Jim J. Bullock- gay icon

[Daniel]

Before there was a Jack McFarland on Will and Grace, there was Monroe, played by Jim J. Bullock, on Too Close of Comfort.

A very good interview with Bullcock: http://www.queerty.com/before-there-...lock-20090710/

Bullock also had a talk show with the late Tammy Faye- of PTL fame.

In the 2000 documentary The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Tammy laments about how sad it is that “we as Christians, who are to be the salt of the earth…who are supposed to be able to love everyone, are afraid so badly of an AIDS patient that we will not go up and put our arm around them." It seems that Tammy was often confronted with the disconnect between her faith and her consummate love of every human being, while Jim, similarly, was torn between his faith and loving himself.

It's clear from the interview that Bullock still faces difficulties with his family because of religious conservatism.

Boy....do I understand that.

[keltic63]

You know, in his own way, Jim J was "OUT" there, leading the way for a lot of us. I wonder about the price he had to pay, personally and professionally for doing such.

[keltic63]

and now that I've taken a look at the interview, and the clip from the talk show he did with Tammy Faye, I just realized how much a friend of mine acts like, and resembles Jim J!

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by keltic63

You know, in his own way, Jim J was "OUT" there, leading the way for a lot of us. I wonder about the price he had to pay, personally and professionally for doing such.

And it brings back to me just how awful the 80's were. Reagan couldn't bring himself to say the word AID's for 7 years, the NYTimes would only print the word homosexual, and supposed loving Christian's kept pounding away that it was God's retribution and on and on and on. It was the decade of hell. And I came out during it.

Have things gotten better? Yes. They have. Funny how death can wake us up to life. So many wonderful men died. A whole generation. Each person a world.

AIDS is still with us. And every young person who thinks that they can bareback their way to happiness is utterly mad.

Sorry to get all serious. But one thing the interview didn't mention: behind every great comic seems to be a lot of pain. Being funny is an ideal way to deal with it so that it isn't overwhelming.

Yeah....I bet he's paid a price.