I have considered getting a tattoo for quite some time, but was very hesitant about taking such a committed step - I was afraid that I am too fickle for something so permanent. The thing that was the deciding factor was finding a tattoo design that had some real significance for me and was not merely a decoration.
At A Glance Author Barry Eckert Contact Barry Eckert@bme.anon When Three months ago Studio Aerochild Location Birmingham, AL For most of my life, I have been closeted as a gay man, primarily to myself as it turns out. I have had a lot of denial and mask-wearing to hide the truth from myself and from others. I got sober in February 2007 in a twelve-step group which emphasizes the necessity of living honestly with oneself, and as part of that I became more honest with myself about my sexuality. I found that to be honest with myself, in my situation, required being honest with others as well, so I decided that I was going to come out. This is where the tattoo comes in.
Not being one to take half-measures in doing much of anything, I decided I wasn't going to merely come out, I was going to make a statement. I went to tattoofinder.com and started browsing for a gay-themed design, and settled on one called 'Gay Rainbow'. This design is the well-known pink triangle superimposed over a swath of rainbow colors, so it is essentially two pride symbols combined into a single design.
I bought the stencil and color print, and then went looking for an artist. A heavily inked friend of mine suggested Aerochild, and named an artist there to ask for. I've since forgotten his name, regretfully; however, he is the owner I believe. So I head down there with papers in hand to get this tatt on my upper left arm and ball of the shoulder.
The whole experience was positive. Professional folks there, and the artist was great both in talent and his easy-going manner. He looked at the design I had brought in, and we talked a bit about this being my first tattoo and what I should expect and so forth, and he asks me if I am sure that I want to do this. I tell him I am, and he says ok and starts to work. I had only the vaguest idea of the procedure previously - he talked me through the stencil, the actual tattooing and aftercare. The only real stenciling was the outline of the rainbow and the triangle; the individual bands of color were done free-hand. It was nowhere near as painful as I had imagined - sort of a moderate burning/scratching sensation. I followed his instructions for aftercare meticulously, washing it several times a day with antibacterial soft-soap and dressing it with Bacitracin. It healed very nicely and quickly, and I had no complications at all.
As I stated above, I was closeted mostly to me. People who know me weren't particularly surprised at my coming out, and the 'statement' of the tattoo, intended to be a sledgehammer for whatever there was of my closet, drew only the comments one would expect of any new tatt. Those comments were uniformly positive - noting the brilliance of the colors, the unusual design, etc. Not at all what I expected of my fellows in Birmingham, Alabama.
Most friends who have tatts themselves were asking "what will you get next?" When I tell them I intended for this to be the only one, pretty much all of them replied "oh no it won't be" and smiled. Well, lately I find myself browsing designs again, for a lower back piece or a calf. Probably only a matter of time before I go under the needle again :)
Given my experience with this tattoo, I would recommend to anyone considering getting one and waffling about it to just go ahead and get it. There is the one caveat though - be very sure of the design. I believe that had I gotten a design that I found merely decorative and cool looking, that I would eventually decide I should have gotten this or that other design - I really do have some issues with being fickle. It took three tries with nipple piercings to decide finally that I wanted to keep them, and then I had to be sure to have a variety of jewelry to keep them interesting. I don't exactly have that option with a tattoo - it's the same all day, every day, forever basically. So, getting one that has some meaning to me, that says something about me, was essential to my being satisfied with it now and in time to come. If you are absolutely dead certain about the design but unsure about whether to actually have it put on your body, stop wavering and do it! I certainly don't regret my decision.