Celebrating Pride Here At BSB - A Suggestion

[stowe1]

While Pride celebrations are sprinkled throughout the year, a majority of them are held during the month of June to celebrate The Stonewall Rebellion. Beginning on the evening of Friday, June 27, 1969 through June 29 some drag queens and other patrons at The Stonewall Inn said, "Enough!" to the police harrassment to which they have been subjected over the years. This was the spark that lit the revolution and coalesced the gay community nationwide to begin demanding equality, helped us through and continue to cope with the AIDS pandemic, while continuing to march onward to full equality.

As we get further and further away from 1969, I fear that as we get more "main-streamed" into national society, we continue to slowly lose our cultural gay identity and forget what Stonewall was really all about. So I have a suggestion for us here at Broke Straight Boys to show our gay solidarity if only symbolically for a few days. Several months ago, when Scorpio began doing model avatars, I asked him if he would do a Gay Pride avatar. He came up with three Broke Straight Boys Gay Pride avatars. (It seems I am the only regular forum poster who has used one of them.) Here is what I propose:

That from June 27 through 29, 2012, everyone temporarily replace their own avatar with one of the Broke Straight Boys Gay Pride avatars. And for those who normally don't use avatars, to use one of the Gay Pride ones for these few days. I ask this of every GLBT forumite as well as our straight allies. This would show our solidarity as a community and remind us of what Stonewall was all about.

Will you join me?


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[lovelumps]

I picked my own... hope that's ok!

 

[stowe1]

I picked my own... hope that's ok!

It's great and thank you. I'm a computer luddite so I don't know how to do what you did. So for those of you who are computer enlightened and can do what lovelumps did, that's terrific. The theme is gay pride - let your creative juices flow (no pun intended).

Lovelumps, you left not long after I joined the forum and you were my first friend. It's great to have you back. How's your family?


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[lovelumps]

Thanks for asking, Stowe1! Everyone here is doing great! It was a crazy busy year, but my boys had great transitions into their new schools and really great seasons with their activities! They certainly keep us busy! It's insane how many trips back and forth to the high school I made this year, and I know Bill made 3 times as many as I did, carting DM back and forth to band practices and concerts and football games, and to swim practices and meets. And don't get me started on percussion practices and band concerts and Lacrosse games for my peanut! Both boys are wonderful, fun, thoughtful and gracious kids and I'm very lucky and happy to do all of this for them. But it's exhausting! On top of all that I had 29 kindergarteners to wrangle each day! Whew! But it's summer now, and we've a much slower pace at least.

How about you? I hope life is treating you well!

 

[joninliverton]

Here is some information about Stonewall UK. There seems to be 20 years between the formation of USA Stonewall to what is below.


Stonewall was founded in 1989 by a small group of women and men who had been active in the struggle against Section 28 of the Local Government Act.

Section 28 was an offensive piece of legislation designed to prevent the so-called 'promotion' of homosexuality in schools; as well as stigmatising gay people it also galvanised the gay community.

The aim from the outset was to create a professional lobbying group that would prevent such attacks on lesbians, gay men and bisexuals from ever occurring again. Stonewall has subsequently put the case for equality on the mainstream political agenda by winning support within all the main political parties and now has offices in England, Scotland and Wales.

Stonewall is renowned for its campaigning and lobbying. Some major successes include helping achieve the equalisation of the age of consent, lifting the ban on lesbians and gay men serving in the military, securing legislation allowing same-sex couples to adopt and the repeal of Section 28. More recently Stonewall has helped secure civil partnerships and ensured the recent Equality Act protected lesbians and gay men in terms of goods and services.

Stonewall also works with a whole range of agencies to address the needs of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in the wider community. Our Diversity Champions programme offers advice and support to over 600 organisations including IBM, Barclays, Barnardos, DCLG and the Royal Navy.

Stonewall's Education for All campaign, launched in January 2005, helps tackle homophobia and homophobic bullying in schools and works with a wide coalition of groups.

More recently Stonewall has formed partnerships with organisations outside Parliament to ensure the rights and needs of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals are addressed in the wider community.

