When I'm not in the field at work as a wilderness instructor, I'm kilted, including working at a camping store. Rarely a comment, and usually positive.

The few insults I've had were from teenagers in pickup trucks driving by. Until one night in Saranc Lake, New York state. It was the last night after 10 days working, and I was at the bar with my coworkers, in my polyacrylic Graham of Menteith tartan.

Mark, a fella I'd met and chatted with while kilted a week prior in the same bar gestured me over. When I got close enough to talk, he slurred out something about being a flatlander (Texan) and how I must be a fag, dressed like that. I told him I didn't want to talk and walked back to my mates, a stout rugger and a svelte blonde lass.

He followed me over and stood three steps away, then started talking and moving slowly closer. When he reached out and grabbed my sporran strap, both my mates stepped in. They'd been right there throughout, but didn't think he'd move (nor did I).

I really had no reference for all this. I'm not a big guy, never played physical sports, I don't even like to hug people. I just stayed as cool as possible and made no comment. He was drunk, and it was amplifying his homophobia.

Within about five minutes, the crowd (who all knew him) and bartender moved in, told him he was an idiot, and he moved off. The bartender said he'd done this sort of thing before, and she was convinced he was supressing latent homosexuality. I made no comment.

Had I not been in my kilt, the whole thing never would have happened. My mates were there, I'm pretty confident, and he was really drunk. It didn't and won't discourage me (I'm ordering my sixth from USA Kilts), but I've been kilted full time for almost a year. I really can't imagine the effect on a newbie.

Again, not trying to cast a pall, and this is the only time I've been directly insulted, but I thought I'd share.

-G