From this side of 60, living in Smalltown, Oklahoma, the most important "coming out" in the 1950's was to myself.

In the 8th grade a girl friend and I spent every Friday night at one or the other's house. We spent much time giggling and talking, but to me the most important part of those nights was the "practice" kissing. As time passed the hormones kicked in and the kissing lead to heavy petting. When I was on the brink of suggesting something more a boyfriend showed up in her life, so all our practice was put to use and I stayed home alone on Friday nights. All through high school I was aware that the time with my girl friend in 8th grade was much happier and more fun than dating boys and all that went with it.

My freshman year at Texas Womans University was even more torture. I fell head over heels in love standing in the registration line, my first full day on campus. In this time of censored television and conservative newspapers the idea that I might not be the only person in the world to feel this way about another girl never occurred to me, I was in hell. At the end of that year a sweet young woman that had a crush on me "told" me her feelings and opened up a wonderful, free, new world to me. The gay subculture was the most liberating event of my life. I have never looked back or questioned my sexuality.

The times were so different, the "gay" world so hidden, so underground, in this part of the country, the idea of "coming out" to anyone straight, most of all my family was unthinkable. As I went about the business of living my life I am sure my lifestyle became obvious to those around me though it was never mentioned.

Nothing ever came of my first love or the crush the wonderful young woman had, but God bless her for telling me how she felt.