On July 12, 2010, I sat down and wrote my very first post here at The Closet Professor. It was called The Ancient Olympics: A History Lesson, and at the time I had no idea where this blog would lead me. I simply felt the need to write — to carve out a small corner of the internet where I could share my thoughts, my passions, my struggles, and perhaps connect with a few kindred spirits along the way.
Fifteen years later, that single post has grown into thousands. Between the original Blogger site and the backup WordPress site, The Closet Professor has been viewed more than 8.5 million times. In that time, I’ve posted nearly every day — missing only on those rare occasions when tragedy struck and I simply couldn’t bring myself to write anything. Through it all, you — my readers — have been here with me, and it’s your presence that has made this journey possible.
Through this blog, I’ve shared my love of history, art, music, gay culture, and the quiet moments of spirituality in my Sunday devotionals. I’ve written candidly about my health, my desires, my triumphs, and my defeats. I’ve shared the differences between life in Alabama and life in Vermont, and I’ve tried to be as honest as I could — about who I am and what I hope to become.
Over the years, some posts have struck a special chord. The most popular Moment of Zen of all time was Brazilian Men, posted on February 26, 2022 — a celebration of warmth, joy, and unabashed beauty. The second most popular Moment of Zen was Wet Dreams from June 27, 2015, evoking the sensual allure of water and desire. The most visited Pic of the Day appeared on February 28, 2022 — a beautifully candid image of a nude Black man standing before an open refrigerator, his body bathed in soft, domestic light, a moment both intimate and arresting that continues to resonate with many of you.
Among all the posts I’ve written, the most visited of all time remains Naked Male Camaraderie, published on August 24, 2010, and viewed over 300,000 times — still the post that brings more visitors than any other. The next most popular posts over the years have been Pensacola Beach’s Gay Memorial Day Celebration, The Hanky Code, Gays and the Old West, and Naked Warriors in History. Together, these posts reflect what this blog has always tried to capture — a mixture of beauty, history, desire, and connection.
To mark this milestone, I’ve chosen ten images to celebrate the journey we’ve shared here:
- three from Brazilian Men, honoring the most beloved Moment of Zen;
- one from Wet Dreams, the memorable runner-up;
- another from the most popular Pic of the Day;
- and five more, each representing one of the five most visited posts.
These images reflect not just what has attracted the most attention over the years, but what this blog has always been about: beauty, desire, history, and camaraderie.
As I reflect on these fifteen years, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for what this blog has brought into my life. Through it, I’ve grown as a gay man, learned more about myself, and come to embrace parts of me I once tried to hide. I’ve made dear friends — some who have stayed with me all these years, some who have changed my life, some who have moved on, and some who have sadly passed away. And new friends continue to arrive, reminding me that this space still matters.
I’ve learned from you, my readers, as much as I’ve shared with you. You’ve shown me grace, humor, kindness, and wisdom. This blog has been a lifeline in difficult times and a place of joy in better ones. It is a record of my journey — spiritual, intellectual, emotional — and a testament to the connections we can make when we dare to be honest.
I cherish each and every one of you who has walked part of this path with me. Thank you for being here — for reading, for commenting, for simply stopping by and sharing a quiet moment with me. Here’s to fifteen years of The Closet Professor, and to many more to come.
Do you remember what first brought you here? I’d love to hear in the comments below.
The Closet Professor 
July 27th, 2025 at 1:09 pm
Joe, you ask (& I feel/believe you are sincere):
Do you remember what first brought you here? I’d love to hear in the comments below.
Wow! Time passed so quickly, so rapidly hitting two weeks since this post was made.
I typed something similar to this into this very comment box more than a few times in those two weeks and a few times even entered an email and name (the nickname/screen name Sharky even having deep rooted links to what brought me here). Though each time I closed the browser instead of clicking “comment”.
With passage of time my anxiety about commenting has eased some, and I even found myself thinking, wanting, to comment on another more recent post.
So here goes–
What first brought me here to The Closet Professor?
Google!
Google first brought me here!
I know that is not really what you are asking or looking for but figure my rebel country boy smart-mouthed self wouldn’t get me in trouble with truth, at least not here.
Is there a character limit in the comment box? LOL.
What first brought me here?
It’s a long story, longer than the post I’d be commenting on, though I do believe you mean it, are seriously interested, when you say you’d love to hear.
So, what brought me here other than google?
I’d love to share, though still uncertain. A lack of confidence and much uncertainty for sharing my journey, especially to a group (even an anonymous group), not to mention the length of the story.
The story is already written out, has been since the 15th, writing always being something I have enjoyed… A way of preserving things observed and seen and felt during the day, the humorous and the serious. And a means to express things, saying things, without actually having to share them with another.
See, for the past few months I’ve been privately secretly commenting on your blog posts without actually posting those comments for anyone else to see– writing my thoughts and realizations for many of your posts and always contemplating and answering the questions you pose.
Some of those things would be okay to share, though most will always remain private, at least for now.
Writing of this kind of stuff, this part of me that I have never before written or spoken of with any depth or honesty, seems to be a part of Me coming to accept Me. Me coming to accept what has always been.
And that process is a slow process, sometimes taking a great deal of effort.
Reach out if you’d still like to hear the story of what brought me here and I will muster the courage to share. It’d do me good to share. E-mail perhaps? Somewhere I saw an e-mail link, country boy respect says ask first.
Your dedication of time and effort to this blog has not gone unnoticed and is much appreciated.
There are many who, like myself, find comfort and tranquil peace, guidance and education and learning, within the current and past posts you have written.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, your thoughts, your life, and your journey in such a way. Thank you for what you are doing here and for seeing a purpose, reason, for it to continue on.
July 27th, 2025 at 4:29 pm
I’m genuinely interested in hearing your story about discovering my blog. It’s intriguing that Google brings people to the WordPress backup version (I created the WordPress as a backup because Blogger randomly deleted gay blogs several years back). My primary original blog (although both have the same content) is https://closetprofessor.blogspot.com, which receives significantly more visitors than the WordPress site. The email I use for the WordPress site is closetprofessor@gmail.com. However, my preferred email for communicating with readers is jec1918@gmail.com. Feel free to email me. I’m not always the quickest with replies, but I make sure to read everything I receive. I hope to hear from you soon.