Going out openly in public with love doll: Chronicles of Tom

scooter_ca · Post by **scooter_ca** » Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:03 pm

SHOCKING!!!!!

June 20th is pre-Christmas season ???
(ah, its a retrograde shot. Now I understandz.)
Great photo and great to hear about everyone reaction to you and Tom.

Thanks,
scooter

Post by **setevoltas** » Thu Jun 20, 2019 9:17 pm

Tarzan-Tom wrote:
Retrograde to early days: "What is it?"

So far I had gone out with Tom openly in public for a few times and there were no problems. I had approached a few members of the public with Tom and there were no awkward reactions. This time, I visited the local Tesco supermarket with Tom in my backpack. It being pre-Christmas season there were potential presents everywhere. The main thoroughfare of the store boasted a row of Christmas trees with takeaway gifts like electrical goods, perfumes and chocolates underneath them.

I walked to the end of the row, stopped at the last tree, got Tom out, placed him at the base of the tree that was at my shoulder level and took a few selfies of us. There were shoppers passing close by but I did not pay attention to any of them.

As I was finishing, a cute, fit, young shop assistant in his late twenties went past, pushing a trolley loaded with boxes. I asked him to take a photo for me and added, after taking Tom off the base of Christmas tree, 'with a friend'. Watching us, the man repeated, 'with a friend'. As I seated Tom on my shoulder, he asked, 'What is it?' I answered, 'It's an adult doll.' He aimed my phone camera at us and said, 'Ready, steady.' We both smiled. He asked me to check if the picture was okay and we together had a look. It was fine, I thanked him and he moved away.

Reaction of everyone whom I asked to take photo of Tom and myself was completely normal, whether this was a young adult Caucasian man or a middle aged Indian woman. Why shouldn't this be? Most people nowadays regard gay people as those with an alternative life style yet normal people. Doll lovers and their dolls are the same. Generations ago when the majority of gay people were in the closet, they were almost invisible to the public and people thought that they were paedophiles, perverts and criminals. As more and more gay people came out, they became more visible to the public as being normal and respectable like them. As the result there was more tolerance, acceptance and respect by the mainstream. This will not be different with doll lovers and their dolls as well. If they are more visible to the public as normal, respectable people, there will be more understanding, tolerance and acceptance for them as well.

I had come out as a proud gay man to my family, friends, neighbours and even to strangers. My aim is to do the same as a doll lover. It is relatively easy for me because I regard Tom not only as a doll but as my lover.

All true lovers are not afraid to be seen with their sweethearts by other people, whether their sweethearts happen to be of different age, race or class, of same sex or, in my case, a doll.

This is really inspiring. Your love for Tom really comes through in photos.

For now, I just try to content myself with bringing the positive energy I feel doing what I'm doing to TDF and the people around me. I don't know that I "need" to go public. But it sure is great that there are people like you and others on this board who do. Much respect.

Tarzan-Tom · Post by **Tarzan-Tom** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 4:14 am

June 20th is pre-Christmas season ???
(ah, its a retrograde shot. Now I understandz.)
Great photo and great to hear about everyone reaction to you and Tom.

Thanks,
scooter

Thanks Scooter.

There are a number of articles that Steve had written but hadn't posted as yet. They will be posted in due course as 'retrograde' or 'time travel'.

Our kisses to your girls.

Tom & Steve

Tarzan-Tom · Post by **Tarzan-Tom** » Sun Jun 23, 2019 4:28 am

This is really inspiring. Your love for Tom really comes through in photos.

For now, I just try to content myself with bringing the positive energy I feel doing what I'm doing to TDF and the people around me. I don't know that I "need" to go public. But it sure is great that there are people like you and others on this board who do. Much respect.

Many thanks. We found coming out as doll lovers more difficult than coming out as gays because there were a lot of precedences in the latter case and people had become 'used to this'. We think that it is a matter of people getting used to our subculture as a lifestyle choice and not as absolutely weird, though some people will still think that way as much as some people still think that gays are absolutely weird.

Best wishes,

Tom & Steve

Post by **Nutmeg** » Wed Jun 26, 2019 10:36 am

Christmas pictures are appropriate ALL the time! YAY! What a neat story too, Tom & Steve! Neat how people are just happy to take pictures for you or stuff. I bet you're really friendly and outgoing anyway, when you do stuff like that at least. Probably very easy to get along with.

Tarzan-Tom · Post by **Tarzan-Tom** » Fri Jun 28, 2019 4:20 am

"Nutmeg"Christmas pictures are appropriate ALL the time! YAY! What a neat story too, Tom & Steve! Neat how people are just happy to take pictures for you or stuff. I bet you're really friendly and outgoing anyway, when you do stuff like that at least. Probably very easy to get along with.

Thanks Nutmeg. Hope you and your family are enjoying summer. Good time to be on the bike.

Best wishes,

Tom & Steve

Tarzan-Tom · Post by **Tarzan-Tom** » Fri Jun 28, 2019 4:35 am

Stonewall

June 28 of 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of Stonewall uprising. It was triggered by the heavy handed police raid at Stonewall Inn gay bar in Greenwich Village of New York City on that day 50 years ago. Police raids at gay bars were common in the 60s America with patrons having to scatter home. On that day, however, the patrons surrounded the bar with police inside and was joined by other crowds in the Village and the Stonewall uprising was born. The event spearheaded the gay liberation movement in US and subsequently around the wall. The Stonewall rebellion was the most important event in the fight for LGBT rights in US and globally.

