Fall 1983: My Top 10 Cruising Experiences

If you were born after 1970, you may be wondering why I did so much cruising at Augustana College (1978-82), and even more with Viju at Indiana University (1982-84).    Seeking out one-night stands in bars as a form of recreation?  Without any expectation of an ongoing relationship? How sleazy, not to mention dangerous!

But the gay Boomer generation spent the first 18 or 20 years of their lives forbidden any expression of erotic desire.  We couldn't flirt openly with guys, or discuss the attractiveness of teen idols with our friends, or tell our parents about the cute guy we just met.  Everything was hidden, clandestine, secret.

So just being able to flirt with guys, to stare, compliment their physiques, touch their shoulders or chests was a new, glorious freedom.

And we were told, over and over again, that only heterosexual desire was valid, or that only heterosexual desire existed.  Cruising was a way for us to overcome that lie.  Guess what -- same sex desire exists.  It is strong.  It is powerful.

So we cruised to overcome oppressive childhoods, to meet new people, to strengthen bonds of friendship, to participate in a community.

And I met a lot of very interesting guys.  My diary for those two years reveals some memorable experiences (no pictures, and on a few names, unfortunately).  Here are my top 10 cruising experiences in Bloomington and Indianapolis:

1. A blond violinist from Finland, visiting Indianapolis for a concert.

2. A Deputy Attorney General of the State of Indiana, whose large dogs kept trying to horn in on our evening together. (Top photo looks like him.)

3. A Mormon missionary who tried to convert me, while we were lying in bed, and left some tracts and a Book of Mormon on my nightstand.  I still have it.


4. A bisexual bodybuilder from Thailand (left) whose girlfriend showed up the next day, and we all went out to breakfast.

5. A little person, about 4'9", who worked at the post office.

6. A Nigerian guy who had hundreds of books on witchcraft, and conjured some spirits for me.










7. A professor of political science from Egypt.

8. A guy who turned out to be my second cousin, grandson of my Grandma Dennis's brother.

9. A philosophy major (left) who invited me back to his place, where his parents were asleep in the next room, and his brother wanted to join in.

And #10:
A guy who was neither muscular nor cute.  It was a lot of fun to watch the jaws of all the actor-model types dropping as I walked past them to zero in on the guy they'd been ignoring.  He turned out to be very nice, and gifted where it counts.