That was a very evocative piece of writing and realistically captured the torment and tribulations of locker-room culture; a culture that seeps out not only into the outside world, but also well into adulthood.

I faced similar humiliations and I was not even gay in actual fact.

One thing about establishing a gay identity at 42 - it seems awfully late, what with all the possibilities for good times behind you? A very determined and self-aware move, nonetheless.