by Chris Bodenner
A reader builds off this post:
Whenever I hear discussions about high-profile men jokingly (or not?) expressing sexual attraction to other men, I’m always curious that no one mentions Bruce Springsteen. To most people, obviously, Bruce is the pure embodiment of unfettered American masculinity. And yet for the 40 years he played beside Clarence Clemons, until Clemons’ death in 2011, the two men had this clearly intense, complicated relationship that was enacted and re-enacted every night onstage – culminating in a long, deep kiss on the mouth – without irony or camp, just pure, exuberant love between two men, without a need to be defined as straight or gay.
See it here, in a series of quite touching and beautiful photos. There’s also a fleeting shot of it live, in the official “Born to Run” video, at about 0:18. (Though note that commenters continue to feel the need to provide the “NOT gay” disclaimer.) Of course, both men married women (multiple times each) and have large families. Who knows and who really cares what their sexuality is? I think it’s sort of beside the point. More interesting to me is the sheer intensity of their love and their fearlessness in expressing it without the need to declare, “Of course we’re both straight!”
To the contrary, when Clemons described the kiss in 2009, he didn’t bother to mention sexual orientation:
It’s the most passion that you have without sex. Two androgynous beings becoming one. It’s love. It’s two men – two strong, very virile men – finding that space in life where they can let go enough of their masculinity to feel the passion of love and respect and trust. Friendships are based on those things, and you seal it with a kiss.
(Photo: Clarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen of the E Street Band embrace while performing on stage in Los Angeles c.1981. By Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)
The Dish 