I’m From Ocala, FL.

by Gregory Smith

State Satellite overhead image from Google Earth 2022

I am bisexual in orientation, and married with children, and out. I grew up as an Air Force brat. We moved around a lot, but finally settled in Florida (my extended family is spread out from south Alabama to south Florida) when I was in 8th grade. I knew but could not admit to myself that I liked looking at big, muscular guys (I’ve always like jocks), and I could not deny that I kept looking at the men’s underwear section of the Sears Catalog! Isn’t that funny! Actually I’ve talked to a lot of other gay and bi guys and they have similar stories about that catalog…

I went through therapy in college trying to figure out my sexuality because I knew I was having experiences with both men and women, and according to society that meant I was gay. Then I met and fell in love with my wife. So I told her about my orientation and she said that as long as I was dating only her it didn’t matter who I fantasized about and that is how it has been now for 24 years.

Only recently have I shared my orientation with my sons and the larger community. It has taken a great deal of anxiety away from me to do so, and I encourage other people to do so as well. I thought it would be a major problem and it has turned out to be a non-issue.

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