Going serious for a sec, never ever spent a minute wanting a kid or kids. And after coming out in '75, kids just didn't come up in that orbit very often.
Dewey, who I met in '77 had been married and had a kid but they died before I met him.
Rich had a daughter, but she lived far away with her mom. AFAIK, Rich had no contact with her or paid support, although we did not spend more than a few seconds on the topic. 'John' who I date shortly after starting 12 Steppers had an ex and a 12 year old daughter at the time. John endeavored to keep that part of his life totally separate from the gay part. A dear friend who dated and partnered with another dear friend of mine I found out after knowing him for several years had an ex wife and 3 kids. It was a jaw dropping revelation to me at the time, I didn't consider him able to touch a woman without throwing up let alone fathering kids with one, LOL!
"Randy" had kids, and had custody too after his divorce. That was a new one on me, that's for sure. Till I met him, 'coming out' was something many of us in the gay orbit viewed as a way of breaking off totally from the 'other side'. Randy merging both worlds was pretty rad to me at the time.
Over the years at 12 Steppers, I've been almost continually stunned how many gay 12 Steppers have fathered kids. And I'd say the trend has been steady over the decades of aiming for better and better family relationships with them.
I've also now encountered a few (realize my peer demographic is around 60 years old and older now) same sex married couples with either kids of their own or adopted ones now.
If I was seriously dating someone with adult kids from most any circumstance, it wouldn't matter to me as long as they weren't religious assholes about it.
And over the years, I have had VERY little dealings with siblings of my gay friends. LOL, my siblings have encountered more of my gay friends than I have of theirs.
Notable exceptions would include Dewey's sister (nice enough but familial resemblance to Dewey I found disturbing), Pastor P's brother (who turned out to be as hot as he was, woot !!!) and Brian's siblings. In Brian's case I'm sorry to say, it just seemed way too complicated to me to be interacting with his siblings (being around his mom was bad enough) so I pretty much ignored them. Brian's younger brother was very difficult to be around, I felt really sorry for him, his family life being turned upside down and all these strangers suddenly flocking around their family through such a personal and awful tragedy had to be really rough.
And in case you're wondering, no one has ever asked me for a semen donation to sire a kid . . . .
Dewey, who I met in '77 had been married and had a kid but they died before I met him.
Rich had a daughter, but she lived far away with her mom. AFAIK, Rich had no contact with her or paid support, although we did not spend more than a few seconds on the topic. 'John' who I date shortly after starting 12 Steppers had an ex and a 12 year old daughter at the time. John endeavored to keep that part of his life totally separate from the gay part. A dear friend who dated and partnered with another dear friend of mine I found out after knowing him for several years had an ex wife and 3 kids. It was a jaw dropping revelation to me at the time, I didn't consider him able to touch a woman without throwing up let alone fathering kids with one, LOL!
"Randy" had kids, and had custody too after his divorce. That was a new one on me, that's for sure. Till I met him, 'coming out' was something many of us in the gay orbit viewed as a way of breaking off totally from the 'other side'. Randy merging both worlds was pretty rad to me at the time.
Over the years at 12 Steppers, I've been almost continually stunned how many gay 12 Steppers have fathered kids. And I'd say the trend has been steady over the decades of aiming for better and better family relationships with them.
I've also now encountered a few (realize my peer demographic is around 60 years old and older now) same sex married couples with either kids of their own or adopted ones now.
If I was seriously dating someone with adult kids from most any circumstance, it wouldn't matter to me as long as they weren't religious assholes about it.
And over the years, I have had VERY little dealings with siblings of my gay friends. LOL, my siblings have encountered more of my gay friends than I have of theirs.
Notable exceptions would include Dewey's sister (nice enough but familial resemblance to Dewey I found disturbing), Pastor P's brother (who turned out to be as hot as he was, woot !!!) and Brian's siblings. In Brian's case I'm sorry to say, it just seemed way too complicated to me to be interacting with his siblings (being around his mom was bad enough) so I pretty much ignored them. Brian's younger brother was very difficult to be around, I felt really sorry for him, his family life being turned upside down and all these strangers suddenly flocking around their family through such a personal and awful tragedy had to be really rough.
And in case you're wondering, no one has ever asked me for a semen donation to sire a kid . . . .
The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it.
