There are only three LGBT-focused historic monuments with any federal recognition: The Stonewall Inn, Frank Kameny‘s house in Washington DC, and the Cherry Grove Community House and Theater on Fire Island. But soon there could be a lot more.
The National Park Service wants your nominations for noteworthy gay sites for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. There’s also a “National Historic Landmark LGBTQ Theme Study” in the works, intended to help the government recognize LGBT heritage. And there’s an as-yet-unscheduled webinar taking place later this year, in which citizens can learn more about the nomination process.
There’s no shortage of landmarks that deserve recognition.
There’s the Gay Activists Alliance Firehouse in New York. Cole Porter’s house in Williamstown. City Lights in San Francisco. Harry Hay’s home in Silver Lake. Feminist printers Diana Press in Baltimore. Running Eagle Falls in Montana, named for a female Blackfeet war chief who lived as a man. The site of Pegasus in Pittsburgh, and Garden of Allah in Seattle.
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And that’s just to name a few. What historic sites would you nominate, and why?
oldbrit
Well, there is also a monument in the Oak Lawn neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. Of course, you have to get over the shock that it looks like a dildo with stained glass church windows and a disco ball on top. If you don’t believe me, have a look for yourself…
http://www.oaklawncommittee.org/pages/Gateway_jpg.htm
http://www.aidsmemorial.info/memorial/id=141/legacy_of_love_monument.html
JAW
Philly has a state historic marker in Independence Mall (between the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall) Marking the protests held back in the 1960’s on the 4th of July.
Another State Historic Marker stands in front of Giovanni’s Room… The oldest GLBT book store in the USA (and it is still open)
Crossing (and across) the the river in NJ we celebrate Walt Whitman. the 7th Largest Suspension bridge is named for Walt. His last home is already an Historical Landmark and is located in Camden NJ. His grave site is also in Camden with a large monument.
Teleny
Walking into Pegasus one night a decade or more ago with my Lesbian friends, a car pulled up and began to scream “Fa…”. It took the rednecks a few seconds to change it and yell “Dy.,,s”! Rednecks are so stupid.
I’d like to see a big Bayard Rustin statue somewhere near the White House.
DShucking
I’ll support monuments for gay history if you take the word Queer out of them.
RayJacksonMs
The Upstairs Lounge in New Orleans. It was the site of the largest mass murder of gays in US history. The building survived the fire. The previous owner’s son owns the building. There is a plaque on the side walk. There needs to be national recognition.
topher-sf
@Teleny: Big +1 to the statue of Rustin! Historical Places are great, a couple monuments to heroes would be even better! Also, how about a monument to those who lost their lives in the early years of the epidemic while the gov turned a blind eye to the problem?
Ken Potter
The Upstairs Lounge definitely qualifies as a historical site. It is the gay community’s version of an Alabama church bombing. Those poor souls were murdered for celebrating who they were, and were all caught at the wrong time by a selfish person or persons, who thought their agenda superseded the right to life. The victims were burned alive because someone thought they were less than human for being gay.
SingaporeRed
Just give me rights. Fuck monuments.
tada-no
They should landmark the bath houses and sex clubs in NYC where famous guys like Rudolf Nureyev, Anthony Perkins, Liberace and Freddie Mercury cruised for sex but fell to the raging plague of the 80s-90s.