Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum

Thank You Brokeback Mountain!

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vince55:
I am a 58 year old gay man who has seen Brokeback at least 5 times. I come from the era of Brokeback which was the early 60's. The movie profoundly affected me in several ways. During that period of time the gay culture was underground. There were very few clubs or bars you could go to without fearing a police raid. I was actually in a bar raid where paddy wagons arrested about 100 people for being in a homosexual establishment. We also feared leaving clubs without being escorted to our vehicles in fear of being bashed. As far as my professional life, I was in the education system which was definitely not the place to be. I had to remain closeted and fearful of being outed. I had pictures of various girls on my desk as a decoy and the lies were excessive. The isolation was horrible. In addition I was an only son in a first generation Italian family. When my father found a note I had written to another gay man, he began drinking heavily which in a short time killed him.

I had the opportunity of having an eight year relationship with someone. We broke up in 1981 and he died of AIDS in 1989. Since then, I more or less gave up on relationships and stopped dating. I haven't lived with anyone since 1981. I retired to Florida from New York about 2 years ago. Last October when Hurricane Wilma hit Florida I was alone and suffered a heart problem and ended up with a pacemaker. I've kept my life filled with a few friends but never wanted to pursue a relationship until Brokeback Mountain. When I saw Ennis looking out that window all alone it made me realize that you shouldn't give up on love and you need to take risks. I never wanted to risk the chance of being hurt again in a relationship but BBM made me realize that the alternative (Ennis) was not the way.

I work part time at a furniture store and I met another gay man who asked me out. I never would accept a date from anyone. BBM made me change my mind and I decided to take a chance. To make a long story short, we've been together 7 months now and very happy. If it wasn't for BBM, I would have never found my own Brokeback Mountain. Thanks Ennis! And Thanks to ANG LEE [/b] for showing everyone the isolation and the fear we experienced!

Jeff Wrangler:

--- Quote from: vince55 on December 07, 2006, 10:57:56 pm ---I work part time at a furniture store and I met another gay man who asked me out. I never would accept a date from anyone. BBM made me change my mind and I decided to take a chance. To make a long story short, we've been together 7 months now and very happy. If it wasn't for BBM, I would have never found my own Brokeback Mountain. Thanks Ennis! And Thanks to ANG LEE [/b] for showing everyone the isolation and the fear we experienced!

--- End quote ---

Wonderful! Congratulations! Hope things continue to go well for you and your special someone! Thanks for sharing--that's what we're here for!  ;)

David:
Hi Vince!

   Welcome to BetterMost and thanks for sharing that great story!

Stay a while and look around.   You want a cup of coffee dontcha?  Piece of Cherry cake?

Meryl:
Vince, thank you so much for telling your story.  It gives me a lift to know that you found the courage to take a chance and it paid off.  I hope you stick around and enjoy being here at BetterMost!  8)

tamarack:
Ennis had that same effect on a lot of us, Vince, gay and straight. I've been adhering to the More Jack, Less Ennis philosophy for four or five months now and it seems to be working out really well!

Welcome to BetterMost.

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