Stonewall has also raised public awareness in terms of civil partnership, through our Get Hitched guide, and on the changes to the employment regulations relating to sexual orientation through guides for both employers and employees.

In addition Stonewall promotes new research on issues such as hate crime, lesbian health and homophobic bullying in schools.

Our offices in Scotland and Wales further our work across a range of activities and work alongside local projects to develop LGB communities.

On 23 September 2003 we were granted charitable status (Charity Registration Number 1101255).

Alongside this expansion, our highly professional staff team has grown and is sustained by a committed band of dedicated volunteers and thousands of individuals the length and breadth of the UK.

Stonewall receives no public funding and raises all its money itself in a range of ways including donations, sponsorship, and fundraising events.

 

[rrj3md]

Does anyone here besides me also know that on that night in the back of the Stonewall was a New York City Councilman who later became Mayor and when it was raided, he was shuffled out the back door. Just saying cause I know......And I will be changing my avatar

 

[Buckeye1]

Yep....I'm on board.

 

[mikeyank]

Does anyone here besides me also know that on that night in the back of the Stonewall was a New York City Councilman who later became Mayor and when it was raided, he was shuffled out the back door. Just saying cause I know......And I will be changing my avatar

You are obviously referring to Ed Koch who was a councilman from the "silk stocking" district of Manhattan, and later a three term mayor of NYC, but I had never heard your claim about him that night, but it's possible. Why not?. To this day, the octogenarian Mayor Koch never has directly answered the question regarding his sexuality. During one contentious election, he publicly "dated" Bess Myerson, the former Miss America who was a friend of his, however after his re-election, the power couple, "broke up". He was the Mayor who famously asked New Yorkers that he met, "How am I doing?"

I decided to look in Wikipedia,and this is what they say about his personal life:

"Koch is a lifelong bachelor, and his sexuality became an issue in the 1977 mayoral election with the appearance of placards and posters (disavowed by the Cuomo campaign) with the slogan "Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo." Koch denounced the attack. During the campaign and after becoming mayor, Koch began attending public events with former Miss America, well-known television game show panelist and consumer advocate Bess Myerson.[28]

Koch has refused comment on his actual sexual experiences, writing:


What do I care? I'm 73 years old. I find it fascinating that people are interested in my sex life at age 73. It's rather complimentary! But as I say in my book, my answer to questions on this subject is simply Fuck off. There have to be some private matters left.[29]"



I was a college student back in 1969, back home in NYC for the summer, and I do recall the news headlines of the police fighting with patrons of a gay bar. And as a matter of fact it was later that summer that I went to my first gay bar, on West 43rd St. near 9th Ave. It was called "The Sanctuary", and it was in an old church, and the boys danced in the pews. This was after the Stonewall riots, but it was still a secretive thing to be in a gay club in 1969, however I was in the city that summe. But as a 19 year old kid, I wasn't aware of the social significance of any of that. I was just looking for a cute guy to fuck around with.

 

[rrhill]

Worldwide it has been shown that gay rights, are a consequence of womans rights. First the woman manages to liberate themselves, and in their paths gays follow soon...

Lets fight for worldwide emancipation!

 

[stowe1]

Here is some information about Stonewall UK. There seems to be 20 years between the formation of USA Stonewall to what is below.


Stonewall was founded in 1989 by a small group of women and men who had been active in the struggle against Section 28 of the Local Government Act.

Section 28 was an offensive piece of legislation designed to prevent the so-called 'promotion' of homosexuality in schools; as well as stigmatising gay people it also galvanised the gay community.

The aim from the outset was to create a professional lobbying group that would prevent such attacks on lesbians, gay men and bisexuals from ever occurring again. Stonewall has subsequently put the case for equality on the mainstream political agenda by winning support within all the main political parties and now has offices in England, Scotland and Wales.

Stonewall is renowned for its campaigning and lobbying. Some major successes include helping achieve the equalisation of the age of consent, lifting the ban on lesbians and gay men serving in the military, securing legislation allowing same-sex couples to adopt and the repeal of Section 28. More recently Stonewall has helped secure civil partnerships and ensured the recent Equality Act protected lesbians and gay men in terms of goods and services.

