Though Tunstall News Today

The complicated world of inmate relationships often leads to violence. sometimes death. but at the holman correctional facility in alabama an inmate nicknamed "cheese curl" told us a very different story. >> why are you called "cheese curl"? >> because i like cheese curls. >> when is the last time you had a cheese curl? >> last night. >> by all appearances, tommy "cheese curl" tunstall, serving life for robbery, was one of holmans most popular inmates. >> tommy was an interesting inmate to inter...

Much of his time with just one man, kenyatta mcmillen, who is serving life without parole for murder. >> i love cheese because he always been there for me, no matter what, and he aint never changed or turned his back on me on nothing. >> mcmillen and tunstall had been friends for about three years when we met them at holman. >> it done got to the point to where its like if im thinking about something, before i can get it out, he can say it. and its vice versa. >> do you identify as gay? >> do me...

>> as a friend, yeah. >> normally, mcmillen and tunstall live in the dorms together, but during our stay at holman they were separated. mcmillen had requested to be put in administrative segregation. >> he had had an operation recently when we encountered him, and he was having i guess a lovers quarrel with his current boyfriend, and because he was afraid it might escalate into something violent, he had himself locked up. >> the person that i was with, we was on the verge of separating, but they...

As simple as that. but as far as if he do get a relationship with anybody, then i know what type of individual he is, and he dont get in no trouble, he dont bother nobody then nobody aint got no business putting their hands on him. i get offensive like that. >> having a relationship with gay men or straight men here? >> straight. >> straight guys? >> yeah. they gay too, though. actually, in their mind theyre just gay for that minute. after its over with, they aint gay no more. but wait till the ...

Facility in alabama an inmate nicknamed "cheese curl" told us a very different story. >> why are you called "cheese curl"? >> because i like cheese curls. >> when is the last time you had a cheese curl? >> last night. >> by all appearances, tommy "cheese curl" tunstall, serving life for robbery, was one of holmans most popular inmates. >> tommy was an interesting inmate to interview, actually, because he seemed very calm and confident. quietly confident. >> bring your ass on. [ bleep ]. >> more ...

>> mcmillen and tunstall had been friends for about three years when we met them at holman. >> it done got to the point to where its like if im thinking about something, before i can get it out, he can say it. and its vice versa. >> do you identify as gay? >> do me -- do i do? yes. >> youre gay? >> yes. >> i was fascinated by the friendship between kenyatta and tommy. kenyatta is openly gay and tommy was openly straight. and it seemed to me that their friendship was truly platonic but very bonde...

Making fun of him either for being interviewed or because of his relationship with kenyatta, and then i realized he just took it in stride, almost seemed pleased and proud about the situation, and then just kept going. if someone walks up here and calls him your boyfriend or girlfriend or something like that, how do you react? >> it wouldnt matter. i dont react on stupidity. >> tommy, would you two be friends on the street? >> yeah. yeah. >> his homosexuality is not a factor? >> no. i dont look ...

>> because i like cheese curls. >> when is the last time you had a cheese curl? >> last night. >> by all appearances, tommy "cheese curl" tunstall, serving life for robbery, was one of holmans most popular inmates. >> tommy was an interesting inmate to interview, actually, because he seemed very calm and confident. quietly confident. >> bring your ass on. [ bleep ]. >> more often than not, when we would start interviewing tommy, inmates would start yelling things at him. >> youve got to tell me ...

Business putting their hands on him. i get offensive like that. >> having a relationship with gay men or straight men here? >> straight. >> straight guys? >> yeah. they gay too, though. actually, in their mind theyre just gay for that minute. after its over with, they aint gay no more. but wait till the next time, then theyre gay again for another minute. >> as for their future, both men were serving life sentences. though tunstall would someday qualify for parole, mcmillen had life without. >> ...

But as far as if he do get a relationship with anybody, then i know what type of individual he is, and he dont get in no trouble, he dont bother nobody then nobody aint got no business putting their hands on him. i get offensive like that. >> having a relationship with gay men or straight men here? >> straight. >> straight guys? >> yeah. they gay too, though. actually, in their mind theyre just gay for that minute. after its over with, they aint gay no more. but wait till the next time, then the...