I don't have a problem with homosexuals.

I don't have a problem with homosexuals.

I am not saying some of my best friends are gay. Fact is, I don't know. I don't ask, and I don't care.

What I do care about, however, is homosexual pimping of our language.

In earlier days, gay had a simple and joyous meaning. Gay, when used by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was immediately recognisable for what it was. Fitzgerald needed no further words, let alone explanation. And I do feel for those who are named Gay. "I am Gay," probably does require explanation. In spoken word, the capital G is not apparent.

I also have an issue with the cumbersome initialism LGBTIQ—Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer—which in length seems to be growing like a vociferous plaque. Even in its earliest evocation, it was the wholly unnecessary and duplicative LGB. If it grows much further and embraces zebras it will use nearly every letter in the alphabet.

But, the one high jacked word I most have a problem with is Rainbow. It is personal. A few years ago, just over ten years ago, I wrote a book called Ridin' the Rainbow. It isn't a gay book. Quite the reverse, so to speak—though I often say that some I interviewed for the book might have thought I was gay. Coming from Auckland and being a writer leads to that assumption.

No, it isn't a gay book. It is a great book, and you can currently buy it by searching on TradeMe.

The reason I am bringing up Ridin' the Rainbow (copy and paste for your TradeMe search) now is that I have been asked to write a sequel, which I am very much looking forward to.

Why?

Simple. It is the people. I met so many interesting people the first time around, and I look forward to meeting more this time. The history of the industry I wrote about—trailer manufacturing— is replete with wonderful characters. Here, by way of explanation and example, is an extract from the original book. It is about a guy called Dave Domett:

"Dave Domett was a generous host who liked to entertain. Friday nights at The Empire (Feilding) were Domett staff nights, and Dave was simply one of the boys. If a customer was visiting Feilding, the venue shifted to the Denbigh Hotel, which offered accommodation, home-cooked meals, a house bar which stayed open long after the 6 o'clock closing, and Dave Domett as the consummate and entertaining host.

"Dave is remembered as being able to hold his liquor with the best of them, though he was never a big or competitive drinker. What he preferred was to show his acumen in another area—trials of strength.

"In researching this book, I heard of—and had described to me by three sources—the Domett Door Feat. Physical prowess (and a high stud) is needed to accomplish it.

"It begins with an open door. Stand with your back to the edge of the door, and reach backwards over your head to grasp the top of the door with both hands; then, using arm strength (and possibly a little practiced technique) try to lift your body from the floor. Then in one fluid motion similar to a backward somersault lever your body up and over to end the feat sitting astride the top of the door.

"It needs to be remembered that Dave Domett was immensely strong. Whether the feat helped him directly with trailer building is questionable; that it was impressive, memorable and a colourful addition to the legendary status of Dave Domett is not."

I never met Dave. That feat and more I heard from others. But, I wish I had met him. I wish I were at The Empire or at The Denbigh. They must have been gay times, when gay simply meant great.