But it's amazing how many people think that gay men should slink off into the shadows when it comes to having friendships with children.

He says he had known he was gay since childhood but didn't have sex until he was 26 and only decided to come out in 1974 when he was about 30. In April 2010 it was announced that a theatrical musical version of Tales of the City would debut in May 2011.

Armistead Jones Maupin Jr.