Gay culture is surviving and thriving. Some activists believe the recent rise in homophobic violence might be a gauge of the success of positive gay images.

My reasons for declaring a sexual preference had to do less with the pursuit of personal freedom than with the lust for pure shock value.

I am now faced with mortality. Definitely not the most generous move.

Coming out involves varying degrees of difficulty that are affected by class, race, religion, and geography.

I wore a woman's antique fur jacket to my high school junior prom.

I believed I was invincible.

My gayness became quietly accepted and, shock of all shocks, life went on.