I keep thinking about what it means to say I’m gay. I’ve usually meant that in terms of what sexual attractions I have for other people; I find men attractive, and women sort of neutral. It’s also meant how I come to think about myself as well though. But I wonder if I have perceived being gay as meaning what sort of sex I’d like to have, rather than what sort of relationships I would like to have. I keep thinking about the relationship I had with Eve. It wasn’t built on sex, or for that matter sexual desire. It was built on friendship, care, love, and emotion.
I keep having trouble trying to figure myself out. I feel as though so much of the time I’ve only been thinking about wanting a sexual relationship, or something lustful, or someone to help cure periods of loneliness, rather than the sort of relationship, if any, I should have been looking for.
Maybe too many people are just looking for sex. I wonder if maybe that’s what I was really looking for or wanting all those years rather than a serious, healthy relationship. What I had with Eve wasn’t what I expected it to be. It wasn’t what I’d been looking for in a relationship. It was far better than anything I’d been looking for, and it was far different than what I’d wanted.
I guess my point is that maybe I’d been focusing too much on wanting a particular kind of sex when I should have been focusing on wanting a healthy relationship with someone, built on friendship, trust, and love. And I wonder if that’s the case with others; particularly among gay identified men. Maybe we are too focused on sex itself, rather than on what really makes sex something meaningful and special.
And maybe we identify who we are too much upon trivial differences. I know I’m not as masculine as a lot of men. But how is that something that should make me feel different from other men? Not all men, even straight men, are masculine. A lot of men aren’t masculine. And, really, since when should one’s level of masculinity define who they are as a person? Why has that mattered to me?
If being with Eve made me realize anything, it’s that all those stupid labels people put upon themselves don’t really matter at all. Being gay or straight, bisexual, tall, short, fat, skinny, ugly, beautiful, black, white, purple, green, or yellow, none it really matters. You just are who you are. It’s just that causing those labels to box yourself into a corner in life isn’t any good; you become limited so much.
I’m not sure being gay really means that much to me anymore. Not that it was ever anything to feel prideful about or anything like that, but just that it was a big part of how I saw myself. Maybe some of those old mindsets of mine have become broken somewhat. I’m not saying I’m no longer gay, or that I’m no longer attracted to men. I’m just saying that the fact that I am doesn’t seem to matter so much to me anymore. As though being gay is no better or worse than any other part of me. It’s just another thing, and not something that should limit me any more than the color of my hair or the shape of my eyes. It doesn’t really matter.
7 comments:
Wow really like what you wrote Brandon! I agree sometimes I think all these labels really box me in too. Its like I think I have to act some certain way. Some days I too wonder if I think to much about all this. If I just accepted it as part of me and did not constantly try to figure out why and what this or that feeling means then I may find I could just be me. I too think I could be very happy married to a woman even though my passion may not be burning like it would be for straight guys. Guess I will have to see what God has in store.
Good post. I appreciate your reflections.
What a dose of perspective this is - for all of us who have been missing the forest for the trees.
You reflect your Father, Brandon, and that is amazing. Thanks.
Well said, Brandon. I think words like "gay," "homosexual," and "same sex attracted" all do mean what sort of sex attracts you, not relationships. In my case I'm not particularly interested in having a close friendship with a woman either, but who knows what would happen if the right woman came into my life.
Anyway, I really just want to say that you are so right that a healthy friendship is what is important. If it is with someone of the opposite sex and leads to marriage, that's wonderful. If not, it's still great.
Hi Brandon! I found your blog through Erik's blog.
I want to especially comment on this:
" But I wonder if I have perceived being gay as meaning what sort of sex I’d like to have, rather than what sort of relationships I would like to have"
I just want you to know a loving, monogamous relationship with someone of the same-sex is possible. My bf and I have been together for 5 years.
I look forward to reading your blogs :)
Everythingniceandthensome,
I know there are many great same-sex relationships out there. I don't mean to belittle them or make it sound as though that's not possible. And I'm glad you've found someone you can be with. I just don't think, in my own case, that a relationship like that will come along, or that if it did, I'd be able to accept it for myself. I just don't think I've had in mind what sort of relationship I've really wanted, besides one that would satisfy certain self wants. The purpose of this post was just to say that I think there's more to being in a relationship than what I'd previously thought.
I know :) I'm glad you realized that! Relationships are HARD work. But, it's worth it :)
Post a Comment