable alternative to being gay. I’d be cast out into the outer darkness, if I were not to change my ways in my lifetime. There will only be a handful, a small number of people, who are thrown out with Satan into the outer darkness — 1’1 probably be one of ’em! (laughter) It’s not called Hell. It’s called The Outer Darkness! (Tim mentions that the Mormon Church can excommunicate gays. He was going to be a priest. A t 15, he was active in the church — but faltering. A t 16, he moved to Yelm to get away from his sinfu l ways.) What do you mean by “ sinful ways” ? Were you gay at 16? My sinful ways were smoking dope and — no! 1 was strictly asexual at the time. Although those hick girls will drag you off in the fields if you’re not careful! Were you dragged off into the fields? Have you ever seen a naked girl? Tim: Walt: Tim: Walt: Walt: Tim: Walt: Tim: Walt: Several. In Playboy! Yes, I’ve seen some. No, I mean in real life! Was i it easier to be around boys ' than girls? It was easier to be around girls. In high school — in my yearbook — there isn’t a single guy who signed it. It’s all girls. In the Closet Traditionally, gays have hidden in the closet. In Portland, there have been prominent business people, maybe even politicians, wealthy or professional people — with prestige in the community who have hidden their gayness. They have not helped the gay community become more mature or accepted. Yes, this is true. They might as well admit their gayness now before somebody else finds out about it. As in the case in Olympia where several prominent legislators were arrested — in the restroom. Right. And the president of Olympia Brewing Co.? It was sad. One guy just resigned! He totally chickened out. Even after he was discovered, he still wouldn’t admit that he was homosexual. Don’t a lot of gay people still feel guilty about who they are? I mean, don’t you feel guilty sometimes? Oh, yeah! There are a lot of head trips. My religion —jeez, it gets to me a lot. The first time I ever went out — to The Monastery [the name of a gay club in Seattle] — 1felt like I was in the devil’s hole! And the Lord was going to strike this place down at any moment. Just for being there. Although 1 loosened up later on — Did you dance? What do people do at The Monastery? They got me high! Without my knowledge! 1 mean, I walked in the door and they said, “ Hello, come in for communion. We’ll give you this little wafer.” It was a marijuana cookie. I didn’t know any different. Is it primarily a teen and Tim: Walt Tim: Walt: Tim: Walt: Tim: Walt: Tim: Walt: Tim: adult place? It’s not a tavern? It’s a “ chicken pickup.” It’s quick food — fast-food restaurant! What does that mean? Ha, ha. That’s where young males go to be picked up by older men —? It’s for you to have a good time. You can make it what you want. The First Time Who were you close to? You must have had “ boy” friends. I guess it was my sophomore year. I met him in photography. I never really thought much about him — until he called me up one day — one hot summer day. The type of day — well, we went swimming and afterwards we had gone to his house. We were upstairs and his brother came home. And caught you two naked? No, no. I sneaked out the upstairs window, walked across the roof, and I got down by way of a swing set which was close to the porch. Well, what happened there? (laughing) You’re not being very specific! I found out what “ mooning” was. 1 wasn’t too enthused about that. I saw him a few days ago. He’s still around. Here in Portland? Is he gay? Oh yeah. I ’ve run into a few — not very man" — people who went to my high school and they’ve come out. Suspicions (Tim went to Utah to get away from smoking dope two summers ago to work with his uncle, a good Mormon. He kicked his habit there.) Tim: Walt: Tim: I moved back home, missing my mother. I felt really close to my mom. Mom bugs me a lot about getting a steady, about going out with girls. Does she begin to suspect something? No. Although she does begin to suspect my sister — who’s been living with a girlfriend. 226 N.W.Davis, Portlan dr f 2234447 174 E.Broadway,Eugene 3423366 16
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