You Can't Kiss Your Boyfriend In Here

I've suffered with lots and lots of Homophobia in my years of being OUT as a Gay Man.

You have to understand that my Hometown IS VERY HOMOPHOBIC.

Realising you're Gay at an early age in a Homophobic town can make life quite difficult.

I was OUTED by a DJ when I was 14 at an under 18's disco

He had no idea how much GRIEF that caused me afterwards!

The "Gay Boy" comments never went away I was still experiencing homophobic insults in my 30's from Idiots from my past.

Seems my Sexuality ruined a lot of childhood friendships people stopped talking to me.

Jason who was supposed to have been my best friend at Nursery/Infants/Junior School flipped out when he became aware of my sexuality

He was the last person I'd expected Homophobia/Abuse from.

In One of the Homophobic attacks I had my nose broken by a punch from behind as I was walking home (Aged 14)

Quite the coward when you're with your friends aren't you Julian?

In another Homophobic attack I was set upon by two blokes in a Bus Station I lost my front teeth in that attack.

It took me a few years to feel comfortable with my sexuality because of it.

I find it quite frankly SAD that I'm NOT in touch with anyone I went to School or the Youth Club with.

I had to endure being called names in the street and it got BORING

Faggot, Bender, Shirtlifter, Cock Sucker and Queer Fucker were among the worst of the Insults.

Homophobic remarks go in one ear and out of the other now, mind its a HATE CRIME these days.

If only it had been a hate crime 30 years ago I could have reported so many people.

I was hounded out of my my first full time pub job in 1991 because I was Gay.

I thought everything with my job was going well I was doing what I'd been trained to do.

I tried to keep my sexuality secret but someone who knew me from my youth club days said something.

Turns out the Landlord was biding his time waiting to to sack me because of my my sexuality.

I Knew something was up when they set me up on karaoke with a song called "Charlie Is My Darling" I didn't want to do it.

I got queerbashed in another pub on my day off

I'm convinced Keith paid the bloke to beat me up just so he could sack me.

I got called in to The Ashby Star Keith took me into the lounge bar then proceeded to tell me about his "dislike" of Queers and how un-natural he thought we were & that he didn't want me anywhere near his children

That hurt me a great deal, I have no interest in Children I'm GAY not a Paedophile. (Yes There Is a Difference!)

I've been a DJ at many a Childrens Birthday/Christmas Party and all I ever did was make sure the children enjoyed themselves.

I was never inappropriate towards children at any time

I ended up with a LYNCH MOB outside my house once at 2AM I had to stay with a friend for a few days.

Being sacked like that lead to a period of Depression as I'm sure you can imagine. It triggered bad thoughts.

A couple of years later I encountered difficulties one night with my then partner in a now DEFUNCT working mens club.

I'd taken my partner and another friend out for a night out to watch the Saturday Night Cabaret act in May 1994.

Towards the end of the night I leant over to whisper something important to my partner.

Next thing I knew I had a letter telling me to appear infront of the Committee to explain why I was KISSING my Boyfriend.

I fought the Committee all the way I wasn't Kissing him as they'd alledged I was whispering to him and I wanted to get that over I also challenged the Committee and the clubs stance on Gay people

I won my case against the Homophobic Committee I wasn't taking it. I had my Dad sticking up for me.

However It cost me my relationship as my partner decided he wanted to go back to London.

For my own safety and mental health I decided to follow my Ex's lead and moved to London in July 1994.

Only bumped into my ex partner once while in London in a club called the London Apprentice.

I worked at several Gay Pubs down there in my time some of them were great some NOT so great.

I never got any Homophobia in London, Mainly because I guess no one knew me. It was great being able to be who I was.

A punter tried being Homophobic towards me in an Irish pub I was working in 1998.

He got the sharp end of my tongue and I threatened him that he wasn't being served if he carried on.

I live in Manchester far away from the Homophobic Nightmare that is my hometown.

I don't really want to go back unless I have to only reason will be funerals.

In 20 years of living in Manchester I've had very little in the way of Homophobic comments.

My hometown claims its a different town these days IT ISN'T it still contains the same Homophobic NO MARKS I grew up with.

I bear all the mental scars from the times I've been Abused, Punched, Kicked.

I still have a broken nose despite the attempt to straighten it.

Someone once said my broken nose was my best feature... HA!

Everything I've endured has only made me stronger.

I still have Nightmares & Anxiety from the years of Homophobia I endured.

As Erasure Sang: Never Get Angry At The Stupid People!