Classic 1969 "Stonewall Car" leading a yesteryear N.Y.C. Gay Pride Parade


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2011 (END of the YEAR) -- STONEWALL VETERANS ASSOCIATION'S POWERFUL + POPULAR WEBSITE HITS OVER 6 MILLION VERIFIED VISITS in 2011

SVA's popular, educational and powerful website had another banner year!  The total amount of verified visits to the S.V.A. website were 6,194,161.  The most popular webfiles include the "Songs Of The Stonewall" (ten different files), the 1969 "Stonewall Car", "Stonewall: The Era, The People, The Club and The Rebellion" and "S.V.A. Business & Political Advertisers".  To view the informative and interesting statistics, see:  http://www.STONEWALLvets.org/stats/2011_12.html.







December 31st, 2011 -- NEW YEAR'S EVE








Saturday, December 31 -- NO S.V.A. MEETING THIS DECEMBER on NEW YEAR'S EVE

SVA Monthly Meeting.jpg

The SVA's "Bi-Laws" dictate that:  "The S.V.A. shall not meet on the last Saturday of any month when said day is a national holiday such as Christmas or a semi-holiday such as New Year's Eve".  Further, the S.V.A. polls its members and, this year, meeting on New Year's Eve had replies:  "No way!"  "It's not necessary!"  I don't want to travel on New Year's Eve!"  "Definitely not!"  "I won't be in town!"  "On New Year's Eve, all day, eve and night, I stay in and never go out!"  "Of course... not!"  "I'll be home for New Year's Eve!"  "Count me out!"

Upcoming:  The next regular monthly meeting of the S.V.A. shall be on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 @ 4:15 p.m. with guest speakers "Mr. January" NYC Councilman Steve Levin of Brooklyn and "Miss January" Community Board #1 President Julie Menin of Manhattan @ 5 p.m. at the New York City GLBT Center.








Friday, December 30 -- BIRTHDAY:  SHARI CLEMONS, 2nd VICE-PRESIDENT of PRIDE DEMOCRATS







Friday, December 30 -- BIRTHDAY:  STEVEN GRADMAN, 1st VICE-PRESIDENT of PRIDE DEMOCRATS








Thursday, December 29 -- SVA'S OFFICE MANAGER ANDRE CHRISTIE'S BIRTHDAY







Wednesday, December 28 -- BIRTHDAY:  MARY "LEADER OF THE PACK" WEISS, LEAD SINGER of THE SHANGRI-LAS and LEADER of "THE SWEETHEARTS of THE STONEWALL"








Monday, December 26 -- GRAMMY AWARDS ANNOUNCED THAT SUPREME DIANA ROSS SHALL (FINALLY) RECEIVE the "GRAMMY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD"









Sunday, December 25th -- CHRITMAS DAY_(NATIONAL HOLIDAY) * MERRY CHRISTMAS

The Phil Spector Artists

"A Christmas Gift To You":  #1 popular Stonewall Christmas album
with Stonewall Jukebox singles namely "Christmas Baby" by Darlene Love,
 "Sleigh Ride" by Ronnie Spector & The Ronettes, "Parade Of The Wooden
 Soldiers" by The Crystals and "Here Comes Santa Claus" by Bob B. Soxx
& The Blue Jeans.  They were on a two songs per side promotional record
 and "Christmas" by Darlene was released as its own hit single (many years).
Note:  Over 40 years later, this classic album is still available... on C/D!
 
 






Saturday, Christmas Eve -- "CHRISTMAS SONGS OF THE STONEWALL" on WCBS-FM RADIO IN NEW YORK


For the entire Christmas 3-day weekend in the Tri-State area (NY/CT/NJ), you can hear most of the holiday songs from the original Stonewall Club jukebox!  Listen to the Christmas songs of Darlene Love, Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Beach Boys, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, The Ronettes, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Julie Andrews, Bobby 'Boris' Pickett, The Crystals, The Temptations and so many other wonderful artists and songs.  WCBS-FM is at 101.1 on the radio!







