Page 10 - BGS_FETISH-GUYZ 2017 Gay Skins

Issue 1: December 2017

MY LIFE AS A SKINHEAD

by Mal

was brought up on a council estate,
all there was after school was to hang
I around with my mates playing football in
the street.

Some older lads were skins, and they
invited me to join them first of all playing
footie, then I got to know them better. It
was always short back and sides at that
time, but they suggested that I got a crop,
which I did.
I remember nagging my parents wanting
a pair of boots, and in the end I got a pair
from the army and navy store, not rangers
like I have now, but these where so ex
squaddie boots, I remember I felt like the
dogs ballocks wearing them, with a pair of
rolled up jeans, a least I started to look the
part.
I was not sure if I was gay, and in the early
70’s it was not as easy as it is today to say
that you were gay, so I had girlfriends etc.

As we know the skinhead culture was at
first very working class, and today it still
has its roots firmly in that area. And we all
know that from skinheads other groups
were formed from it, for the scar to two-
tone. As well as more extreme wings of the
skinhead movement.

The internet has changed the way that oth-
er men meet each other, in my day it used
to be going to bars which from whispering
told the network of places to find likemind-
ed men. But now the internet has come
along, more and more people are meeting
via online web site such as recon, grindr
etc.

It was via the internet, I came across a
meeting that was going to take place at
Boltz in Birmingham, at that time, it was
called Birmingham Gay skins. For me I was
excited knowing that other skins who were
like me and being gay were all coming bar where I was were cropped booted
together. If I remember we had to book bleachered wearing skins. Photos I had learn the ropes so to speak from us more
places and I remember well walking down seen loads on times on the net, but this experienced skins. Something those of
Lower Essex Street and finding a line of was real life. us had to learn from the school of rough
booted and bleachered skins queuing to knocks.
get into Boltz. I for one am always thankful that as it
was Birmingham Gay Skins came to be, Being a skinhead is all about brotherhood
Most of the evening is now a bit of a blur, as it gave me the place where I had been and feeling safe for who and what you are.
but the one thing that sticks in my mind looking for most of my adult life. BGS as it Today being gay is more acceptable than it
were skins lining the bar, resting their is now, is a place where skins of all ages was in my early days.
elbows on the bar waiting to be served can come together in a safe environment,
drinks, and all along the side of the where younger skins can feel safe and Cheers Mal

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