Tim Gunn Celibate - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

cscipio · 26th Jan 2012, 02:39 AM

I think it's ok to post a link to a news article. If not, sorry.

Tim Gunn says he hasn't had sex in 29 years. What was your longest dry spell? | Love + Sex - Yahoo! Shine

I found this interesting because I too have been celibate for 16 years. Tim Gunn, in this story, has given me some new found courage.

Pseudojim · 26th Jan 2012, 07:01 AM

about 8 years!!! 16 through 23 inclusive.

**Chip** · 26th Jan 2012, 07:05 AM

I already had respect for Tim Gunn, but I recently read his book, basically a sort of a "how to be a good person" book which was filled with autobiographical information, and I came away with even more respect for him.

He talks about his celibacy in his book; apparently he was in a very committed relationship which ended badly, and he hasn't been motivated to "put himself back out there" since, and seems genuinely happy having surrounded himself with great friends and a fulfilling role in the fashion industry.

While a lot of people might not find celibacy to be a viable option, I have a lot of respect for people who have found happiness by surrounding themselves with friends and "created family"

Hot Pink · 26th Jan 2012, 09:09 AM

I've never had sex. I'm going to die alone, huh?

maverick · 26th Jan 2012, 09:31 AM

I haven't had sex in about nine years. Don't miss it either. I'm a schizoid personality, so singledom and celibacy are actually my preferred conditions. People who talk about how "hard up" they are for sex boggle my mind, as I rarely even think about it. The way people obsess about romantic relationships is alien to me.

Every time I've ever been in a relationship I've been unhappy and overwhelmingly relieved when it was over - and this was not because the relationship was "bad" or anything, but because I just felt so suffocated when forced to be emotionally and physically intimate with another person. Physical intimacy and relationships make me extremely uncomfortable, no matter how much I might "like" a person.

I can also recognize and appreciate when people are sexy or beautiful (of both genders) but at the same time, I have never felt the serious desire to sleep with anyone. All of my sexual encounters have been initiated by others. Sex can be fun, but I don't understand society's obsession with it at all. I just don't think my brain is wired that way.

For me, sex has always been first and foremost an intense violation of personal space. Since my psychological makeup demands an excessive amount of privacy and personal space for whatever odd reason, celibacy is pretty much a given.

Emberstone · 26th Jan 2012, 12:02 PM

28 years.

Chouchou · 26th Jan 2012, 04:18 PM

I can imagine 29 years without sex. I have gone 26 years without it, so what's another three?

Seriously, though, I really admire his attitude. It's a refreshing breath of fresh air.

stuwee · 26th Jan 2012, 06:00 PM

I love Tim, he's such a great man. I need to read his book for more insight.

**Ben** · 27th Jan 2012, 03:57 AM

I always liked Tim Gunn. I think a lot of gay people who come out late or abstain for a long time feel that they need to catch up on what they feel they've missed. So it's great that someone with as much public respect at Tim is saying that it's okay to be celibate.

26th Jan 2012, 02:39 AM	#1
cscipio Well Known Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Figuring it out Out Status: best friend, "adoptive" family, couple others Location: Kansas City Age: 34 Posts: 182 Join Date: Jan 2012	Tim Gunn Celibate I think it's ok to post a link to a news article. If not, sorry. Tim Gunn says he hasn't had sex in 29 years. What was your longest dry spell? \| Love + Sex - Yahoo! Shine I found this interesting because I too have been celibate for 16 years. Tim Gunn, in this story, has given me some new found courage.

26th Jan 2012, 07:01 AM	#2
Pseudojim Part robot Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Bi - Kinsey 2ish Out Status: All but family Location: Australia Age: 27 Posts: 2,154 Join Date: Sep 2009	Re: Tim Gunn Celibate about 8 years!!! 16 through 23 inclusive.

