Chris McGinnis
Why do you think that the gay civil rights movement then came out? Do you think that there were real issues; they just were not quite as extreme as the black community was experiencing?
Bill Hull
I think that the gays when I came along—having been born in the 40s and I never came out, I just found other gay people and I finally figured it out. I did not really feel—I felt special, private, secret, a subculture. I was not that involved in the movement for gay rights, I always had the right to execute them if someone didn’t—I was never—how am I going to say this—I always felt special. People treated me like I was special, because I was gay. It was sort of that funny uncle scenario that happens in the South. “There are gay people, and we love them, and they are all sweet,” and all of that. I never felt oppressed, I never felt discriminated against. To be honest with you, I never got that involved with the gay rights movement, other than as a—well; I just didn’t participate in it.
Chris McGinnis
You were a supporter, perhaps?
Bill Hull
I was a supporter, but I didn’t feel oppressed. Susan Sontag, did an article, what was it in the late 60s or 70s describing what camp was
Chris McGinnis
Right.
Bill Hull
The crowds that I was hanging around with were devastated, they were like, “She has exposed our lifestyle!” It was just a secret, well, it was not a secret, it was just a very erudite communication level, association signals that one had. We were a subculture and proud of it. I mean, I always knew that I was gay from the sixth grade on. I knew that I was special; I knew that I was different. It was a very special secret. So, I never felt like I had to come out and fight my way for acceptance and all of that. Being part of a family that is like what, seventy five percent gay. [Laughter]
Chris McGinnis
Oh, in terms of your nuclear family.
Bill Hull
Yeah, my nuclear family. I was not different, the one straight brother, he was the weird one. [Laughter]
Chris McGinnis
Well, I guess that he was the exception then.
Bill Hull
So, I just always felt like I was who I was, and people accepted me for who I was. I was not necessarily effeminate or that overt. I was discreet, always discreet. I just felt very special. So, I was impressed with the civil rights movement, but I did not feel like that it affected me so personally as it just did generally. People who got in trouble because of their sexual preferences and inclinations or just their nature.