July 12th, 1977

Last Saturday night Ross and I went out. Springfield now has two gay bars. My curiosity was intense. Here in the midwest, Heterosexual Capital of the universe, I wondered what the gay community must be like. Actually, neither place was substantially different from any gay bar in any city I’ve ever been in. It made me happy to see my brothers and sisters dancing and loving the same way here as they are all across the country. We are everywhere.

And in the midst of all this, I am having an affair of sorts. I met a guy named Darrel who is so midwestern male that even my fantasies pale in comparison. Both physically and mentally he seems to be a composite of Jimmy and Richard. And much more than either resemblance is the fact that he is a breathing vision of my fantasies.