First National Gay March
At
the first National Gay March in Washington, D.C., in 1979, I
found myself standing along the sidelines watching first
 the thousands of Lesbians and
then the myriad of other Gay groups (Gay dentists, Gay North
Dakotans, Gay Oklahomans, Gay parents, etc.).
I joined the parade when the final group
appeared. They were surrounding a sound truck blasting out the
music I'd come out to. I eagerly joined what I dubbed "The State of Disco".
Uncle Charlie's South
During the mid-70's in Manhattan, I lived
in a five-floor walk up at 39th Street and Lexington Avenue,
making Uncle Charlie's South (UCS) my living room. It was here
that I became more articulate about the phenomenon of Disco,
which one only heard in clubs never on the radio.
The juke box at UCS seemed always to have
the best, most current, music. I'd also noticed a man who often
sat on or around the juke box.
Finally, som eone clued me in--the box was programmed by
Barry Manilow, the same man I saw lounging around the box. Barry
was only just hitting the radar due to his affiliation with Bette
Midler.
In case anyone from those days recalls
me, I had started my facial hair (which I have maintained lo
these 30-odd years) and usually had a hair "pick" in
my hip pocket.
Gay Pride NYC 1971
I'd first seen Barry in person at my first
Gay Pride rally event about 1971 in Washington Square Park in
Greenwich Village. He accompanied Bette Midler who performed
that day.
She sang only one song her theme
song of the 70's "Friends". She sang. She invited
us to sing. We joined hands, standing and swaying with the words
and rhythm.
It was a memorable affirmation after My Military Experience.
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