in imageI was always told Id never make it to 40.
Sex education, bullies and movies said Id die of AIDS
or loneliness. There were no sitcoms about older Gay
men (a "special episode" if I was lucky). My script was
written: Id be cast as "angsty, closeted teen
then
addicted, suicidal hustler then
sexless,
funny,
fashionable sidekick (no older than 35),
white picket
husband or creepy, flaming villain. Then I vanished.
Why would I argue or expect more? So many heroes
died by 40. My addiction and suicide rates are so much
higher than my straight counterparts. My own
community's ageism suspends youth and virility by
any needle, pipe,
an this culturalermi, ermpis te otter side ry
action movie bridge, broken and perilous.
I am 43 today. My need for sexual validation has
simmered (a little bit). The chips on my shoulder are
melting off and the scars of gay bashings look kinda
cool. I earned rights and built tools unimaginable to
my ancestors. What I sacrificed and valued means the
next generations will not need to start from scratch.
Audiences will not forget they've seen us. I no longer
need to buy or sell scripts about invisible men. In our
fatherless culture, my elders call me baby and my
children call me Daddy.
Iam the last First Generation.
Leo Herrera
@herreraimages
I love Leo's writing

in imageDHLIDIAL Pr