There was never an alternative for me, it was how I was from a really young age, so unless all of those timeless childrens books are really gay propaganda to infect the young, it must be genetic.
Lee, I take offense that you're confusing masculine and gay. I seem to manage to be both. Am I butch, no. Mascualine, yes. Feminine yes. I just am who I am and proud of it.
I wasnt sexually aware until I was 13 or 14, but looking back at my pre teen days, there were the following signs.
1) In cowboys and Indians, I always wanted to be the Indian.
2) I was a Mummy's boy, I loved baking, cooking, cleaning and sewing.
3) I loved playing and talking with girls, but that was because we had similiar interests. Doll houses, Dressups, Tea Parties.
Before Lee points out that these arent normal masculine male child traits, I also loved.
1) Riding my bike until all hours
2) Building Tree houses, falling out and getting banged up.
3) Jumping into the river off the cliffs and other crazy dangerous things
4) Mowing the lawn, raking leaves (To jump into) and playing in the mud around the lagoon.
5) I spent the equivilent of a couple of years filling the sandpit with water and playing with my Tonka Trucks.
As a child I didnt know what Gay meant, I new I was different by about age 8, and around by age 10 the Sydney G&L Mardi grais become required family viewing each year. (I dont know whether my mother had a subconscious understanding) By age 13 or so, I'd finally connected the dots and figured out who I was.
With the well rounded childhood I had, and a mother who's philosophy around, life, work, religion, etc is to provide her children with all of the information so I can make informed decisions, I dont see that there was any pressure or gay mind control that made me who I am.
I guess I was lucky being a child of the 80's, I've never had to feel that I need to lie or pretend about who I am. Michael who is 11 years older than me, didnt have that luxury and pretended until he was in his late 20's, it was a shock to both of us, how different and the same our experiences were.
Lee I would be interested to know what you were planning to get from this discussion. Its probably a good time for you to chime in with some feedback.