Returning from Washington, D. C. for Frank Kameny’s viewing left me in an angered state and it had me totally at a loss.
The viewing could not have been more honorable: honor guards, a coffin draped with the American flag, flowers in the proper places, a picture of Frank on an easel and, of course, one of the iconic picket signs from those historic marches for gay rights outside Independence Hall each July 4 from 1965-69.
It was all so dignified and downright presidential. There were longstanding friends to chat with, but something was missing and, boarding the train to head home, it bewildered me.
Then the following day, while discussing it with Kay Lahusen, Barbara Gittings’ life partner and a close friend of Kameny, she explained it eloquently. After describing it to her, without hesitation she said it was too civil and very establishment, something we’re not used to. And she was right.
I met Frank, Barbara and Kay in 1970. In those early days of our struggle for equality, we were not always kind to each other. There were two camps: The pre-Stonewall and the Stonewallers. The Stonewallers looked at the pre-Stonewallers such as Frank, Barbara, Kay and their camp as a teenager might look at their parents giving them advice. We were a very dysfunctional family.
We (the kids) decided to commemorate the first anniversary of Stonewall the last Sunday of June in 1970, which became the end of the Independence Hall pickets. After all, our generation was not about to show up with women in dresses and men in suits and ties. Our first march, we didn’t care what you wore.
About the only thing we all had in common was our incredible passion for equality. We would shout abut it, march for it and argue with each other about how to achieve it. And that was it. The lying in state was just too grand and civil. It would have been great if Frank could just yell at us one last time.
But the best compliment I can say is that Frank would have loved it: He was the center of attention. As it should be.
A final note: A Capitol Hill observance will be held for Kameny at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Cannon House Office Building, Room 345, Washington, D.C.
Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. He can be reached at [email protected] .