S3E13 - Nathan S., 29. Portland

Nathan's story is, at once, extremely unique and totally relatable in that he comes from an Egyptian-American family but was raised in an insular Christian community in New Jersey where being gay was a red line that was not to be crossed. The youngest of his family with two much-older sisters, Nathan didn’t always fit in as the leader of his high school bible club. Fortunately, his best friend, Michelle, was the leader of the school’s Straight/Gay Alliance. Years later, Stephen would ask Michelle why she didn’t call him out as a closet case in high school. “Because that’s what the bullies were saying,” was her brilliant response. Then, she took him to The Cock in downtown New York City and … well you can listen and find out what happened next.

BTW, if you want another story from The Cock, you can listen to Adam’s episode (S2E3).

This interview was recorded in August of 2020 during a very small window in the Pandemic when restrictions were eased temporarily. This trip to Portland was the only excursion I took outside of Seattle during the shutdown.

FRUITBOWL is produced independently without financial sponsors, advertising revenue or corporate media support. Every interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home and production expenses including travel, accommodations, equipment rental, editing and post-production are paid for out of pocket by Dave Quantic, FRUITBOWL’s creator. 

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