26th Jan 2012, 07:05 AM	#3
Chip EC Advisor EC Admin Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: northern CA Posts: 5,583 Join Date: May 2008	Re: Tim Gunn Celibate I already had respect for Tim Gunn, but I recently read his book, basically a sort of a "how to be a good person" book which was filled with autobiographical information, and I came away with even more respect for him. He talks about his celibacy in his book; apparently he was in a very committed relationship which ended badly, and he hasn't been motivated to "put himself back out there" since, and seems genuinely happy having surrounded himself with great friends and a fulfilling role in the fashion industry. While a lot of people might not find celibacy to be a viable option, I have a lot of respect for people who have found happiness by surrounding themselves with friends and "created family"

26th Jan 2012, 09:09 AM	#4
Hot Pink EC Addict Full Member Gender: Transsexual: MtF Orientation: Panromantic Lesbian Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Minnesota, USA Age: 27 Posts: 622 Join Date: Apr 2011	Re: Tim Gunn Celibate I've never had sex. I'm going to die alone, huh? __________________ Pffffffft...

26th Jan 2012, 09:31 AM	#5
maverick let watchers become warriors Full Member Gender: You tell me. Orientation: Hey good lookin'. wink Out Status: It's pretty obvious. Location: Alabama cue banjos Age: 26 Posts: 2,118 Join Date: Nov 2010	Re: Tim Gunn Celibate I haven't had sex in about nine years. Don't miss it either. I'm a schizoid personality, so singledom and celibacy are actually my preferred conditions. People who talk about how "hard up" they are for sex boggle my mind, as I rarely even think about it. The way people obsess about romantic relationships is alien to me. Every time I've ever been in a relationship I've been unhappy and overwhelmingly relieved when it was over - and this was not because the relationship was "bad" or anything, but because I just felt so suffocated when forced to be emotionally and physically intimate with another person. Physical intimacy and relationships make me extremely uncomfortable, no matter how much I might "like" a person. I can also recognize and appreciate when people are sexy or beautiful (of both genders) but at the same time, I have never felt the serious desire to sleep with anyone. All of my sexual encounters have been initiated by others. Sex can be fun, but I don't understand society's obsession with it at all. I just don't think my brain is wired that way. For me, sex has always been first and foremost an intense violation of personal space. Since my psychological makeup demands an excessive amount of privacy and personal space for whatever odd reason, celibacy is pretty much a given. __________________ Shelter me oh genius words, just give me strength / to pen these things, and give me peace to well her wings / and oh, oh carry on, all you minstrels of the world, we will catch our lady's ear, we will win for us the girl. Last edited by maverick; 26th Jan 2012 at 09:33 AM..

26th Jan 2012, 12:02 PM	#6
Emberstone Flappychap Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Oregon, USA Age: 28 Posts: 5,599 Join Date: May 2008	Re: Tim Gunn Celibate 28 years. __________________ TYPE YOUR NAME: Cory. TYPE YOUR NAME WITH YOUR ELBOW: vcoiptryu SLAM YOUR FACE ON THE KEYBOARD: About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him - and I didn't know how potent that part might be - that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

26th Jan 2012, 04:18 PM	#7
Chouchou Warrior Goddess Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Homosexual (asexual?) and mostly homoromantic Out Status: To some friends, but not to family Location: Wisconsin, USA Age: 26 Posts: 1,109 Join Date: Oct 2011	Re: Tim Gunn Celibate I can imagine 29 years without sex. I have gone 26 years without it, so what's another three? Seriously, though, I really admire his attitude. It's a refreshing breath of fresh air. __________________ "The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and, therefore, brothers." -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

26th Jan 2012, 06:00 PM	#8
stuwee Member Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Deep in the Sonoran desert, Arizona Age: 49 Posts: 89 Join Date: Jan 2012	Re: Tim Gunn Celibate I love Tim, he's such a great man. I need to read his book for more insight. __________________ I thought I had something to say but, then I forgot what the hell it was...

27th Jan 2012, 03:57 AM	#9
Ben Was Invisible. EC Moderator Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Age: 20 Posts: 3,705 Join Date: Jul 2008	Re: Tim Gunn Celibate I always liked Tim Gunn. I think a lot of gay people who come out late or abstain for a long time feel that they need to catch up on what they feel they've missed. So it's great that someone with as much public respect at Tim is saying that it's okay to be celibate.