Today (Jan. 12, 2025) is my birthday, and I’m now 74 years old — not 74 years young. Those years are filled with memories, change, and growth, and to me, age is a celebration. When asked, “Wouldn’t you want to be young again?” my answer is always no. As you age, you have the privilege of celebrating the knowledge you’ve gained and the work you’ve accomplished.
While it would be easy to sit back and reflect on history, for me, there’s still much to accomplish. This year in particular has been pivotal, as I’ve truly embraced my past and appreciated the journey of 55 years. Yet my sleeves remain rolled up, ready for more.
People often tell me to slow down, but looking back on the last year, it seems I’ve sped up instead. Here’s just some of what I’ve been working on:
- Ensuring that both individuals and LGBTQ+ organizations are heard and included in government
- Serving as a spokesperson for Pride in various countries through Amnesty International
- Advocating for historians to acknowledge Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a gay man who helped George Washington shape our nation
- Taking early steps to create another LGBTQ-friendly senior affordable housing facility
- Working on LGBTQ+ exhibits in three different museums
- Planning with the Board of the DMH Fund to award grants to LGBTQ+ nonprofits
- Strengthening LGBTQ+ media nationally through the Local Media Association
- Collaborating with Visit Philly to increase LGBTQ+ tourism
- Offering counsel to elected officials who’ve been allies and friends for years
- Traveling monthly to speak at corporations, universities, and conferences
- Conducting numerous interviews throughout the year
- Supporting my good friend Gov. Josh Shapiro in the national election.
- Becoming a rotating panelist on a TV Sunday morning show
- Serving on the board of the Gay Liberation Front Foundation
- Advocating for LGBTQ+ representation in political and administrative structures
- Managing my role as publisher of Philadelphia Gay News
- Getting invited to the Oval Office by the President of the United States
- Most rewarding of all, mentoring and celebrating the successes of others
However, one project this year eclipsed all the others.
My husband of 20 years, Jason, has worked patiently to free me from the “imprisoned shell” of my past. Then, we met Diana Rodriguez and Ann Marie Gothard, two women of color who co-founded the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in the space that was once the Stonewall Inn in New York. Over dinner, they — like Jason — realized that talking about my connection to Stonewall was a delicate subject for me, but they were determined to change that.
They made a point I hadn’t considered: there are photos of my activism that document the era but that I’ve tried to ignore, and while Stonewall is one of the most contentious points in LGBTQ+ history, it’s also something you can’t escape. In a sense, I’ve felt shackled to that building for 55 years. Diana and Ann Marie refused to accept my objections, slowly drawing me in with their belief that my story had to be told. It took two women of color to help me embrace what Stonewall represents for our community.
This project allowed me to ensure that those who were at Stonewall — and the Gay Liberation Front, which emerged from its spirit — are finally brought out of the shadows. By curating an exhibit at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, in collaboration with Pride Live and the National Parks Conservation Association, we’re reclaiming our history. It’s a chance to erase myths, challenge falsehoods, and honor those who fought for our movement.
Over these 55 years of activism, I’ve been arrested about a dozen times, fighting for visibility in media, representation in government, marriage equality, and countless other causes. I’ve proudly stood on the right side of these battles as a joyous warrior. This latest effort isn’t just a fight against misinformation — it’s a labor of love.
As I celebrate my birthday, I’m looking onward to the next 74 years.