Sam – Union Square, NYC

I’ve got a lot of friends that are gay. I’m not, but I’ve got a lot of friends that are. And without knowing that, some people just see me as an anti-gay person.

Why anti-gay?

I don’t know. I have no idea. But the first time I got a comment like that I felt it was one of the most offensive things I ever heard. They were like, ‘Oh you must be a gay basher.’ And I was like ‘What the fuck are you talking about?’ I said, ‘How about asking me a question first?’ You have no idea. You know what I’m saying?

What brought you to work here? Or are you just hanging out? It looked like maybe you were out—

No, I get that a lot, every time I go to places.

Just because you’re standing like right here, it looks like you’re on break.

No, everywhere I’m at people think I work there. I was at a friend’s bar having a cigarette and people were coming up to me with their IDs and I was like, ‘I don’t work here.’ And they were like, ‘Oh, you look like a bouncer here.’ No, I’m a tattoo artist. I’m just hanging out.