In a shocking pair of shorts

It is a work in progress

There are things I am probably not yet ready to acknowledge about the way my walking as exercise might have changed aspects of my fitness, my girth and my weight. Brian, for instance would protest until the cows come home that I have lost weight and I am looking trim, I would retort with a vehemence that he is only being biased.

I cannot say he has been that much help in an objective manner because only days ago, he acknowledged that my concerns about my weight that he regularly dismissed as inconsequential before I embarked on my walking regime was quite valid. I was looking like I needed to do something, but he was not going to leave me feeling that I must do something until I started to do something about it on my own, for which I have received enthusiastic partner encouragement.

He is perfect beauty

Now, Brian would most likely ask that I slow down, tone it down a little, get some rest, or something along those lines. Obviously, I do not want to harm myself with excessive workouts that I have considered I might need some deep tissue massage.

Conversely, and definitely, not inversely, I do find Brian quite attractive as he also expresses concerns about filling out places that I think are amazingly perfect as if crafted by a sculptor of incomparable talent. There is no excess, he is man-perfect or all-man, as I would tell him, trim and better than Michelangelo’s David, if I added sexy to the description, I have not even begun to give credit to the form and beauty of art that he is.

Maybe there is some bias in my appreciation, I am attracted to trim and slender men, yet, it appears, we both are caught in degrees of body dysmorphia about how we would like to change some things. In all honesty, the work has mostly been on my part to rise from a sedentary lifestyle to one of moderate to intense activity acquiring a level of fitness, especially for my age. Brian is nature’s perfect form, the model for musculature that you will teach your biology and anatomy on.

There are signs, I admit

Getting up this morning, after a long lie-in, I needed to grab something to wear and as I reached out, it was a pair of shorts that I would have strained to get round my waist just over a month ago. They would be called hot pants as to be illicit or even termed indecent dressing in conservative places. They slipped on and fitted with effortless ease, I think we are getting somewhere.

It reminds me of that nursery rhyme as we prepare for the opportunity to meet up soon within our domesticated set up in Cape Town. I, the personification of Jack and he like the wife or vice versa, which is no reference to roles we play for we are both men in a same-sex relationship without any of that heteronormative stereotyping.

Jack Sprat could eat no fat.
His wife could eat no lean.
But, together both,
They licked the platter clean.

That is the story, he is trying to put it on, I am working hard to put it off, however, we have to agree, we love good food. Then despite the occasional subjective view of how I look, I am grateful that Brian is the greatest and best supporter of my quest to fitness.

I am beginning to look quite good for my age from my perspective even if others have arrived at that conclusion long before me. There is still more working out and walking about to do, to get to the body I am happy to stand in front of the mirror and smile at.

Thought Picnic: Live your life freely and we'll live ours

Celebrating my partner

When I published a tweet, this morning congratulating my partner on his birthday this morning, that was all I intended, to celebrate him as my significant other and hopefully, make it a special day amongst my community of friends.

Obviously, the pictures attached to the tweet were happy and romantic as one should expect between people in a relationship. That such expressions appear to be a rarity to some is entirely no fault of ours, we are just living our own lives.

Invariably, people in love would most likely kiss regardless of gender pairing. If in an ordinary setting we observe two people kissing without attributing any roles to them, we would immediately conclude they are in love.

Dear @Brian07j,
I wish you a very happy birthday, you're the best, have an extraordinarily wonderful day. Love you with all my heart. pic.twitter.com/32mjOMvZHO

— Akin Akíntáyọ̀ 🏳️‍🌈 #European (@forakin) July 7, 2020

Not that strange

If we dispense of the seemingly traditional stereotypes to our schooled inclinations from limited exposure, ignorance out of the lack of knowledge of the existence of things, prejudice, bigotry, or the absence of the ability to explore life beyond our worldview, two males kissing or two females kissing would not seem that strange, they are simply expressing love for each other.

It might come as a surprise to some that same-sex attraction embodies the fullest spectrum of human interaction, it is not limited to the physical, but it includes the heart, the mind, the soul and every other human endeavour. That means same-sex pairings are capable of friendships, relationships, falling in love, entering into civil partnerships and getting married.

Blog - Birthday Renewal Invitation Anniversary Nativity - VII

Our legal standing

There are jurisdictions in the world where there are constitutional protections on sexual orientation against harm and discrimination, whilst also providing them with the full legal framework of matrimonial and spousal rights, even in South Africa. That many other countries have not caught up to that ideal does not invalidate the reality of what it portends and how people who have those rights choose to exercise them.

Now, I am not here to proselytise or pursue an agenda, that is not my purpose, there are activists and advocates doing the amazing work of ensuring the fundamental human rights of the broad LGBTQ+ community. What we would not do is hide from the world.

We belong in our communities whether we are accepted or not, we will thrive in our lives and careers regardless, and for what it is worth, we would proclaim and celebrate the lives of our significant others because that is who they are significant, purposeful and relevant.

No apology tendered

In the end, even if the apparently abnormal to you, but normal to us and many who seek the greater human diversity cannot be countenanced by you, the very least you can do is, ‘Live and let live.’ We are asking no more from anyone than to enjoy the pursuit of happiness without let or hindrance, the freedoms you enjoy in your lives are those we seek to be accorded to many ostracised, stigmatised, vilified, persecuted, prosecuted, maimed, and harmed for who they are, and that is always and forever a just cause to stand for.

We make no apology for the love we share; we are whether you believe the science or espouse a myopic belief system as natural as anyone else, probably different, maybe individual, usually unique, or disputably alternative, but never chimeral. We have existed since the beginning of time and will continue to exist for as long as humanity thrives. We are here to stay and will not be obliterated or diminished.

In closing, our hearts are warmed by the support, the messages and the goodwill that has been shown us and the many birthday greetings to Brian. We cannot thank you enough and we work towards a better world where no one needs fear for who they are or who they love.