Here’s a story I wrote for the Restore program.
Over the years, I have managed to maintain contact with a straight former colleague, with regular lunches. We enjoy our conversations and solve the world’s problems whenever we get together. Before the surgery, I asked him if he would take an afternoon to come by and take me for a walk, as part of my recovery. He readily agreed. He came by two days after the surgery. During the walk, the catheter started to leak —- on beige pants! I was quite embarrassed. My friend took it all in stride, walked me home and stayed with me until my brother arrived. He has never mentioned that incident. A few weeks later, his wife told me that he was looking forward to coming to help me out! His masculinity remained intact even when his gay friend held onto him in public—with pee running down his pant leg. He truly demonstrated what it means to be a good man.