{"id":1695,"date":"2022-11-22T14:17:17","date_gmt":"2022-11-22T19:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chapters.theprimetimersww.com\/charlestonsc\/topics\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T09:17:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T14:17:31","slug":"topics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chapters.theprimetimersww.com\/charlestonsc\/topics\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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These blog posts reflect some of our members’ personal coming out stories and how they came to find Palmetto Prime.<\/h4><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Coming Out In My 50s. My Journey. – Chris T<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>

It took me many years to fully acknowledge my attraction to men until I was 56. Growing up in a close, conservative Christian family, I dated women for a long time but gradually lost interest. I eventually stopped dating altogether and lived a quiet, single life, though inside, my feelings for men grew stronger. I kept suppressing those feelings, believing they were wrong.<\/p>

My life changed when my close gay friend Robert came to visit. He sensed something was off and gently encouraged me to open up. When I did, he sighed with relief and said, \u201cI\u2019ve been waiting to have this conversation with you for a long time.\u201d It was the moment I finally accepted that I needed to explore who I am. That conversation lifted a considerable weight. I began seeking guidance, found a mentor online, and gradually grew more comfortable with myself.<\/p>

I wanted more than just understanding; I needed experience. Nervously, I downloaded gay dating apps and met someone. We talked, connected, and yes, had some \u201cfun.\u201d That moment confirmed I could feel whole and happy in the arms of another man. From there, I sought out community. I discovered Palmetto Prime in Charleston, SC, and joined. From my very first meeting, I was met with smiles, hugs, and genuine warmth. I found my people. Today, I stand proudly as a gay man, surrounded by friends who accept and celebrate me.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u00a0A Long and Winding Road – Eric D<\/span><\/h4>

I’ve always been drawn to men, fascinated by hot, chiseled guys, plastering my room with surfer posters (though I’ve never stepped onto a board!). Growing up in a progressive, artsy environment in the Hollywood Hills\u2014with supportive parents and many gay family friends\u2014I still couldn’t accept my sexuality. I followed the typical straight path: girlfriends, marriage, kids, and a successful medical career. Quietly, I explored my same-sex attraction online. Seeking purpose and belonging, I turned to fundamentalist Christianity. I became Born Again and tried to “pray the gay away.” While religion offered structure, the community was often toxic and judgmental. Eventually, my marriage ended for reasons unrelated to my sexuality, triggering a long and painful divorce and custody battle. My religious involvement likewise ceased. Only afterward did I cautiously begin to date men through apps\u2014thrilling but unfulfilling. I quickly realized I wanted meaningful relationships, not just hookups.<\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Coming Out in South Carolina<\/h5>

In January 2024, my eldest son and I moved to Daniel Island, SC, seeking a fresh start, better weather, and more freedom. Away from the constraints of Northeast <\/span>Pennsylvania, I finally felt free to explore my identity. That July, after a sun-soaked Fourth of July weekend by the pool\u2014and “a few” drinks\u2014I nervously came out to my youngest sister, Sandrine. Her reaction was warm and supportive. Over the following weeks, I told my parents and close friends in California and France. To my relief, every response was 100% positive.<\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Discovering Palmetto Prime<\/h5>

As I explored Charleston, I found two things missing: a sense of community and a sense of partnership. In September 2024, I began chatting online with Ty Leslie. Our conversation was light\u2014pets, gardening, fashion\u2014but then he invited me to a local gay social group event. A quick online search confirmed it wasn’t anything “kinky” (little did I know, LOL). That Wednesday, I nervously showed up to my first Palmetto Prime happy hour at Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co., I listened to the conversations and felt instantly welcomed. These were different people, from various walks of life\u2014but united in kindness and camaraderie. Thank you, Ty, for bringing me in!<\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Meeting Ken<\/h5>

A week later, I attended my first Palmetto Prime potluck. Soon after, Scott Jackson and Dan Munoz invited me to a small dinner and pool party\u2014complete with Dan’s famous veggie lasagna. There, I noticed Ken Hook: quiet, kind, and deeply handsome. We had spoken briefly before, but this time I got his number. Ken had recently lost his husband, Shawn, and was still grieving. I was newly out and fiercely independent after my own painful divorce. Despite that, we quickly found
common ground. Our first real date was a trip to Savannah\u2014a beautiful place, but the real magic was seeing Ken’s warmth, humor, and passion beneath his reserved exterior. We’ve both faced personal storms and carry our own baggage, but we’ve built something strong and beautiful together. I’m still very French and fiercely independent\u2014but I’m also profoundly grateful for this growing, loving relationship. I love you, Ken.<\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Conclusion<\/h5>

Palmetto Prime has become the heart of my Charleston experience. It gave me not just a loving partner, but a vibrant circle of friends who support and celebrate one another. I have not only found myself, but I’ve also found my people.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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These blog posts reflect some of our members’ personal coming out stories and how they came to find Palmetto Prime. Coming Out In My 50s. My Journey. – Chris T It took me many years… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1695","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chapters.theprimetimersww.com\/charlestonsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1695","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chapters.theprimetimersww.com\/charlestonsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chapters.theprimetimersww.com\/charlestonsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chapters.theprimetimersww.com\/charlestonsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chapters.theprimetimersww.com\/charlestonsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1695"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/chapters.theprimetimersww.com\/charlestonsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1695\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3871,"href":"https:\/\/chapters.theprimetimersww.com\/charlestonsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1695\/revisions\/3871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chapters.theprimetimersww.com\/charlestonsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}