Saturday, December 24 -- STONEWALL BIRTHDAY:  STORME DeLARVERIE, AMBASSADOR of the S.V.A., 91!







Friday, December 23
-- DARLENE LOVE SINGING "CHRISTMAS" on "THE LATE SHOW"

This yearly television tradition for a quarter-of-a-century has 1960s to the present songstress Darlene Love performing her famous rock 'n' roll 'n' soul holiday song "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home".  It was the #1 Christmas song at The Stonewall Club year after year.  The song was remarkably written by  by Ellie Greenwich and outstandingly produced by Phil Spector, both former supporters of the S.V.A.  Darlene still is!  "CBPCH" was great to dance to and act out at Stonewall!  Tonight's performance is replete with a big girl group chorus, full-string orchestra and stage effects.  It airs on CBS-TV @ 11:35 p.m. (EST).  Once you see this wonderful holiday outing, you'll know that Christmas is thisclose!







Thursday, December 22 -- S.V.A. WEBSITE HITS 6+ MILLION 'VERIFIED' VISITS for 2011

Congratulations to the STONEWALL Veterans' Association for its continued educational, powerful and entertaining website!  The most frequented files, numbering in hundreds of thousands of visits per webfile yearly, include:  "The Stonewall Car", "Songs of The Stonewall Club" and "Stonewall: The Era, The Club, The People, The Rebellion" and "Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS".  To see the impresssive, interesting and revealing S.V.A. web statistics and which webfiles are the most popular, visit:
http://www.STONEWALLvets.org/stats
and simply scroll down to "2011".








Wednesday, December 21 -- ASSEMBLYMAN KEITH WRIGHT'S "HOLIDAY HOUSE PARTY"

The debonair NYS Assemblyman and lively New York County Democratic Leader Keith L. Wright hosts his annual "Holiday House Party".  There is always plenty of drinks, foods and music, including "Christmas Songs of The Stonewall"!  The S.V.A. is represented by Williamson; the IQKNY by Jenni Egan and PRIDE Dems by Steven Gradman.  It happens in the landmark Harlem State Office Building at 163 West 125 Street near Lenox Avenue in Manhattan, N.Y.  Look for the holiday-lighted 30-foot Christmas tree out on the plaza!  Trains:  1, 2, 3, "A" and "C".  For more 411, phone (212) 866-5809.  Festivities shine @ 4 p.m. til 7 p.m.









Tuesday, December 20 -- HAPPY CHANUKAH -- the First of Eight Nights







Monday, December 19 -- HOLIDAY PARTY of DOWNTOWN INDEPEDENT DEMOCRATS

The Downtown Independent Democrats ("D.I.D.") host their annual "DID Holiday Party".  The D.I.D. invites you to join colleagues, politicos and friends for delicious Italian appetizers, soft drinks, wine and beer.  Confirmed guests include City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Manhattan Community Board #1 President Julie Menin.  Special invite sent to the S.V.A. from D.I.D. president and hostess Jeanne Wilcke.  The happy holiday happening is at Il Piccolo Bufalo Restaurant at 141 Mulberry Street, between Grand Street and Canal Street, in Little Italy, Manhattan.  Via subway, take the "N", "R" "Q" or #6 to the Canal Street Station.  Party lights up @ 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.  








Sunday, December 18, 2011 -- WILLIAMSON on WCBS-FM RADIO in NEW YORK

For the #1 radio station in the Tri-State area, their kick-off of Christmas Holiday Week featured the greatest holiday hits of the 1960s.  The SVA's Williamson was on 'live' with a request of the #1 holiday song at the original Stonewall Club in Greenwich Village:  "Christmas, Baby Pleaae Come Home".  Radio D.J. commented that it was a favorite of his and a great choice! 








Saturday, December 17 -- SVA'S "STONEWALL CHRISTMAS CORDIALS + HOLIDAY BANQUET"


The actual S.V.A. "Christmas Tree" invitation card is shown above!  (It opens up with the 411.)

