Biography

I was, I hope, a pioneer. But I cannot and will not become a martyr. Where can I go from here? Regular press refused advertising because it was a gay album, not spoofy, but for real. Regular distributors turned off to it. Major labels refused to pick it up. Gay bars expressed interest in selling the album, but when contacted later there was no response. Copies were sent to all the major talk shows, and even those whose private lives are not even suspect in circles where they dabble in call boys, DARED not let me appear, because of the top brass of the networks. Even the original record producer cut the statue of David at the groin because of 'public opinion' and the song 'David' was retitled 'Michael' because of his fear that business associates might have thought he flipped and had swung over the line.

...offering the profits of the record to homophile groups, if they would help to promote the sales of the record have FAILED. Are they all that financially secure; or that mentally retarded? I really couldn't care less, right now, John. I have my lover, I have my own beliefs in what I tried to do, and I don't regret it one bit. If anyone still wants a curiosity, and what may become now a camp collector's item, they can still purchase the album through Libran. Perhaps, word will spread, and still a renaissance of honesty may come. My own position now is becoming one of amused silence. I am stepping out of the vanguard (what else can I do, I have to eat and try to bail out my indebtedness for this venture) and I will let the banner be picked up by less cool heads. Get swept under that Conservative carpet fellas. I am not the martyr type. I enjoy my gay life too much to allow it to become too public, for a public that doubts the reality of it. It came from decisions, not pot. Living it, not howling for it. And acceptance from family and friends who admired my talents, my intelligence and my honesty. I no longer wish to allow anyone to try to denigrate any of those qualities, because they cannot share them, or equal them.

About 60 percent of all the guys who work in straight porno films in New York are either bisexual or gay. Yet none of them would do 'The Story of Joanna' because the character in it had two major love scenes, one with the leading lady and one with the leading man. There was no one who would risk his masculinity to do that scene.

I am not bitter, John, I am just broke. Now I must retreat into the silent majority once more, and hope that I can live down the mistake of thinking that the world, if not the gay community at least, was ready for a little honesty.

D.L. tried to raise money for a gay show a few years back, but was frustrated to failure. Was that an attempt to promote his lover's short-lived theatrical ambitions? (You MUST know who I'm talking about, but let's not let the public in on these little indiscretions, or a whole organization might be discredited by its own nepotism). Nearly every successful gay show has happily produced a NEGATIVE and loathsome picture of gay life. They had to succeed. Painting a positive picture aside from pretty young things in provocative poses to titillate repressed intellects who need jerk-off material, is still in a Neanderthal era. I wish it were not so. If it were not so, rock or Welk, square or swinging, the FACT that it was a POSITIVE statement of gay love, should have gained favor and support for the album.

The Continental Baths should be a giant lesson. You elected Mayor Lindsay? Guess again. You got used. Picket ABC? For Christ's sake, ABC is said to have a higher percentage of gay employees than any other major network, but most of them are smart enough to keep their mouths shut. Figures in business, sports, politics, theatre? I've been around long enough, and in the RIGHT circles, to have had a Who's Who circuit of sexual jollies, and some of the names I could drop would cause more slander and libel suits and interest shit coverage in the press, but to what avail? I have enjoyed their bodies, and they now have the money to protect their reputations.

I took a big chance. I hoped that queens everywhere would stand up for their own. To date they haven't (in sufficient numbers) to keep me from economic disaster. If every reader of GAY had bought a copy of the album, if only out of curiosity, the thing would have broken even, not made me a millionaire, thank you, simply recouped the investment.