I love when personal memoir doubles as queer history lesson! Thanks for inviting us through this wormhole back to 1975, Mark. A gorgeous, layered rendering of the moment you shared with the talented man from Charles Street. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
It's interesting, in light of your story, that Stanton's reputation as an artist is based on portraits of boys, all of them look to be about your age at that time. You are clear that he didn't take advantage of you, but for me there is some tension. If I had been one of Stanton's friends I might have been the one who said, "Jail bait, much?" If I had been a good friend, I hope I would have said, "Buddy, what's with the kids? You need to take a serious look at that."
I was often the one who said “hi” first and pursued the seduction. There was no question of non-consent or my being taken advantage of. A year later, I was in France living with a 28-year old. There was definitely some psycho-pathology involved - my own. Years later, I realized my drive while still in high school to conquer older men had something to do with being molested by a scoutmaster at 11.
We were all operating in an atmosphere of marginalized people violating society’s rules. Sleeping with a minor (technically) who acted very much like a major has to be viewed in that context.
I used to think I was a unicorn, but as I got older and spoke to more people (I was a bartender for years) and then joined the "Gay New York in the 70s and 80s" page, I discovered there were more mischievous and sexually precocious peers than I imagined. Of course, AIDS did take many of us.
I love when personal memoir doubles as queer history lesson! Thanks for inviting us through this wormhole back to 1975, Mark. A gorgeous, layered rendering of the moment you shared with the talented man from Charles Street. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
What a story! What a memory!
It's interesting, in light of your story, that Stanton's reputation as an artist is based on portraits of boys, all of them look to be about your age at that time. You are clear that he didn't take advantage of you, but for me there is some tension. If I had been one of Stanton's friends I might have been the one who said, "Jail bait, much?" If I had been a good friend, I hope I would have said, "Buddy, what's with the kids? You need to take a serious look at that."
I was often the one who said “hi” first and pursued the seduction. There was no question of non-consent or my being taken advantage of. A year later, I was in France living with a 28-year old. There was definitely some psycho-pathology involved - my own. Years later, I realized my drive while still in high school to conquer older men had something to do with being molested by a scoutmaster at 11.
We were all operating in an atmosphere of marginalized people violating society’s rules. Sleeping with a minor (technically) who acted very much like a major has to be viewed in that context.
⚡❤️⚡
It still amazes me how much we got away with as teenagers in the 70s and 80s.
Beautiful snapshot.
I used to think I was a unicorn, but as I got older and spoke to more people (I was a bartender for years) and then joined the "Gay New York in the 70s and 80s" page, I discovered there were more mischievous and sexually precocious peers than I imagined. Of course, AIDS did take many of us.
Oh, good gods - I think about all of the crap I got away with and I'm amazed I survived it.
Unfortunately, you're right - a lot of my friends didn't. AIDS took several loves and dear ones well before their time.