The SVA's "Stonewall Holiday Banquet" is a cherished yearly event for actual SW-Vetz and core supporters.  It honors the original Christmas gatherings at the original Stonewall Club.  To the young Stonewall patrons then, it was the holiday with their second, if not first, family!  Now, the red or green cordials, and incredible banquet, are at the grand-new, elegant Onegin Restaurant at 391 Avenue of the Americas at Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich Village.  Informatively hosted by S.V.A. Director Williamson.  Keynote speaker is an Xmas surprise!  Babsala Lynne presents S.V.A. website plans for new year.  Mendi Seltzer distributes Gay Pride gifts.  Original "Christmas Songs of The Stonewall Club" are played by D.J. AnDre.  Photography by Ro-Ro.  Wear something red!  $100 per guest.  Glasses cling clang @ 5 p.m.  Banquet starts @ 5:45 p.m.









Tuesday, December 13 -- CONGRESSMEMBER CAROLYN MALONEY'S HOLIDAY PARTY


New York Congressmember, and former S.V.A. Co-Chair, Carolyn Maloney hosts this "East Side Holiday Party".  The venue returns to the Marymount Manhattan College in the rustic Peruggi Room.  City Councilman Dan Garodnick co-hosts.  Canned goods are collected for the Jon Hus Presbyterian Church food pantry.  MMC is at 221 East 71 Street between Second and Third Avenues on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.  Festivities start @ 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.







Monday, December 12 -- STONEWALL SINGER DARLENE LOVE at B.B. KING'S NIGHTCLUB

Miss Darlene Love, the ultimate voice of rock 'n' roll 'n' soul Christmas makes her yearly pilgrimage to perform in New York City year for the holidays!  Darlene is best known for her #1 hit "He's A Rebel" with The Crystals and also for her knock-out holiday song, "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home".  She will sing her pop hits especially the Stonewall Club Gay Marriage theme song "Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry"!  This year, Darlene is again at B.B. King's Nightclub off Times Square on West 42 Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues @ 8 p.m.  For more 411, call (212) 997-4144.








Monday, December 12 --- N.Y.C. MAYOR-4-LIFE ED KOCH'S INCREDIBLE 87TH BIRTHDAY







Sunday, December 11 -- CONGRESSMAN JOE CROWLEY'S HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

Congressman Joe Crowley's "Holiday Celebration" is the premier Christmas party in Queens, New York City.  This holiday event is at the famous World's Fair original building New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Crotona Park.  The exact address is 47-01 111th Street, Corona, N.Y.  Via train, take the #7 to the 111th Street Station and walk three blocks.    For more location 411 and direx, visit www.NYSci.org.  
Evening festivities begin @ 6 p.m.until 9 p.m.










Friday, December 9 -- BIRTHDAY:  ROGERS HUNT, S.V.A. COMPUTER CONSULTANT









Wednesday, December 7 -- DIED:  STONEWALL JUKEBOX SINGER DOBIE GRAY with GAY THEME SONG "THE IN-CROWD" @ 69









Saturday, December 3 -- CONGRESSWOMAN YVETTE CLARKE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY


Yvette Clarke Party 2011


U.S. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke's fun- and fund-raiser birthday party blasts off @ 8 p.m.  Special guests include NYC Public Advocate Bill De Blasio, NYS Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries and, of course, legendary former NYC Councilmember (aka Yvette's mother) Una T. Clarke.  The S.V.A. is represented by Williamson, who brings some "Songs Of The Stonewall"!  [SVA-Ed's note: They were played!]  This year the event is at scenic and spacious Kai Studio, known for its art exhibitions, at 1011 Dean Street, between Franklin and Classon Avenues, in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, New York.  Closest subways are the "A" and "C" to Franklin Avenue Station.  General admission:  $100.  Please RSVP to Maritza Myers at  (718) 940-2008 at Clarke for Congress!  For more venue 411, visit:  www.KaiStudioBK.com/about.about.html.
   






