STILL A MAN

I, too, reflect the image of a man
My love may be seen as a sin,
but my heart still bleeds a proud beat
when I walk down judgment’s street.

I will face every stare
That thinks I’m weak
Because of the passion
From another man I seek.

And every word voiced against me
will be inhaled with integrity
as I wander through populations of disapproval.
For opinions can’t tear me down
cause me pain or make me frown.

Years from now
I’ll still walk that street;
Contentment pounding from the bossom
of this battle tested chest
challenged but never conquered.
I will not be looked upon
with disgrace,
for I am still a man.

Tarringo T Vaughan
©2008

Tied Up

One of challenges of being a gay man losing control of who we are and what we want in life. Sometimes we get caught up in the images and horniness that we can easily loose focus and find ourself with...our hands tied and unable to grasp who we are.

Diary Of A Gay Black Man Vol. 1

ACCEPTANCE

I guess I wouldn't be classified as the typical gay male. I don't talk, walk or behave feminine or even have the "look". My dreams once consisted of meeting the perfect girl have three kids with a dog and the white picket fence. But somewhere in my growth I realized that wasn't really in my heart. That it was society's view of who I had to be. And to be honest, without the internet and the blessings of a few men I was able to meet, I may have lived the proclaimed life full of pretended happiness.
As I became content with who I was, I refused to be what society said I had to be. I often challenged both straight and gay people with my individuality. I'm a man who loves sports, grabbing my crotch and even spit once in awhile. I have a natural masculinity in my appearance and demeanor which often makes both sides of the fence question me. One guy at a straight club recently came up to me and asked "how can you be gay?" I glanced at this man who was full of testosterone and said "can't help how I was born". He didn't judge me nor did he change the way he acted towards me, instead he became touchier and very flirtatious. You wouldn't even imagine how many of those experiences I've had with straight men. Maybe the world is becoming more open minded or just less homophobic or maybe there's just a lot of men living the life I thought I had to live to make everyone else happy.
For any other gay men out there, you know the answer to that. I personally don't believe anyone should be afraid to be who they are. Because honestly I was afraid at first, but as time went on and the more terrific, accepting human beings I've met made me show the world a perfect example of another kind of gay man. No boa's around my neck, no platform shoes or switch in my walk but just a man who happened to love other men. I love my females too! In fact I've had the normal young boy crushes growing up but I realized I had those crushes because I wanted to have them and they weren't natural feelings. While I wanted to be with a girl named Tanisha, I was secretly craving a boy named Eric for example.
All I ask from anyone, no matter what your views are is just to see me as who I am first and know this is not my choice, but my given path which is hard enough for me to follow without potholes in the road making it worse. And I realize it’s the acceptance in myself that will make others accept the person who is me.