Last Friday I met the boys out at a British pub and finally found a great Shepard’s pie since the vegetarian restaurant where I was a gay waiter back in college. After watching some rugby and cleaning our plates at the British Bulldog, we walked next door to a bar that I had never been in and yet knew every inch of its dark layout.I turned twenty-one on January 28th, 1993. On the day of this major event through the birthday breakfasts, the beers bought by family and friends there was only one thing on my mind. The Denver Triangle.
The Denver Triangle wasDenver’s the tri-state region’s premiere... and well only men’s leather bar. I had snuck into a lot of bars before turning twenty-one, knowing a whole routine to get into The Ripcord in Houston, Texas. But, this night I was going to walk in as a man. Not a boy having to promise sexual favors to anyone letting me step foot on its hollow ground.
I believe like a Bat Mitzvah or leaving for your first mission gay men have their own rights of passage. There’s realizing that they don’t have to be effeminate to be gay, learning how to give an amazing blow job and walking into their first gay bar with their head held high, proud of who and what they are.
The Denver Triangle was
I believe like a Bat Mitzvah or leaving for your first mission gay men have their own rights of passage. There’s realizing that they don’t have to be effeminate to be gay, learning how to give an amazing blow job and walking into their first gay bar with their head held high, proud of who and what they are.
My twenty-first birthday was that night.
To tell you the truth I was scared shitless, I don’t know why but I was. My friends quickly spread to the bar that I was fresh meat. This actually helped me meet a lot of great guys that I remained friends with for years. This also helped me not forget the passage into manhood by not being able to sit down for a week. [insert giggle here]
The Denver Triangle is long gone.
Last Friday after dinner we walked next door to a bar that I’ve never been to and yet knew every inch of its dark layout. I knew every inch of this hipster beat-box bar, I giggled to myself as I showed my ID to a twenty-five year old hip-cat door man.
As I walked to the back of the bar it was if I was desending the staircase of the Titanic. the atmosphere was thick with rust. It was lost forever but I’m still here.
Did you find the Heart of the Ocean?
ReplyDeletePS RIGHT ON about the Bat Mitzvah thing. Mine was like orthodox. Blood on the sheets and all.
aw, great trip through your memories
ReplyDeleteAt some point, remind me to tell you of my first (and only) trip to the Sumpter Trucking Co. ....at the age of 17. oy.
ReplyDeleteYou know you were born to write, right?
ReplyDeleteI'd buy his book ;)
ReplyDelete