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My Coming Out: Christopher Bram
October 11, 2006
Christopher Bram’s most beloved novel, Father of Frankenstein, was developed into the hit film, Gods and Monsters, starring Ian McKellen and Brendan Fraser. His newest book, Exiles in America was released in September from William Morrow.
I went to the College of William and Mary, where I regularly fell in love with men but did not think of myself as gay. This was in the early Seventies, when people still claimed same-sex desire was a phase all teenagers went through. Also, I was an ROTC scholarship student, which meant I owed the army four years after graduation. I couldn't afford to call a rose a rose.
I never went to bed with any men, however, and gave my energy to writing fiction, editing the literary magazine, running the film society, even making short films. But slowly, slowly I realized that my failure to fall in love with any of the wonderful women I knew was not accidental.
I got kicked out of ROTC my senior year -- for migraine headaches.
The army didn't know who I was (I barely knew myself) but I was suddenly free. I didn't know what to do with my freedom. Sex seemed like a good idea, only I didn't know how to pursue it. I needed to tell someone first, just to make my desires real. I didn't know who to tell, except my roommate, Rowland.
Rowland was a short, stocky, mustached history major who liked beer and Camel cigarettes. We'd been friends since freshman year. We frequently went out drinking together; I often heard about his sorrows. After his girlfriend broke up with him, he would burst into tears whenever the jukebox played Roberta Flack's "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." If the song didn't play before the night was over, he'd put a quarter in and play it himself.
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Comments
Monsters Fan wrote:
So cool to find Christopher Bram on your site. I've been a fan ever since I saw the movie Gods & Monsters. I'm sure he would prefer that I fell in love with his books, first. But I did go back and read his books, which I loved. The one about Circus Animals and actors in New York is my favorite. Now I guess I need to get his new one. Okay, bye. I gotta go shopping.
!!
posted at October 11, 2006 10:58 AM
Ed Sikov wrote:
The idea of Chris Bram facing four years in the Army is mind-blowing.
posted at October 12, 2006 09:14 AM
Victor Bumbalo wrote:
Chris Bram is a treasure.
Victor
posted at October 12, 2006 03:23 PM
Don Roff wrote:
One more entertaining and poignant story from Chris. Thanks for "coming out" to us all.
posted at October 12, 2006 07:24 PM
james rauchman wrote:
Chris Bram's work should be on everybody's must-read list...and I think there are enough great characters in his work for a couple TV series' as well.Good to see him on the site
posted at October 27, 2006 03:05 PM
LESLIE DELGADO wrote:
IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO CAN TELL ME WEHRE I MAY PURCAHSE A COPY OF THE TV MOVIE , FROM 1974, " THAT CERTAIN SUMMER."", ON DVD OR VHS.???? THANKS LESLIE
posted at November 28, 2006 02:27 AM
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