Thread by @dedbutdrmng

Dear Twitter. Here is my Easter Sermon on the fact that people are basically good. Please turn to page 50 in your Hymn books and find 'I am what I am' by Ms Gloria Gaynor

We are in the late 80's/early 90's. I am in my ASTOUNDINGLY un-worldly late teens going to meet some friends in Leeds, a town I have never been to before. They ask me to meet them in The New Penny. Give me directions and a time.

For those who are unaware. The New Penny is Leeds best known gay bar, I may look like a girl and be pretty effeminate but I've always been straight. Did I clock that a trick was being played on me? Notice it was all men?

No. Because un-worldly. It was just loud and full.

I was swiftly approached by one of the campest men in existence.
'Not seen you here before, dear, have you just come out?'

Gay culture had by no means made the inroads that it has now and I had no idea what I was actually being asked.

'I got the bus'

It was very swiftly picked up on that I was a straight boy having a trick played on them. Some facts were explained to me and I think, in hindsight there were quite a few gentle jokes at my expense, but I was very much looked after. Loads of questions.

First, I was told where I should probably be going In Leeds. Then I was given two bits of advice that were ace.

"Those people who sent you here and play tricks like that aren't really your friends. Ditch them and get better ones."

Took A LONG time for this to really sink in.

And secondly, I was told that as someone who didn't really quite fit in and was likely to get noticed for that, I would always find safety in a gay club. Pretty sure this has saved my from a kicking quite a few times.

I probably wasn't in there for very long but I think it was probably a thing which helped cement my general outlook on accepting people. So whoever those good Samaritans were that night that I ended up talking to. Thanks for that.