Have You Seen My Yellow Brick Road?

A gay man remembers: Thrilling Progress, Agonizing Setback

The Wizard of Oz is acknowledged as one of the most influential films of all time. To queer people of a certain age, it’s a powerful metaphor.

As a young gay man in the 1980s, what did I think the future held for us queer folk? What did I expect life to bring us? How far would we advance in our struggle for equality?

I don’t think of myself as old, though I took a selfie today and didn’t recognize the old man staring back. I feel young, even if I don’t look it. When I talk to actual young people about queer history, I’m amazed sometimes at how far we’ve come, and what a rollercoaster ride we’re on.

I wrote most of this story before Donald Trump was elected president — before he radically altered the landscape of American freedom and acceptance of minorities.

The Trump Assault on LGBTQ

I wrote this story before fear began to creep back in—

As a barely-emerging adult in 1980, I was pretty optimistic. I had no actual experience with straight people who were tolerant of LGBTQ people, but I knew tolerant people existed and even in large numbers.