BIO-TALES

Southern Babtist Sissy

I was committed to the psychiatric unit of University Hospital for three weeks. In the state of Alabama, attempted suicide is a crime and the state has the right to prosecute if hospitalization is refused. On my first day trip out of the unit my stepfather came to Birmingham and took me to Legion Field for the Alabama/L.S.U. football game. We shared a pint of whiskey before the game and it was while sitting in the car drinking outside the stadium that he told me that he wanted me to be whoever I wanted to be and that he just wanted me to live. It was a moment of caring from a man who had great difficulty expressing love. I will never forget that afternoon. A healing began that saved my life and by the time of his death in 1997 my stepfather and I were very close friends.

My only connection to The Southern Baptist Church from 1970 on was the occasional "You are going to Hell" pamphlets I would receive in the mail from my mother's older sister, my dear but judgmental Aunt Lo. As a sober adult about to turn fifty I want the young gay men and women that are growing up today to know that their lives can truly be different. Find a loving God. Learn to love yourself. Share your love with someone. Pray for those that hate you and keep hate out of your own life at all costs.

Glenn; Tire Recapper,Carousel Rider circa 1970.

Well, these were the little ghosts and goblins that arrived while I was performing in SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES. Del Shores has closed the Los Angeles run of the play and is set to take it (and its incredibly talented cast) to Dallas for an opening in July of 2001. The experience has re-ignited my lifelong love affair with live theater and put to bed my old and rusty anger at the Birmingham, Alabama Psychiatric Community. I do hope they have all thrown away their batteries, electrodes and pornography. Goodnight Dr. Hainey. Wherever you are...