Much thanks to the Twitter account @oldmasc for initially sharing this fantastic photo. I’m assuming this dates back to the 1970s. Can anyone offer insight on when this was taken?
I dedicate this weekly post, featuring vintage gay photographs, to the men and women who lived in a more critical time where being true to yourself and loving who you want wasn’t always an option and came at a great price. Do you have a photo you would like to share? Email me at bosguymail@gmail.com.
BosGuy 
That is very cool. I love a good ID on a vintage gay photo. I remember those years too, and my first gay bar, the Sportsman in Phoenix, when I first moved there in ’72. I guess I’m a ‘vintage gay’. 🙂
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The shirtless guy was my first serious romance/boyfriend (‘72) …Rick Betterton. We met in Richmond Va. I had picked up a guy at THE gay bar…Dialtone. We had no where to go. My trick took me to his friend Rick’s apartment late that night to see if he would let us crash there. We woke Rick up. He came to the door in jockey shorts. Love at first sight. We crashed there. The following night Rick showed up at the Dialtone and I pounced.
I guess this pic was San Francisco late 70’s early 80’s. He moved the in the late 70’s. Thanks for the sweet memory! I’ve passed it on to a few of his friends. Rick died in the early 90’s…AIDS
After his death I got a note from Rick’s brother with a check for $1000…the note said “Rick wanted you to buy something pretty to remember him.”
Luckily my husband Dennis (42 years together this year) and Rick were able to meet when we visited California .
A very pleasant surprise from you this morning…thanks
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Wow. That is amazing. Thank you for sharing your story.
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In the face of all the difficulties of the time and on top of that an inter-racial relationship, I still hope and wish that you both have been able to be very happy in your lives! ❤️❤️
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