Thursday, December 1, 2011 -- WORLD AIDS DAY:  REMEMBRANCE







Saturday, November 26 -- STONEWALL VETERANS' ASSOCIATION MONTHLY MEETING


SVA Monthly Meeting

Every November the S.V.A. reviews its current year happenings and outlines plans for the next year.  Meeting starts at the New York GLBT Community Center @ 4:15 p.m.  Williamson presides!  Guest speaker, "Mr. November", is NYS Assemblyman and Brooklyn congressional candidate (10th District) Hakeem S. Jeffries.  The S.V.A. soon expects which event will the guest be NYS Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.  For your 411, AMC knows S.V.A. since the Summer of 1977, likely longer than you.  After the meeting is the "Stonewall Thanksgiving Turkey Treat" for Stonewallers only!  Guests may attend on their own.  For Thanksgiving, S.V.A. is grateful for every Stonewall veteran who has survived the past four decades, particularly with the "Stonewall Steelers", the AIDS War and the Gay self-haters, and continues to support the historical, educational and social importance of the STONEWALL V. A.!  







Thursday, November 24 -- HAPPY & HEALTHY THANKSGIVING from S.V.A. to U


Ruthybird Turkeybird

SVA's Ruthybird as USA's Turkeybird!








Wednesday, November 23 -- SVA TRIBUTE:  MARTHA REEEVES & THE VANDELLAS

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas ("MRV") were one of the most popular, consistent singing stars enjoyed by Stonewall people in the jukebox and on the dance floor of The Stonewall Club!  The S.V.A. has added more album covers of MRV, including "Come And Get These Memories", "Dance Party 2", "Watchout!", "Live!", "Natural Resources", "Black Magic" and "Martha Reeves & The Vandellas:  The Definitive Collection", to the S.V.A. website.  Great pix!  Folks, when you want to know about music at The Stonewall Club, don't ask Motown (they were in Detroit).  When you wanna know about Stonewall people, don't ask Dork McCall (he was in diapers in the backwoods of Georgia!)  Visit:  www.STONEWALLvets.org/songsofStonewall-7.htm








Tuesday, November 22 -- REMEMBRANCE:  U.S. PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY

President Kennedy was the ultimate favorite president for his humanitarianism, leadership, civil rights and great looks by virtually every Gay person, especially during the late 1960s Stonewall Era.  JFK's inspiration was greatly needed.  Although he was physically gone after November 22, 1963, due to a cowardly assassin, President Kennedy's presence loomed large and continues with so many.  His great personna and glamorous wife Jacqueline Kennedy, also a tremendous favorite of Gay people, helped keep his history and image alive worldwide!







Monday, November 21 -- WEST SIDE TOWN HALL MEETING in MANHATTAN

The STONEWALL Veterans' Association is now worldwide; however, it has been citywide since 1969.  The S.V.A. still gets around, when invited, attending events in New York City.  Next up:  Upper West Side.  Six public officials will attend.  The political hootenanny is at JCC of Manhattan, 344 Amsterdam Avenue (between West 75 and 76 Street), Manhattan, NY @ 7 p.m.  For more 411:  (212) 873-0282.







Monday, November 21 -- CONGRESSMEMBER YVETTE CLARKE:  S.V.A. FEMALE CHAIRPERSON'S BIRTHDAY







Sunday, November 20 -- TRANSGENDER DAY of REMEMBRANCE









Sunday, November 13 -- INDUCTION of NYC's NEWEST CONGRESSMEMBER:  BOB TURNER


Bob Turner Induction 2011


 This is the historical induction of the new (as a result of a special election) Congressman, Bob Turner, from the NY 9th District in Eastern Queens and Southeast Brooklyn.  Special guest of honor is legendary NYC mayor Ed Koch who "got the ball rolling"!  Hosted by Congressman Peter King of Long Island.  The only GLBT organization represented is the STONEWALL Veterans' Association.  When they want something, some of the other Gay groups will do a press release about "Our good friend, Bob"!  The ceremony and reception is at the brand-new Queens Metropolitan High School ("QMHS") at 91-30 Metropolitan Avenue near 69th Avenue in Forest Hills, N.Y.  Take the "E" or "F" train to Forest Hills Station.  Taxi or bus Q-23 to entrance of the QMHS campus.  The program commences @ 1 p.m.








