Men's Group

I am actually very good with children, and have mentored them in many situations. That said, I will go out of my way to make sure I am never in a situation where I am alone with them or in the presence of a homophobe and children are present. My attitude is more from my mom. She doesn't care for children either, but loves her children, grandchildren, and nephews and nieces. I am the same, I love my extended family, but I do admit, I worry about being around them at times. Of course, I am the good uncle because I send money and cool gifts (sent a drum set to my 4yo nephew, but that was about getting back at my brother. ).

Of course, it doesn't stop with children. IRL, I don't have straight male friends. I have almost never had them. The only exception was when I was in HS and in college before I came out of the closet. I don't associate with straight men, except here. When I do encounter straight men, I generally avoid eye contact, and almost never touch them, though I tend to be a touchy-feely type person. The one thing I have really come to enjoy about DU is that I can freely associate with straight men, and don't have to worry about what they are thinking. It is my own prejudice I have about straight men; in some respects, I fear them. It isn't rational, but years of taunting, years of accusations of appropriate behavior (including one that almost cost me my job), and years of hate directed at me, I have just given up. Personally, I find that to be sad, because I am sure there are some wonderful men with whom I could have a good relationship...and I just don't.