The Boy in the Pink Coat

"I am not worthy of love or affection."

"I can only have a long-term, satisfying, intimate relationship if it is in secret."

"If were heterosexual, I would be a good person."

"I will lose my value as a human being and be marginalized by other homosexual people when I am old."

"I will die alone and lonely."

"If I succeed I am not REALLY a success."

"I can make people angry."

"God is off limits to me."

"I make people miserable."

"I have the power to embarrass people."

"I make my parents cry."

I still, at times, find myself thinking this way.  After all, like you, I was taught how to make assessments of my character using some very inflexible measures of my success.  Being homosexual, especially in my earlier developmental years, was a burden for me. It will take a while for me to overcome those years and years of exposure to nut-heads.  As I work toward that goal, I am satisfied to know one important truth: Enduring, long-lasting contentment may not be a real prospect for anyone, not just homosexual, gay-gendered people.  As long as society holds its members to a uniform masculine/feminine gender identity, restricts behavior based on sex assignment and exposes boys and girls to a double standard, we will all stay fairly miserable.  

A little outrageous, a little far-fetched, but always thought-provoking, the Boy In the Pink Coat is an examination of the lasting impact gender role assignment can have on the early development of gay social gendered people.
 
The Boy In the Pink Coat recognizes the weaknesses inherent in the early social education of gay social gendered people and offers suggestions for broadening the masculine/feminine gender standard our culture now celebrates.

"I surrendered my youth to the people I feared when I could have been out there loving someone. Don't make that mistake yourself. Life's too damn short." Armistead Maupin (May 13, 1944 - )

Nothing can bring you better happiness than yourself.