Stonewall also works with a whole range of agencies to address the needs of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in the wider community. Our Diversity Champions programme offers advice and support to over 600 organisations including IBM, Barclays, Barnardos, DCLG and the Royal Navy.

Stonewall's Education for All campaign, launched in January 2005, helps tackle homophobia and homophobic bullying in schools and works with a wide coalition of groups.

More recently Stonewall has formed partnerships with organisations outside Parliament to ensure the rights and needs of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals are addressed in the wider community.

Stonewall has also raised public awareness in terms of civil partnership, through our Get Hitched guide, and on the changes to the employment regulations relating to sexual orientation through guides for both employers and employees.

In addition Stonewall promotes new research on issues such as hate crime, lesbian health and homophobic bullying in schools.

Our offices in Scotland and Wales further our work across a range of activities and work alongside local projects to develop LGB communities.

On 23 September 2003 we were granted charitable status (Charity Registration Number 1101255).

Alongside this expansion, our highly professional staff team has grown and is sustained by a committed band of dedicated volunteers and thousands of individuals the length and breadth of the UK.

Stonewall receives no public funding and raises all its money itself in a range of ways including donations, sponsorship, and fundraising events.

jon-

Thanks for posting this information. I found it most interesting, I'm sure I'm not the only person who had no idea about Stonewall UK. I presume you all are lobbying for the Marriage Equality bill being considered by the Cameron government. Hope you have great success.

I hope you join in the gay pride avatar effort I've started here since it would symbolically, at least, link us together during this time.


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[stowe1]

Does anyone here besides me also know that on that night in the back of the Stonewall was a New York City Councilman who later became Mayor and when it was raided, he was shuffled out the back door. Just saying cause I know......And I will be changing my avatar

Thanks, rrj, for joining the gay pride avatar parade. Love the Iwo Jima symbolism - who knows one of the guys could have been gay back then - we'll never know!


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[stowe1]

Yep....I'm on board.

Dear Buckeye1, thanks for joining up. Love the Marriage Equality avatar. Did you create that or did you get it from another site?


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[stowe1]

Thanks for asking, Stowe1! Everyone here is doing great! It was a crazy busy year, but my boys had great transitions into their new schools and really great seasons with their activities! They certainly keep us busy! It's insane how many trips back and forth to the high school I made this year, and I know Bill made 3 times as many as I did, carting DM back and forth to band practices and concerts and football games, and to swim practices and meets. And don't get me started on percussion practices and band concerts and Lacrosse games for my peanut! Both boys are wonderful, fun, thoughtful and gracious kids and I'm very lucky and happy to do all of this for them. But it's exhausting! On top of all that I had 29 kindergarteners to wrangle each day! Whew! But it's summer now, and we've a much slower pace at least.

How about you? I hope life is treating you well!

I've been doing okay, lovelumps, thanks for asking. At this point in my medical history, I know I won't get any better, so as long as I don't get any worse, I'm ahead of the game. And given my age, every day I wake up I thank God for another day.

Reading your recap of the year, brought back so many memories. My kids were swimmers and when we lived outside of DC from 74-83 there was summer league swimming and then they swam USA swimming as well for the rest of the year. Those 5:30 am practices, especially in the winter were killers. They (we had three) also played soccer in the Spring and Fall. When we moved to Pittsburgh in 83 our oldest was going into junior year in high school, my daughter Freshmen in high school, and the youngest boy was in 6th grade., What made it worse was the move didn't occur until end of Oct. so they had to start in their schools in Md and then after two months switch to schools in Pgh. Not the easiest, but they and we all survived.

I'm glad that all went well for your boys and you and Bill. Enjoy the summer.

It's really good to have you back with us.


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[Buckeye1]

Dear Buckeye1, thanks for joining up. Love the Marriage Equality avatar. Did you create that or did you get it from another site?


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Sorry, but I don't create anything on the computer....I just stumble my way through. Got lucky I guess and found it on another site. I didn't even know it meant Marriage Equality....thanks for the info. I just thought it was "pretty".