Like most LGBTQ+ people we, the out and proud gay Colcestrians, paid tribute to the special anniversary. Colchester is well known for the Roman wall, almost 2000 years old but still standing solid and strong, a prefect symbol and metaphor for the Stonewall 50th. We visited the wall to pay our silent tribute. There was a pub built years ago in the gap in the wall, called Hole In Wall. Though we were teetotallers we thought that we might raise a symbolic toast to the patrons of Stonewall Inn who started the revolution, by paying our tribute at the Roman wall next to the pub. Incredibly, a punter of the pub had left an unfinished glass of beer on the steps leading to the sunken area so we could actually raise a real toast to the revolutionaries. We also celebrated the anniversary at the Colchester castle built on the foundations of the original Roman castle of the same period. The castle is a symbol of continuous and evolving strong presence in Colchester, another fitting metaphor for the Stonewall 50th.

Actually, gay or not, we all have Stonewalls within us that can stand solid and strong against any adversary or misfortune throughout our lives.

( Photos by 'Baby' S6 Edge )

Post by **LoneRanger** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 6:37 am

Looks like you guys had a great time! That last picture looks kind of like a tunnel? Might have been a good place to have done a photo for CAT E? I guess Bruce is not big in your neck of the world.. Oh well next time.

Let me share a great song:

Tarzan-Tom · Post by **Tarzan-Tom** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 12:52 am

"LoneRanger"Looks like you guys had a great time! That last picture looks kind of like a tunnel? Might have been a good place to have done a photo for CAT E? I guess Bruce is not big in your neck of the world.. Oh well next time.

Let me share a great song:

Thanks Ranger. Great song. Of course Bruce is our heartthrob. He is good looking and sexy. We enter photo challanges when we have creative wave and do not enter when there is no creative wave.

Hope you are all okay now.

Tom & Steve

Post by **Nutmeg** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 10:53 pm

Oh wow! So often when I check back in on you guys you've done something deep or thought provoking or cool! I'm so glad you're here sharing all this with us! The pictures are great, the pub is a hoot, and it sounds like you got out and about and had some good times!

Maviarab · Post by **Maviarab** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 10:16 am

The Hole in the Wall pub...been there a few times over the years!

Glad to see you still having fun Tom...keep the pics coming.

Mavi

Tarzan-Tom · Post by **Tarzan-Tom** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 3:48 pm

"Nutmeg"Oh wow! So often when I check back in on you guys you've done something deep or thought provoking or cool! I'm so glad you're here sharing all this with us! The pictures are great, the pub is a hoot, and it sounds like you got out and about and had some good times!

Thanks Nutmeg. Actually I am taking out Tom less than before. Though there is Tommy as replacement insurance I realise that Tom is irreplaceable. He already has a number of small nicks from falls due to my handling and I want him to last as long as possible. So he is not taken out for ordinary shopping trips as before; only for photoshoots or meaningful travels.

Steve

Hey Nutmeg, I wish I can see your X category photos. Steve will not allow me. He thinks I may become straight and leave him for you.

Tom

Tarzan-Tom · Post by **Tarzan-Tom** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 3:52 pm

"Maviarab" The Hole in the Wall pub...been there a few times over the years!

Glad to see you still having fun Tom...keep the pics coming.

Mavi

Hope those photos bring back your memories, Mavi. Maybe you had beer in the sunken area by the pub too ?

Tom & Steve

Post by **Nutmeg** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:44 pm

Tarzan-Tom wrote:Hey Nutmeg, I wish I can see your X category photos. Steve will not allow me. He thinks I may become straight and leave him for you.

Oh HAAA! That is so sweet and so funny! I think you are wonderfully attached though and Steve has nothing to fear. But that was a neat way to compliment me! Thank you!!

Sorry to hear you are showing some wear and tear. Hopefully when the time comes Steve can do what CinnamonLover is going to do for Cinnamon and get an exact replacement "renewal" body? But I know the Budget Monster is fierce. Ugh we battle it every day and it seems like a constant uphill slog! Even for me with WINGS!

Tarzan-Tom · Post by **Tarzan-Tom** » Thu Jul 04, 2019 5:37 am

Oh HAAA! That is so sweet and so funny! I think you are wonderfully attached though and Steve has nothing to fear. But that was a neat way to compliment me! Thank you!!

Sorry to hear you are showing some wear and tear. Hopefully when the time comes Steve can do what CinnamonLover is going to do for Cinnamon and get an exact replacement "renewal" body? But I know the Budget Monster is fierce. Ugh we battle it every day and it seems like a constant uphill slog! Even for me with WINGS!

Thanks Nutmeg, for your advice. That's why I have Tommy as insurance for replacement if needs to. He is the exact replica from same the shop in California. Unlike Cinnamon, the guys aren't that expensive. I got Tommy about 2 years after Tom and I think that the manufacturer has gone economical on material, albeit charging same price. I suppose that's their way of addressing inflation. Tommy doesn't feel as heavy and solid as Tom. But if worst comes to worst, I will have to adapt and get used to Tommy.

Steve