Wednesday, November 9 -- DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP 21st CENTURY PRESENTS S.V.A.  SUPPORTER ASSEMBLYMAN HAKEEM JEFFRIES

Hakeem S. Jeffries has been a New York State Assemblymember from Central Brooklyn since his election in 2006.  The S.V.A. (unlike any other Gay group) has been with him from the start when he ran in 2000 and 2002 against the then- (now-jailed, maybe released) corrupt Brooklyn machine, i.e., Clarence Norman and Roger Green.  In contrast, honorable and appealing Hakeem is now an excellent candidate for Brooklyn's 9th Congressional District next year.  This forum is at the Belmont Lounge in Manhattan on East 15 Street between Park Avenue SAouth and irving Place off Union Square @ 7 p.m.








Tuesday, November 8 -- SVA-ER BIRTHDAY:  JITTERZ GREENFIELD of NEW JERSEY








Monday, November 7 -- REMEMBERING MICHAEL JACKSON

Michael Jackson's killer x-doctor was justifyingly found g-u-i-l-t-y of the negligent manslaughter of the world's greatest entertainer!  Michael only wanted to sleep to get needed rest so that he could rehearse for sold-out concerts for his world fans.  The paralyzing knock-out drug that Doctor Death repeatedly injected into MJJ was not for home use!  It requires monitoring and is only for use by anesthesiologists in hospitals!  The conviction of the unrepetent and now former doctor does not bring back MJJ but it does serve cold justice!  To quote a Michael Jackson & J-5 song:  "Forever Came Today"! 







Monday, November 7, 2011 -- JOE FRAZIER, HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION, DIES


"Stonewall" connection?  Smokin' Joe Frazier magnanimously served as bisexual Emile Griffith's 'Best Man' in upstate New York even with the wedding billed as a publicity stunt to attempt to dissuade longtime Gay rumors about Emile.  Indeed, Emile's current Gay boyfriend was front and center as were many of Emile's Gay friends.  Joe met several Stonewall veterans namely Williamson, Sonia Attlkiss, Leigh McManus, Adrienne Seiden and, of course, Emile!  Mr. Frazier, a welcoming and accepting person, was in the wedding party the same year that he beat Cassius Clay, now Muhammed Ali, in the big-billed heavyweight boxing bout at Madison Square Garden.  Joe won!  Born in South Carolina; Joe Frazier, survived by 11 children and 33 grandchildren (that's 44 right there), died at 67 in Philadelphia.

Joe Frazier Williamson Helen Henderson

  Joe Frazier with SVA Founder Williamson and his mother Mrs. Henderson
[1971 photo by Stonewall vet Adrienne Seiden at boxer Emile Griffith's wedding]

 





Monday, Shocktober 31 -- 39th ANNUAL GREENWICH VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARADE up AVENUE of the AMERICAS @ 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The greatest city in the World -- New York City -- hosts the greatest Halloween Parade in the World!  Highlights spooktacularly include:  Over 50,000 costumes, 50+ bands, the Gigantic Puppets, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" Dancers dressed as zombies (150 choreographed dancers), Mae West, the Village People, the Imperial Queens of New York, Gay Super-man, the "Monster Mash" Dancers, Bar-bra Strei-sand, the Sound of New York, Gay Batman & Gay Robin, "Glee" Cheerleaders, Marie Antoinette(s), Pirates of the Caribbean, Pan Am Stewardesses, Gay Spider-man, Diana Gloss, Project Jagger, Gay Wonder Woman, ET, Desperate Househusbands, the Painted Ladies, Gay Iron Man, Eye Kandy, Liza Min-u-li (singing "New York, New York"), Gay Hulk, the Dancin' Statue of Liberty, Gay Sailors, Spice Girlz, Rio de Janiero Dancers, Sonni & Cherr, The Brooklyn Bridge, Gay Popeye and, of course, Dorothy & Friends (Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion) -- plus skeletons, drag queens, pets and ghosts galore and many more!  This year's parade has a 'Gay Marriage in New York' happening!!  Bridesmaids will be witches!  Parade line-up is Avenue of the Americas north of Canal Street off Dominick and Broome streets near SoHo Square from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Spectate the parade route (trick-ily shortened by NYC) from Spring Street through Greenwich Village to West 16th Street in Chelsea.  For exciting videos, thrilling pix and haunting 411, see:  
www.Halloween-NYC.com.

