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Gypsy

January, 1989 GAY PEOPLES CHRONICLE Page 11

This tribute to Gypsy was written by Chuck Beck for the Leather Stallion Saloon's Round-Up and is reprinted here by permission.

Gypsy, a legend to some of us in Cleveland, passed away at age 74, Nov. 15, 1988.

It was early in 1970 when I first met Gypsy. At that time no one could have convinced me that the resulting deep caring mutual bond of friendship was possible.

On the surface, we were as unlike as could be imagined. Gypsy was silk and spangles, boas, beads, and blush; I was cut from another piece of cloth---or should I say leather.

I knew of the Zanzebar, the Orchid, Jack's and the Cadillac, but I didn't go there. Those weren't my people, I was leather.

Back then, a trip to the Leather Stallion was a frightening, intimidating experience. With all that leather and the chains, an aura of menace, mystery and mayhem permeated the place, To me, a visit to the bar was akin to playing with tigers. Exciting!

Many of us would stay until 1 a.m. when the bar's old beer and wine license demanded that we leave, and we'd jump on our cycles and head for the 620 on Frankfort.

In 1970 the myths, and some truths, about the leather crowd preceded us when we'd make a grand entrance in the 620, and many custo-

mer us.

seemed to part to make room for

Our other option at 1 a.m. was to go across the street from our home bar to the Silver Spur Saloon, where Gypsy worked. This bar was truly a "shot and a beer, spit on the floor" hangout for hustlers, red necks, drag queens, drunks, and God knows what else. We'd park our bikes in the front and enter with little or no notice.

One night after leaving the LSS, a group of us, all in full leather, headed in the Silver Spur. Gingers was tending one end of the bar in full drag (You'd have never known it was a guy), and Gypsy was tending the other part of the bar. They were "they" and we were "us". Nothing in common. Ah?

As we went in the Silver Spur more often, I came to know Gypsy as a person. I learned to look beyond his clothing as he did mine, and I learned that my "drag" was really no different than his. He could be gentle, compassionate and caring of all his customers and friends, reserving judgement until

he saw beneath facade which we all present.

He had a repertoire of jokes--particularly Myron Cohen jokes--which he could deliver in dialect so authentic you'd believe he had just left the country where his character lived.

I often saw Gypsy display a soft and caring heart for the underdog, and I've also seen him jump over the bar and beat the hell out of a belligerent bully twice his size. Gypsy was many things he wanted to be, but he as a man whom I learned to respect and love like a brother.

He could be a Jewish mother offering advice and quite often help to those who needed it; or he could be a tough longshoreman straightening out someone else who needed it too. Above all, to me, he could be and was a friend.

By the time he left the Silver Spur to open his own restaurant down the street, he had developed such a respect and friendship from the leather clubs that several clubs showed up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday to help him set up his restaurant equipment while his restaurant catered to a collage of customers from around the city.

When Jim was shot and killed, and Gypsy was hurting, that same collage of friends was at his side. He was grateful he was not alone.

Gypsy was 73 when a robber tried to hold him up at work. At 73 he jumped over the counter, confiscated the weapon and shot the hoodlum in the process. Silk, and spangles, boas, beads and blush? Come now. Look deeper. Gypsy lived his private life, following his chosen path, but he maintained a friendship with all facets of the scene. He, at 74, danced in the bar of the Leather Stallion Saloon's "Roaring 20's" night and raised a record sum of money for the Health Issues Taskforce. He was a tradition also raising money for the AIDS Hospice House.

Gypsy left me with many lessons of life, but one of those I'll treasure most is the lesson that we must look beneath the facade. Look beneath the leather and lace, the glitter and the grease. Look at the real person beneath.

Although I may choose leather and levi, I recognize that it is as much "drag" as a three-piece Hart Shaffner, or a basic black by Ralph Lauren. It's the person beneath it all who really counts.

Thanks for the lesson, Gypsy. Enjoy Spain with your matador. I salute you, brother.

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