Wooten describes coming to terms with his sexuality while growing up in eastern North Carolina during the 1950s. Wooten recalls his early awareness that he was attracted to men, although he explains that he did not have the terminology to describe his sexual orientation at that time. In addition, Wooten describes sexual experimentation with a cousin and with a friend. His comments indicate that this type of sexual behavior was not uncommon in that area during those years, nor was it something that generated tension in those relationships in later years.