It was the Cowboys of Texas, driving large herds of cattle up the early trails to Kansas, that moved writers of the late 1800s to create the romance of the Gay Cowboy and the Wild Wild West as it is remembered today. Masculine, rough-hewn young men, with an average age of 24, confronting the elements of the vast wild western plains. The American Gay Cowboy's culture developed out of the conditions of his time and place and became an important page in the history of the settlement of the American West.

A silent Cowboy code existed, a gentlemen's agreement, defining conduct and behavior. A Cowboy had to have courage in the face of danger, for cowardice could affect a whole ranch. A cowboy had to "COWBOY UP", remain cheerful in attitude even when tired or sick. A Cowboy would usually arise at the first break of day, and not complain about his "chuck" (food), which day after day consisted of fat bacon, coffee, bread and potatoes. Complaining was taboo and was associated with quitting, and a real Gay Cowboy never quit. A Cowboy had to always help a pal or "pard", a stranger, or even enemies in trouble, since mutual help was a necessity for daily survival.

An attitude of "live and let live" was essential to life on the plains. Every man had a right to his own way of life without interference from others. Unnecessary moralizing was not the stuff for Cowboys. A real Cowboy did not overinterpret; that was left for religion or for sermonizing intellectuals, who were few and far between. There was a scarcity of women in the early trail days. Only strong young men roamed with all the raw urges. Men alone with each other, enjoying each other. The Wild Wild West was truly Man's country.

A cowboy of today is accepted by his peers if he can perform certain skills such as bronco-busting, steer wrestling and bull roping, and if he also worked on a ranch or has done a stint on the rodeo circuit. Today's cowboys may be a modern version of the old, but they often seem misplaced and lost in our technological age as they stomp on cement sidewalks. Perhaps when we have Cowboy Dreams it might be best described as an escape into a better, simpler, less complex era.

In the movies and on television, the Cowboy is rough and tough, quick with his fists and fast with his gun, always ready to take on the bad guys to champion justice. Many today have adopted the fashions of the cowboy with western hats and boots, western-cut clothing and buckles, which actually are quite unlike those worn by real cowboys a century ago. In many parts of America, pickup trucks with a rifle hanging in a rack in the back window has become another symbol of the modern cowboy, along with blasting the sound of country music and bumper stickers proclaiming that "Gay Cowboys Do It Better". These remain Cowboy Dreams that symbolizes the free life that once was.

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