In 1984, when I was living in Hell-fer-Sartain, Texas, the one moment of joy in my miserable life came on Wednesday nights, when I could watch Scott Baio in Charles in Charge, followed by 21-year old John Stamos as an aspiring singer in Dreams. How could you avoid falling in love with him? Thick black hair, a smooth tan chest, a basket that wouldn't quit, and a smile that stayed with you for days.It only lasted for 12 episodes, but John Stamos got the full teen idol treatment, with posters in teen magazines and articles on "What It's Like to Date John."
I wanted to date John, sure, but I also wanted the big-city Philadelphia freedom he was living. He was an emblem of hope, an awareness that there was life out there, over the rainbow.
After I moved to West Hollywood, I saw John in You Again? (1986-87), as Jack Klugman's teenage son, but not in Full House (1987-1995), the ultra-conservative TGIF sitcom about three straight guys raising a family together in a strictly gay-free San Francisco.
It was rather depressing. Could the guy who got me through the horrors of Hell-fer-Sartain be homophobic?
West Hollywood, June 1990
At Gay Pride in June 1990, when I was marching with Beth Chaim Chadashim, I saw John in the crowd of spectators.
I nudged Lane. "Look. John Stamos, the teen dream I had a crush on in Texas! Is he gay?"
"I don't think so," Lane said. "Gay actors never come to Gay Pride -- somebody might recognize them. He must be straight but a supporter."
"That takes a lot of guts in homophobic Hollywood. I'd like to go over and shake his hand."
"Who are you kidding? You just want to meet your childhood crush!"
"Young adult crush, actually. I'm two years older than Stamos."
By this time we had long since passed by.
The full post, with nude photos and sexual content, is on Tales of West Hollywood.