This MetaFilter thread reminds me of a story.

I have a dear friend from Alaska who is one of those traditional liberals — not at all close-minded, but accustomed to living a traditional lifestyle in smaller Alaskan cities. She’s famous for oggling clerks at sex stores (see? She’s obviously not conservative if she’s shopping for sex toys) and remarking afterwards, “He had his earlobes stretched! It was almost, well, tribal!” She’s never judgemental, but it every trip to Seattle seeemed to unveiled some new sight for her eyes.

During one of her visits (almost five years ago), she and I and TC and Andreas and Echo went out dancing together, at an 18+ rave club called Vinyl. We all danced around to thumpy house music, drank non-alcoholic beverages, and chatted up a storm.

After heading home, while sitting around cups of tea and chatting, my Alaskan friend marvelled about the club: “It was just great to see all those men so comfortable with their sexuality!”

TC, Andreas, and I all looked a little confused. Had any of my super-queeny friends been there? Had my friend caught some goth-gays making out in a corner somewhere? The club was hardly a straight meat-market, but it hadn’t seemed very gay that night. When I asked her what she meant, she explained, “Oh, you know: just all those men dancing … and hugging!”

TCand Andreas both laughed, and TC explained that, while he’s pretty damn straight, he likes dancing around whoever is feeling the music the most. Guys, girls, whoever. If someone else is dancing hard as hard as he is, TC explained, he’ll catch their eye, smile, and maybe even give them a hug and chat about the music. Andreas concurred.

My friend from Alaska was stunned. “Really!?” she marvelled. “That is just so great that you’re so comfortable hugging other men!” It made me realize that the touchy-feely men in my life are truly a blessing. So, for every single one of my guy friends who hugs everyone (which is most of them), I salute you!