Dancing Through the Years: The Lifelong Value of Queer Friendships
Navigating the evolving landscape of social connections into adulthood as an LGBTQ+ person
I’m in a parked Honda Civic with my gay best friend.
The year’s 2009. I’m 19, he’s 18. We’re outside San Francisco’s sole 18+ gay club, buzzing with excitement as Lady Gaga’s anthems blare from the speakers, our prelude to the evening’s festivities.
He knows every word. So do I. The car fogs up and my friend jokes that any person who walks by would probably think we’re up to something else entirely. I press my hand against the foggy glass like Rose did in Titanic, and my friend laughs and sprays some Le Male Elixir on his neck.
When Gaga plays inside the club later that night he lifts me into the air and we join in an exuberant dance, both scream-singing with unrestrained fervor.
I’d met this friend in the library my senior year of high school, his junior. Our mutual friend introduced us; we all had a free study period. He and I started off having lighter conversations about Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, before gradually moving on to deeper confessions — including coming out to each other.
