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October 21, 2011

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

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1813-32 at the Middleton house). The home probably served as a central place for community organizing and other social gatherings for the early abolitionist movement. Lydia Maria Child, one of their white neighbors, recalls the house being "thronged with company." Middleton's home is a featured stop on the Boston African-American National Historic Site tour.

For the most part, Middleton was well-liked and received by most of his neighbors. Child's father, who had a "natural compassion for the ignorant and the oppressed," always greeted Middleton. He enjoyed listening to Middleton play the violin each summer evening, and would often visit the Middleton home to see Middleton's "power in subduing mettlesome colts." Despite this recognition and respect from her father, Child stated that Middleton was "not a very good specimen of the colored man," and had questionable morals for being "passionate, intemperate and profane"--perhaps attributes that would later advance Middleton's causes for independence.

During the American Revolution, Middleton used his leadership abilities to command the Bucks of the Revolution, an all-black regiment of volunteers assigned to protect Boston from sabotage and guard the property of local merchants. While the unit and Middleton's rank are left unrecorded in official military records, these men and their contributions standout. In fact, Gov. John Hancock and his son presented the unit and it colonel with a flag of distinction to acknowledge their efforts. The ensign was a painted silk, and included the initials J.H. and G.W. (likely for John Hancock and George Washington), a pine tree, a deer and a scroll. Despite not being citizens or equals to white Bostonians, their commitment to the principle of liberty helped paved the way for a new nation. Middleton's commitment to America's lib erty also shaped his life of service to other blacks in Boston. He was instrumental in establishing the Boston African Benevolent Society in 1796, which provided important social services, including grants and job placement, for its members. As a noted leader among Boston's blacks, he delivered a petition signed by black Bosingia vie and served as one

of the school's early instructors.

He was also a leading member of Prince Hall's African Lodge of Freemasons, and worked closely with Hall to establish the organization. In 1808, Middleton worked closely with Hall to

publish an anti-slavery statement that read, in part: "Freedom is desirable, if not, would men sacrifice their time, their property and finally their lives in the pursuit of this?" Middleton would serve as the third Grand Master of the Prince Hall's African Lodge of Freemasons after the death of Hall and a successor in 1809. Today, the Prince Hall Masons maintain an enduring legacy in many African-American communities across the United States.

While Middleton was a respected organizer, he was not afraid to promote radical means to advance the call for freedom. As a black man living in Boston, he was all-too familiar with the oppressive system and the ways that blacks were mistreated and systematically disadvantaged. His revolutionary spirit was aroused during a local celebration of the abolition of the slave trade. Child, Middleton's neighbor, describes an explosive episode between black and white Bostonians, and Middleton's actions:

"It became a frolic with the white boys to deride them on this day, and finally... to drive them...from the Common. The colored people became greatly incensed by this mockery of their festival, and rumor reached us... that they were determined to resist the whites, and were going armed with this intention... Soon, terrified children and women ran down Belknap Street, pursued by white boys, who enjoyed their fright. The sounds of battle approached; clubs and brickbats were flying in [all] directions. At this crisis, Col. Middleton opened his door, armed with a loaded musket and, in a loud voice, shrieked death to the first white who should approach. Hundreds of human being[s], white and black, were pouring down the street. Col. Middleton's voice could be heard above every other, urging his party to turn and resist to the last. His appearance was terrific, his musket was leveled, ready to sacrifice the first white man that came within its range. The colored party, shamed by his reproaches, and fired by his example, rallied and made a short show of resistance."

Middleton lived a life that was dedicated to service of others and the fight for civil rights. Though questions still surround his sexual orientation, it is clear Middleton maintained close relationships and associations with men and helped establish a standard for service, manhood, community building and action. Given his stature as a leader and his selfless contributions to the entire Boston community during the American Revolution, he stands out as a heroic figure for racial and queer communities.

George Washington: Gayfriendly father of the nation

by Victoria A. Brownworth

NATIONAL GAY HISTORY PROJECT

Tea Party leaders have taken a revisionist view of early American history, insisting that the Founding Fathers were not revolutionaries and radicals, but arch-conservatives. Among the Republican presidential contenders for 2012, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Rep. Michele Bachmann both contend the men who built America (with slaves who were, according to Bachmann, deeply grateful to be slaves) were red-staters before there

were even states.

