Queer elders ponder past, present, future

San Francisco, 17 April 2004:

"I'm a geriatrician and an Okla-Homo," said one guy at the spring program sponsored by ASA's Lesbian and Gay Aging Issues Network [http://www.ASAging.org/LGAIN/ ]. Another said, ""I'm a gay Cuban Jew -- pick your prejudice!"

In the morning we queer seniors and allies discussed "where we've been" in the past. Many added memories to an LGBT history time-line, reminiscing about The Widow Norton, "women's music" camps, Oakland's closet "Dinner Group", and more. We heard about the first known U.S. queer picket, four decades ago in fall 1964, outside a New York City military induction center. And about anarcho-syndicalist Morris Kight, viewed by right-wingers as a "commie". After a box lunch, Ariska Razak (of Purple Moon Dance Project) led rhythmic exercises.

In "what we're doing", a session on the present, we heard about dozens of efforts, including housing for elder queers
[ http://www.openHouse-sf.org ]. A fierce Australian academic warned, "Nothing about us, without us!" In New York state, we're told, four hundred clergy are volunteering to break state law by performing unlicensed same-sex weddings. In San Francisco, kind souls visit forgotten queers at Laguna Honda for a monthly "Rainbow Social Group".

The futurist session, "where we're going," explored "ties between LGBT aging issues and the movement for civil rights and LGBT rights...".

Riddle overheard at lunch:
Q: "How do we know Adam was queer?"
A: "What other kind of man could stand beside a naked woman
and be tempted by a fruit?"


- Tortuga Bi Liberty,
for Senior Unlimited Nudes (SUN) of San Francisco
[ http://pages.prodigy.net/seniornude ]
Saturday, 17 April 2004


P.S. Meanwhile, our struggles continue:

USA: April 21: national "Day of Silence" for civil rights of LGBTI students. [ http://www.dayofsilence.org ]

CAL: SF: April 21, Wed., 8-10pm: Smack Dab (queer open mic),Magnet, 4122--18th St, near Castro. Free.

OREGON: circa April 23: Multnomah County: Circuit Judge Frank Bearden might issue a ruling on ACLU lawsuit about whether Oregon's gender-biased marriage statute violates OR state constitution.
His decision will be appealed to higher courts.
Appeals process could take years, unless courts expedite.
[ http://www.oregonlive.com/special/gaymarriage/ ]

CAL: April 23: In the state Assembly, Mark Leno's marriage equality bill must pass thru the judiciary committee by this deadline date. Delay would kill the bill.

PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia, April 26- May 2: Equality Forum. [http://www.equalityforum.com ]

CAL: Berkeley: (late April?) : birthday party for People's Park. Top-optional; perhaps clothing-optional.
Get equality and peace symbols painted on your bare skin.
...................