In the 1980s and 1990s, the moment you figured out that you were gay, you made plans to move to a big city. Small towns and even medium-sized cities were sites of lies, secrets, and silence, where gay people were assumed not to exist, and probably didn't.
There might be one or gay people left in Crawfordsville, Indiana, or Danville, Illinois. They were deeply closeted, living in constant fear, isolated, lonely, desperate.
Yesterday I was traveling with my brother and sister-in-law on I-74 through the desolate nowheres of Indiana and Illinois, past Crawfordsville and Danville, Veedersburg and Westville, Mahomet and Farmer City and Leroy. I turned on Grindr, and watched the names and faces come and go, and listened the voices of gay men. Were they still isolated, lonely, desperate?
Here are 14 of their profiles. Decide for yourself.
1. Gaymer. Weirdo book lover. I don't drive. Sometimes mean, sometimes boring, but if I'm on here, I'm horny, so send some men.2. Mystic. Running, animals, anime, gaming, having fun, stargazing. Passing time on Earth, making friends along the way. I'm an old soul in a modern age, dreaming of things that might never be. Hookups ok.
3. Tonka. Like the toy trucks, I have big wheels. Other things are big, too. I try to laugh at whatever life brings: conversation, cuddling, sex. Can host. Hablo Espanol.
4. Funfun. Living life at level 10. Hit me up for a night of Netflix and pizza. If you have holes in your ears big enough to see through, no thanks. No one over 26.
The full post, with nude photos and sexual content, is on Tales of West Hollywood