I was walking down Lake Shore Blvd the other day, when a particularly inebriated gentleman staggered towards me and bid me "high five" him. For those that live in New Toronto/Mimico, I need not explain the quality of some of the main strip residents, who are all a bit on the grizzled side. It adds to the charm.
"High five me buddy, high five!" he screeched. Since growing my beard out, many straight homeless men have started calling me "buddy".
Without missing a beat I slapped his elevated hand hard and continued walking. He seemed happy, and to be honest, my day was made a bit brighter. As per usual, I went home to research the gesture, and this is what I've come up with - the high five is a gay invention!
The photo above is of Glen Burke, one of sport's first out gay baseball players. Apparently in 1977 he celebrated a team mate's home run by doing a unique variation of the "low five", a gesture common amongst African Americans at the time.
History was made. The high five ricocheted around the globe.
A few short years later, facing discrimination because of his openness, and his demoralizing trade to the Oakland A's by the Dodgers, Mr. Burke quit baseball, moved to the Castro district of San Francisco, and joined a gay baseball league.
The high five became a gesture of gay solidarity and pride.
Do read this fantastic article for more info on the gay origins of the high five.
And here I thought it was just an after sex sort of thing.
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