From a Table to the Capitol

Virginia Tech, Summer 1987: The First Breath

My first Pride event was a simple table set up by a few members of Lambda at Virginia Tech. Most of us did not yet understand what Pride meant. We just knew we were at the right place at the right time. We handed out flyers, and at most, there were six of us there at a time. Occasionally, a lone protester would appear; we barely noticed. Often, Blacksburg’s finest in blue outnumbered us. I think they were there to protect themselves from us.. It wasn’t a celebration; it was my first breath of fresh air in a world that had suffocated me for too long.

Washington, D.C., June 1993-2000

In the 1990s, I moved to Washington, D.C., and, to be honest, those Pride celebrations are a blur to me. The excitement, the energy, the heat (why June?) So, I will blur them together.

We will start with the parade, which I can put a date to: June 1995. President Bill Clinton had recently invited leaders from the gay community to the White House, a historic first. However, the occasion became RUBBER GLOVE GATE when Secret Service agents put on rubber gloves before searching the visitors, citing health concerns. Of course, this was an opportunity too good to pass up. Each of the White House fence poles had a rubber glove on it, and no official touched them.

For some of these years, I marched with the D.C. Different Drummers. Our rehearsals near the Pentagon inadvertently provided a soundtrack for men cruising in the park nearby. It was a unique blend of activism and community connection. I have marched in many parades and have played many powerful songs and anthems. But playing the theme song to I Love Lucy on Pennsylvania Avenue, in front of the White House, with the biggest Gay Chorus that I could imagine. (Do you know the words? Enough of them did.)

After the parade, the atmosphere at Freedom Plaza was electric. Martha Wash of The Weather Girls performed “It’s Raining Men,” sending the crowd into an uninhibited frenzy; a few couldn’t keep their excitement—or their pants—in check, but no one minded.

The climax was the performance by The Village People. Their songs—“Y.M.C.A.,” “Go West,” “In the Navy”—resonated with the crowd. And, I think we can assume that these songs of men having anonymous sex in bathhouses, gyms, and at sea in the navy must resonate with those who hate as well. What other reason would we hear them at so many MAGA rallies?

The Millennium March, April 2000: Unity and Reflection

In April 2000, I attended the Millennium March on Washington for Equality. This event was a celebration and a call to action to raise awareness and visibility for LGBTQ+ rights. The festivities included featured performances by artists like Melissa Etheridge, George Michael, the Pet Shop Boys, Garth Brooks, and k.d. lang. Notably, President Bill Clinton addressed the crowd via video, emphasizing the administration’s support for LGBTQ+ rights.

During this event, I had the profound experience of hearing from the founders of PFLAG and the parents of Matthew Shepard. Their stories were heart-wrenching yet inspiring, reinforcing the importance of family support and the ongoing fight against hate crimes.

Reflecting

These three events are cornerstones in my life, each marking a significant step in my journey and the broader movement for LGBTQ+ rights. From a table at Virginia Tech to the grand stages of Washington, D.C., these experiences have shaped my identity and inspired my commitment to share my stories.

I ask that you take a few minutes to share a moment of celebration or tears with someone. We are likely approaching a point where, if our stories are not digitized and stored in the cloud, they will be lost forever. So please join me, and share.