Being an Odd Duck in Beaumont, Texas

Post from JR's notes-

In "The Long Road to Extradition," part of the plot involves Nicholas discovering his sexuality and falling in love. In the time reference of the book, being gay was still a very difficult subject for a small town to embrace of it's citizens. In fact, it could be downright dangerous. While the gay community has made tremendous strides in equal rights, there is obviously still alot of work to do.

There is a reason I portrayed the MC, Nicholas as gay. In order to realize the full meaning, you'll have to read the book! But, for the sake of this post, for those of you not familiar with being gay in a small town back in the late 70's or not knowing anyone that is gay, I will try to describe what it was like.

When I was a young lad, I was blessed with having alot of gay friends. Through their eyes, I was able to experience if just for a bit, the moments of fun, camaraderie, homophobia from others, violence and day to day life as a gay teen. During my teen years, I was taken to my first gay bar, "The Copa" in Beaumont, Texas. It was located in downtown Beaumont on Orleans street and was fraught with all the things taboo that teenagers shouldn't see or do.

I haven't been back to that club in years, but my first outing as it were included my friends taking me to this building hiding in the blanket of night for an experience I'll never forget. There wasn't a door or doorman outside. Too dangerous. Instead, those who had been to the club previously, knew precisely where to push on this wall outside the club that would lead to an entryway inside. Call it the secret handshake or secret entry, in any event. Once I entered that door, I saw a great deal more than a room full of homosexuals. I entered their world of being less than. And, the injustice has stayed with me since.

The smoky, forbidden rite of passage led me more to than just observing a world I never knew existed; it also reinforced to me that being an odd duck isn't so bad. Not even in Beaumont, Texas.