Although I am a gay man, I am still easily enchanted by beautiful women.  And in 1985, I was 14, and Madonna was the fairest of them all…

Up until 1985, I’d done the impossible – I’d managed to ignore Madonna.  Good Catholic schoolboy that I was, what I knew about Madonna, I didn’t like.

I was annoyed with the song “Borderline”, because I thought the title was “Waterline”.  And anyone comparing love to water pressure was just weird by my estimation.

I also remember three girls singing “Holiday” at the playground during recess.  When I asked them what they were singing, they started squealing about seeing Madonna at The Virgin Tour, which was, by all accounts – totally gross.

And then came one fateful night… I was watching Friday Night Videos.  My VCR was set to record, “We are the World”, my favorite song at the time.  And the video that followed was the world premiere of Madonna’s “Material Girl”…

We are the huh?  That’s Madonna?

I became a Madonna fan because I enjoyed her music, but I remained a fan because I respect her politics.

For starters:

• Supporting LGBT causes wasn’t always chic. Madonna fought for my rights when I didn’t have the courage. She challenged social norms and hypocrisy, spoke when others wouldn’t, back when her voice was needed most – When men were dieing, and the silence was deafening.
• Madonna songs typically gravitate around love, acceptance, pride, and enlightenment… So happens, I’m a big fan of each.  As an added bonus, I also enjoy dancing and sex (although I’ve learned to avoid both at once).
• I respect Madonna’s work ethic and self-governance.  Having your every move scrutinized, while raising a family in the public eye must be difficult enough.  But when you add Madonna’s macrobiotic diet, regimented workouts, quest for enlightenment, and career feats, it becomes increasingly evident – Madonna devotion to self-discipline is nothing short of religious.

Above all, I have to confess – I like that my enthusiasm for Madonna bridges me to my youth.  Now in my 40’s, where Madonna’s concerned, I’m not so very different from that giddy uniformed schoolboy, at a local newsstand flipping through the pages of Tigerbeat.

While “Material Girl” was my induction song into Madonna fandom, back in 1985 it was “Dress You Up” that left me spellbound.

In the video above, when that screen first lifted and Madonna came posing down the stairs, I knew I’d be dancing with her for years to come.

I didn’t dream of satin sheets, custom suits made in London, or luxuries so fine.  I was different.  I wanted to be the back-up dancer to Madonna’s left, the dude with the swivel hips, bouffantus-maximus and perma-grin.

At 14, I got it.  I understood why that dancer was so ecstatic…

What could possibly be more magical than sharing a stage with Madonna, celebrating life with a full head of hair?

Although I am balding, I’m happy to report… Nothing.