Ian has an intersting post about images of men in 1970's media that we later learned - or really just had confirmed - were gay. The word flamboyant comes to mind as how we were able to accept their personalities. I am glad those days are over. If you were not bid, brassy and, most importantly, different, you were not safe to watch. There was a big sign over their heads - like Jimmy Walker's "DY-NO-MITE" - that said contextually acceptable for the pasty masses. I think death nell for this was Jimmy Somerville and the Bronski Beat's hit "Small Town Boy" about 20 years ago. Just a normal looking guy at the pool in the video. Right about then a guy who was just a guy I worked with shared that I was a nice guy but Steve was hot. I knew then that it would be ok to not need the safety plumage of oversized glasses and silk scarfs or unwarranted exuberance.

Later: wonky link fixed - thanks David.