B-2 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE Pride Guide 2001
Truth and consequences: Profiles in LGBT courage
by Tiffany Schleich
Standing angry with arms crossed and feet planted, I listened as the radio announcer confirmed grim reality: Intolerance and hatred live and breathe; Matthew Shepard is dead. I remember well October 12, 1998, the date of this young man's death. It was also my birthday. I think of it now as my very first birthday, because in a way, I was reborn.
As I stood there, my anger at the world for this injustice evolved into anger at myself for remaining in the closet, and I resolved to start living my life as an openly gay individual. While I had been afraid to take a stand and live my life out and proud, this young stranger became a martyr for the gay rights movement. He was unafraid to live as an openly gay man, and his courage had consequences.
My decision to come out was a consequence of his courage. During this month of
Pride, I am especially grateful for his courage. There are many more courageous people in our history to whom I owe a personal debt of gratitude, and during this month I think of them with admiration.
As I survey the vast array of colorful characters who make up our history, I am buoyed by the immutable truth that we really are everywhere. Artists and activists, actors and writers, politicians, athletes and clergy-people have all struggled against ignorance and intolerance in the history of the LGBT rights movement. It would be impossible to profile all of them; the best that I can offer is a thumbnail sketch of our gay profiles in courage.
In the days of Harry Hay, Del Martin, and Phyllis Lyon, McCarthyism branded homosexuals enemies of the state, and persecution was common. Gay people were seen as sexual deviants who needed to be "cured." They were typically imprisoned for same-sex acts. They
Joy B. Savren
Attorney at Law
Divorce & Dissolution ~ Custody & Support Personal Injury ~ Accidents
Wills ~ Probate of Estates ~ Real Estate ~ Bankruptcy
Personal attention to provide individual solutions for issues faced by same-sex couples
717 Hanna Building, Cleveland 44115
(216) 771-6597
Savren & Caley LLP
et
del taller picture framing
could be fired from their jobs and evicted from their homes with no recourse.
Courageous in this climate of intolerance, gays began organizing. The Mattachine Society was founded on Nov. 11, 1950, by Hay and four others to advocate lesbian and gay rights and equality. The Daughters of Bilitis, a group dedicated to providing support and social contact for lesbians and to further understanding of lesbianism in society, met initially on Sept. 21, 1955.
The members of these first homophile groups gathered together to fight for their rights at great personal risk. As a consequence of their courage, the gay liberation movement took seed.
During the early hours of morning on June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street was the target of yet another police raid. Yet, instead of compliance, police were met with resistance; outraged patrons had had enough. Police were pummeled with debris and driven back into the Stonewall, which was then set on fire. They called reinforcements, but to no avail-widespread rioting continued throughout the entire weekend.
Heralded as a major turning point in the gay rights movement, this violent event sparked the rapid formation of gay liberation groups within the United States. Thus, the Stonewall uprising became a catalyst for LGBT people standing up for themselves, and the movement gained momentum as a consequence of courage. Visible and vocal LGBT people from all factions have taken a stand to fight for their rights ever since.
Communicating with courage, LGBT writers chronicle our story through poetry and prose. Essex Hemphill, Randy Shilts, Rita Mae Brown, Allen Ginsberg, Audre Lorde, Jacqueline Woodson, Armistead Maupin, Tony Kushner, Gertrude Stein and Langston Hughes to name just a few have all brought our story to life by putting pen to paper.
Exhibiting the courage to create unashamedly through art, film and photography as gay individuals are Marlon Riggs,
19825 Old Lake Rd. 30183 Detroit Rd. Rocky River CH
(440) 333-7994 (440)333-0759
(440) 899-1957 (440) 930-2957
Charles Scoll
Gift Certificates make a unique gift for that someone special.
Robert Mapplethorpe, Tee Corinne, Paul Cadmus, Joan E. Biren and Keith Haring, among many others.
Those keeping the courage alive through activism and politics include Barbara Gittings, Frank Kameny, Urvashi Vaid, Harvey Milk, Patricia Ireland, Tom Stoddard, Steve May, Barney Frank, Roberta Achtenberg, Donna Red Wing and countless others.
Joining the ranks of activists of the past and present are now the activists of the future: high school students who have the courage to fight for the creation and continuation of gay-straight alliances in our schools. These youths make their schools a safer and more accepting environment for LGBT youth, decreasing their rates of dropouts and suicides—I applaud their efforts!
The long-term consequences of their courage will be much more far reaching than anyone can predict. These youths are a reminder to me that I have the power to make a difference as well, if only to display a rainbow flag or put a gay-positive bumper sticker on my car. There are many others who have had to fight much harder than I for freedom to live as they choose.
I could hardly write about the LGBT spirit without including the consequences of transgender courage. These individuals are often under-represented, misrepresented, or not represented at all in society. The story of Brandon Teena's courage to live as his heart, mind and soul directed him to, instead of simply succumbing to the expectations of society by accepting the body into which he was born is truly an inspiration to us all. Hopefully, the increase in transgender activism and acceptance will continue as stories such as his are given the attention and respect they deserve.
Deserving also of attention and respect are LGBT cultural minorities. African-Americans, Asians and Latinos, as well as other cultures within our community need our understanding, support and encouragement. They battle homophobia as well as the cultural stereotypes imposed upon them from birth. The consequences of their courage result in the enrichment of our community through embracing diversity. Educating ourselves about their struggle can only bring us unity and strength.
The value of education is immeasurable; knowledge conquers the ignorance that breeds the fear that feeds the prejudice that kills us. The emergence of LGBT studies on college campuses across the nation is a consequence of the courage that makes us live our lives more as an exclamation than as an explanation every day. As I look around me, evidence of this is abundant through the many groups and organizations that we have available to us. Our predecessors were not as fortunate.
Celebrating the consequences of our courage is something that, until Matthew Shepard's death, I never thought that I would be doing. Ironically, it is this very spirit of courage shared by lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people that made me realize that I, too, could stand up for my rights and live out and proud.
As a consequence of that courage, I know that I do not stand alone. ✓
Tiffany Schleich is a student at BaldwinWallace College in Berea, Ohio, and can be reached at javanut66@earthlink.net.
A Welcoming Congregation
Fine Custom Picture Framing
Photo Frames, Mirrors, Fine Art Prints Easels, Posters, Small Prints & Accessories
18501 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
216-228-7817
www.el-taller.com
First Unitarian Church of Cleveland Unitarian Universalist
21600 Shaker Boulevard • Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
Phone: 216-751-2320
E-Mail: firstunitarian@oh.verio.com Website: http://firstcleve.omd.uua.org
The Welcoming Congregation & AIDS Action Committees.