A Mothership Gay Dating member with tattoos

Whether gay or straight, tattoos have become increasingly popular, and some guys carry them really well.  As ancient tribal markings, rites of passage, signs of gang affiliation, pure artistry, fashion accessories or deep meaningful statements, many gay men find tattoos a homoerotic delight. Anyone getting one for the first time prompts a mini-celebration in the tattoo parlour as they become one of the inked fraternity. For gay men it means joining a brotherhood within the exclusive brotherhood we already are.

One of the most famous books ever written, Moby Dick by Herman Melville  (1851),  has the unforgettable scene where the narrator Ishmael has to share a room and a bed for the night with Queequeg, a South Sea Island harpooner, who is covered in elaborate native tattoos all over his face and body:

“Upon waking next morning about daylight, I found Queequeg’s arm thrown over me in the most loving and affectionate manner. You had almost thought I had been his wife…..though I tried to move his arm - unhook his bridegroom clasp - he still hugged me tightly, as though nought but death should part us twain.”

Melville (whose last work was about the handsome young sailor Billy Budd), makes much of the profusion of strange tattoos covering the islander’s arm, which he can  hardly distinguish from the busy pattern of the conterpane.  Many a gay reader must have felt the erotic charge of Ishmael’s account. Read the rest of this entry »

Gay retirement - Mothership Gay Dating member ‘outerlimits’ reflects on his own experiences:

Gay retirement - a bridge to fulfillment

Is retirement for gay people a different experience, just as their earlier working life has been, as a consequence of our sexuality?  Most definitely.  I took early retirement in January, and have become aware that as a gay man I’m especially privileged as I try to get the most from this neglected phase of life;  but why?

What I wish to explore here is how the gay retirement experience qualitatively differs from that of heterosexuals. We all need enough money to sustain us in our pursuit of happiness, and many problems we may face will be similar, so what’s different?  As the coalition govenment has now made working longer and longer a possibility, even dressing it up as something desirable, we may well question the sanity of working till we drop.  A gay perspective enables us to do this more readily, because we’ve learnt to be more rebellious, questioning, and imaginative,  just to survive. Read the rest of this entry »