One

Talks With

a

Teenager

"When I was seventeen years old I lived in Greenwich Village for about three or four months with a 23-yearold lesbian. She was also a whore and kept busy with tricks both male and female. It was fun for a while and then I moved. I learned a lot about life and myself during that period."

The young man talking is nineteen years old. He is very good looking in a boyish way, with curly brown hair, smooth complexion, full lips a little too much on the slender side perhaps. Persons with any knowledge of the common characteristics might guess correctly that he is a homosexual. He is not troubled by this fact. He is completely at ease and friendly. His name is Victor.

"About the same time I used to do some hustling, but I never could take it seriously. If I liked the person I did it anyway.

"Actually, I went to New York to get away from my parents and my grandmother. They have no understanding of sex. I believe they really fear it. They were no help to me when I needed them most.

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Victor's movements when he talks are not swishy; nor are they feminine; but they are gentle and his voice is quiet. His candor is that of an untroubled, wholesome boy.

"When did you come out, Victor?" "I had my first experience with sex when I was thirteen. But I didn't come out until I was seventeen-after I left home. However, I believe that basically I have always been gay. My early interests were always in other boys, although not consciously sexual. My relationship with the lesbian was never serious. In the case of my first sexual experience, the other boy made the advances, but I immediately reciprocated."

"Does your family know you're gay?"

"Yes. I told my parents when I was seventeen. It was a big mistake. The idea of having a homosexual for a son

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