The McPeake Report

by Richard McPeake

The doors may be different, but the closet's the same

Living on Philadelphia's Spruce Street this summer has given me more opportunities to interact with people who visit Center City from other cities and the suburbs. In conversation, I have learned there is a strong desire for people to meet one another outside the bar scene. Fortunately, clubs such as the DCA have increased their involvement in the gay community by offering alternative social activities such as boat cruises and roller-skating parties. At the same time there are those trapped in the closet, refusing to meet other gays at all. An outlet for them may be the hustler, or male prostitute, who works the streets in gay neighborhoods.

The Hustler

John was very boyish-looking with shoulder-length hair, which seemed almost styled. He stood. about 5'7" with a lean build. As he walked, he reminded me of a kid from a local playground hanging out. As I watched him work the street corner, I could see the drivers of cars looking him over, many of whom were potential customers. One car passed him for the second time. The driver appeared to be in his late 40s. John approached the car; conversation was exchanged, but the driver pulled away without him. Perhaps the price was too high or maybe John wasn't feeling right about this particular individual. Whatever the reason, he headed back to the corner alone.

I approached the young hustler. As he stared at my Gay News Tshirt, I could see an uncertainty in his eyes. Explaining that I was a reporter and that I had an interest in knowing more about his feelings, he agreed to talk.

John is 18 and lives in Southwest Philadelphia. He "sees" as many as five customers during his twice-aweek working hours, and can boast of a steady clientele. He receives an average of $10-20 per customer. John has never been arrested; he claims he is able to tell if a customer is an undercover police officer: "You go by your feelings."

hustling, he can still maintain a macho image: "What i am doing is all right because I get paid for it." The Non-hustler

John is familiar with other hustlers who work the area, but hasn't. fought with them over customers "I don't really or street territory. give a damn about the others," he said.

Hustlers aren't the only ones who reject being labeled gay. A person who has had a negative gay experience may be discouraged and retreat to the closet before discovering that a gay lifestyle is fulfilling.

Even though he has sex with men, John doesn't consider himself gay. Under further questioning, however, he conceded, "Well, I guess I am more gay than straight." He confided that a few times he had managed to get into gay bars. Throughout, he keeps reinforcing the fact that he likes women.

Robert is 24 and lives in the Philadelphia suburbs. I met him while sitting on my steps one evening. He doesn't consider himself gay because he is nothing like the gay men he's come in contact with in his limited experience.

His eyes became very intense during the discussion of his sexuality; he became ill at ease, again. questioning me as to who I am and why I'm asking these questions.

Is John coming out of the closet the only way he knows how, justifying his sexuality by hustling? By

TRADE

WINDS

THE LEATHER BAR IN COLUMBUS

Sun-Thurs 11.p.m. 2:30 a.m. Fri & Sat 10 p.m. 2:30 a.m.

117 E. CHESTNUT ST. (614) 461 4110

COLUMBU

"Every now and then, I get this uncontrollable uege to drive into Center City," explained Robert. Then I end up going to this bar (a gay western and leather bar). You can stand there for two hours and nobody talks to you. Then if someone does talk to you, it ends up being about going to bed and having sex. These people don't even know each other and it is all so impersonal.

"I am not like that; I want to be friends with people and I just don't think like the people I occasionally meet who are gay."

I shared with Robert my own feelings and experiences. We both recognized the fact that we all have basic needs to fill and sex is one of them. Whether we have sexual encounters at the beginning of a relationship, in the middle of a relationship or after a couple chooses to live with each other, the choice is made by the individuals, and everyone's standards are different-straight or gay. However, the majority of us have been programmed by a heterosexual society, and homosexuality has been instilled as a negative lifestyle. Many of us, as we grow older, have learned that it is our right to question that programming. As we realize this, some of us change our sexual attitudes entirely or partially. Sometimes it takes longer and it is more difficult, because each of us is different. Some people never change their programming, but it is usually a matter of choice,

I explained how I meet other people who have the same problems with sexual attitudes in the gay lifestyle and told him about other guys who don't even consider coming out of the closet because they can't identify with what they see at the bars. I wanted to tell Robert about books he could read such as The David Kopay Story or Familiar Faces, Hidden Lives, but I didn't have the chance. I did explain that there are guys who are "out" but have problems with gays who are "fem" and/or "drag queens." But it was getting late and our conversation was coming to a close. One thing was for certain, Robert was very confused about himself.

GAY NEWS-Sept. 21, 1979

(Continued on page 30)

OIHO

WORLDS LARGEST GAY RESOR

400 Acres-Camping Bath Club-R.V. Space-Rooms Skiing Close By Open All Year Round

CLOTHING OPTIONAL

WRITE FOR FREE BROCHURE

Rt. 1, Box 298 CGN Rockbridge, Oh 43149 (614) 385-6823

FORT DICKS

the Western Bar in Columbus adjacent to Tradewinds II

Mon.-Fri. 5 p.m. til closing Sat. Sun. 3 p.m. til closing Happy Hour 5 to 8

117 E. Chestnut St., Columbus (614) 461 4110

Buffet every Sunday at -Dancing

3 p.m.

AIR CONDITIONING

27