P I N K F L A M I N G O S
the story
Signs & Signals
There are certain songs that resonate to this day. I mean, they just got it right. In the early summer of '65 this song was on the radio several times a day and Jesus! They nailed this.
A groundswell in reactivation. The song spoke for all those in it. Making sense 60 years later.
Guys hair - getting longer - challenging 'the establishment's' gender values. It's not that I wanted long hair because it was more feminine but because it was 'cool'. Guys becoming softer and more transparent, was groovy. A lot of mixed messages.
A lot of hiding ... fear, mostly amongst older men. Secrets.
The Elaborate Entrance
I was 8 when homosexuality first entered my orbit. Sloane Street in Woodstock Ontario about a year before my parents split. It was summer 1965 just over a year after The Beatles were featured on the Ed Sullivan Show. I was entering grade 5 that September. It was 4 years before puberty so I was hovering like a fly, waiting for the windshield on a freeway. I was clueless; having absolutely no idea about anything pertaining to sex, other than an attraction to girls in a cerebral capacity. I was getting that there was more to it only not knowing what. Little hints that there was a tsunami on the horizon. The provoking prepubescent pokes.
Like overhearing Dad and his friend Rick talking in the back yard over a beer. That quiet malevolent chuckle shared by 2 men confident in their manly manhood. "I think Bill's a homo" - Dad saying, referring to a happily married mutual friend. Homo. What's that?
I went inside. Mom cooking supper. Macaroni & cheese with weiners, asking ... Mom, what's a 'homo'? That look of sheer terror on her face, long pause ... 'oh you don't need to know about that' she said. 'Where did you hear that? Go wash your hands. Dinner's almost ready'.
Ok. Obviously it's a bad thing. So bad that even discussing it out loud could make it worse. Just better not to talk about it is what I learned early on. My curiosity waned but was always there wondering why they were so afraid of it. Truth is, she had been shaken to the core by my innocent inquiry. Time passed.
About a month later we were watching The Dean Martin Show together. He always came on with a glass of bourbon in one hand and a cigarette in the other; half in the bag. Family entertainment in the mid 60s was loaded with obscure anomalies and even outright contradictions. That's just how it all played out. I didn't get the deal with homosexuality. Like why is this such a big problem? Even at 8 thinking this.
Music fade after Palmolive commercial: you're soaking in it
Dean is slurring his words like he always does.
"Tonight, we have a very 'special guest' on the show". It was a moment that stayed with me - to this day. Like it was yesterday. Liberace was introduced by Dean. He flamboyantly talked for a bit, waving his hands around whilst, likely to show off all his expensive rings before he played his white piano, ordained with a massive silver candelabra. Ok, I'm confused. Is he a man or a woman? Ok obviously a man and everyone loves him BUT, he acts like a woman! Talks like one, even dresses like one. Mom saying - I love him - Dad quietly laughing ... 'he's a homo'. Both oblivious (well at least Mom was). Mom slapping Dad on the arm playfully. "Shhhh. Not in front of the kids" she whispered. I heard that! Terrible taboo.
Making me think. What am I? The delinquent question. Am I a homo? That said, I knew that if I was? Shit would hit the proverbial fan which is why I could never tell a single soul.
Ok, Mom may have had suspicions about the 'glitter man' but it didn't matter, almost like even if he was a homo, it was ok because he played so beautifully and was such an angel. In time, I discovered that those who worshipped him were mostly women or homos themselves AND that being a homosexual would later become an accepted way of life. MUCH later.
What you don't know? Won't hurt you
By the time puberty actually kicked in, my parents had separated and we had moved to Stoney Point (near Windsor) with my Dad who just took us there with a new woman in his life tagging along. I was 12 in 1969. I woke up one morning after the most amazing dream I'd ever had and was stuck to my sheets having no idea what had happened.
Finishing grade school in '69, all the way through high school and into liberal arts college in '75 where the sky opened after 7 straight years of holy homophobia. Brutal.
Epilogue: The Imposition
Right. Did you know there are 'gay' animals? Your little Muffy-wuffy lying on the floor licking himself and affectionately looking up at you could be as queer as a 3 dollar bill. Who knew? Turns out there is roughly the same percentage of animals that are LGBTQ as we are. I'm guessing humans were just supposed to skip that part?
A biblical implication? Wait. If animals can be gay, why can't humans - and why are all flamingos pink? Aren't some guys?
P I N K F L A M I N G O S
the story