Delving into the Founding Father's own papers indicates something altogether different. Some of the Founding Fathers leaned right, but the majority were anti-monarchists, Freemasons and atheists who held what modern historical language would term a secularist and globalist view. In some cases like George Washington's this included a strongly gay-friendly attitude.

Among the Founding Fathers there were definitive class biases. Most of these men, like Washington (1732-99) and Thomas Jefferson, were wealthy landand slaveowners who led aristocratic lifestyles and were elitist toward the "lower" classes. (Washington noted in a letter, for example, that those not of the upper classes were to be "treated civilly" but to be kept "at a proper distance, for they will grow upon familiarity, in proportion as you sink in authority.") Socialists these men were not. Yet some of their personal ethics and standards would reveal that they were more open to what would be considered a "modern," 21st-century perspective on life, love and sexuality than might be presumed in the stodgy, postPuritan. 18th-century colonies.

This was particularly true of Washington, whose stance on homosexuality, which at the time was punishable by imprisonment, castration and even death throughout the colonies, was noticeably even drarelaxed in comparison to many matically of his cohorts. His personal correspondence and diaries bear this out.

As his letters (over 17,000 have been collected at the University of Virginia) and diaries affirm, Washington was above all a pragmatist. That pragmatism made him a superb military strategist and also increased his wealth as a Virginia landowner long before he headed the Continental Army or became the first president (president, as he refused to be made king, because of his anti. monarchist stance).

Washington's views on democracy, liberty and the codified "pursuit of happiness" that current U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy cited specifically in his ruling in Lawrence v. Texas (2003), which overturned federal sodomy laws, were straightforward. Washington's papers and conversations with friends and colleagues of his era were all succinct: He believed in freedom with discipline; he was left-leaning, but no anarchist. He looked the other way on matters that may have otherwise raised eyebrows when it was the pragmatic thing to do, as he would throughout his tenure as both military leader and leader of the nation.

One of these issues was homosexuality in the military.

Many historians have tried to place Washington on the modern political specContinued on page 10

Katherine Lee Bates, wrote 'America the Beautiful'

by Judd Proctor and Brian Burns

NATIONAL GAY HISTORY PROJECT

Katherine Lee Bates was born on August 12, 1859, on Cape Cod in Falmouth, Mass., to William and Comelia Frances Lee Bates.

Known as Katie early on, things would not be easy from the start. Her father, a pastor of the First Congregational Church, was too sick to officiate or attend her baptism and died just six days afterward. This prompted her mother to take on odd jobs to support her four children. Bates' brothers even went to work to support the family.

Bates' interest in writing started at an early in life. By age 6, she started keeping a diary, her first being a tiny red leather notebook with the notation "DIARY 1866" in gold. At age 9, one entry stated, "I like women better than men," and "Sewing is always expected of girls. Why not boys?"

Bates' family valued education. Her mother graduated from Mount Holyoke Female Seminary and her grandfather had been president of Middlebury College. She too would be well educated.

Just before turning 12, the family moved to Graniteville, Mass., just outside Boston, where she would attend Wellesley High School, graduating in 1874. Bates would also graduate from the more advanced Newton High School two years later.

That same year, in 1878, at age 17, Bates began her long time association with Wellesley College, entering along with 43 other girls in the class of '80. She would be president of her class, the second to graduate from Wellesley. At the time, it was a bold move, as women were considered not bright enough to tackle to rigors of academic life. But to Bates, it was what she 'craved.

Katherine Lee Bates

Bates gained a superb education at Wellesley and became grounded in her studies. Her poetry writing began to flourish with her first poem "Sleep" published in the Atlantic Monthly during her undergraduate years there.

After receiving her B.A. from Wellesley in 1880, Bates entered her career as a teacher, with a stint at nearby Natick High School and then Dana Hall preparatory school. Her big break came in 1885, when she was invited back to Wellesley College to join the English department. Thus began her 40-year legacy at her old alma mater.

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