 




Saturday, October 29 -- S.V.A. MONTHLY MEETING on HALLOWEEN WEEKEND at NEW YORK CITY G.L.B.T. CENTER in MANHATTAN, N.Y.  

SVA Meeting Oct 2011

 
With "Gay History Month", the SVA's October meeting has extra poignancy and history!  October is also SVA's yearly Halloween meeting.  It is always fun as some members and guests dress-up or at least wear some face paint!  Don't be a 'trick'; be a 'treat'!  Contribute to the S.V.A. in some way!  The spooky 'n' spicey meeting is at the New York City GLBT Center @ 4:15 p.m. until 6 p.m.  Free broom parking!

  





Wednesday, October 26 -- YOUTH-4-SVA BIRTHDAY:  DURAN WILSON of THE BRONX, N.Y.







Tuesday, October 25 -- S.V.A. FRIEND BIRTHDAY:  DR. DYANE KARRON of LONG BEACH, L.I.








Wednesday, October 12 -- FRIEND-of-SVA BIRTHDAY:  TOMMY OAKLEY of CLEVELAND, OHIO









Monday, October 10 -- JOIN NYS GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO plus STONEWALLERS in NYC'S 67th ANNUAL COLUMBUS / ITALIAN-AMERICAN DAY PARADE







Friday, October 7 -- S.V.A. CONFERENCE at the NYS GOVERNOR'S OFFICE @ 4 p.m.



     

Wednesday, October 5 -- STONEWALL BIRTHDAY:  S.V.A. FOUNDER WILLIAMSON HENDERSON

   





Monday, October 3, 2011 -- NYC FIRE DEP'T HIRES FIRST TRANSGENDER FIREFIGHTER



September -- S.V.A. BUSINESS  + POLITICAL ADS WEBFILE {just that file} SCORES over 7,000 VISITS for SEPTEMBER



   

Wednesday, September 28 -- ANNUAL REUNION:  STONEWALL COPZ + STONEWALL VETZ

The rendezvous location is Sheridan Triangle at Stonewall Place where it all ignited!  There was a stop-in by the chief reps at the place where it all started.  The Stonewall Copz were represented by Frank Toscano and the Stonewall Vetz were rep'd by Williamson Henderson.  Afterwards, the Boys-in-Blue and the Gay Boyz had Indian Summer drinks and pizza at Arturo's landmark restaurant on East Houston Street in Greenwich Village.  Reunion chimes @ 5 p.m.

   





Sunday, September 25 -- BROADWAY CARES:  25th ANNUAL AUCTION & FLEA MARKET

BROADWAY CARES / EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS (BC/EFA)'s annual Flea Market & Grand Auction is a benefit with incredible and simple Broadway and off-Broadway memorabilia and artifacts.  There are  autograph tables and photo booths.  Over two dozen celebrities partake.  It all happens near Times Square at famous Shubert Alley at Broadway and West 44 Street and onto Broadway Pedestrian Plaza to West 43 Street.  The unique outdoor event starts @ 11 a.m. with curtains down @ 6 p.m.

   


 
 

Saturday, September 24, 2011 -- STONEWALL VETERANS STREETFAIR & MEETING

SVA Meeting Sep 2011

   
The SVA's annual "Stonewall Streetfair" is on Greenwich Avenue from Seventh Avenue to Avenue of the Americas spanning five blocks in the heart of Greenwich Village from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The S.V.A. has exhibit areas.  PRIDE Democrats and IQKNY have info tables.  Several public officials stop by to chat up the SW-Vetz.  Fred J. Berg testifies as to legal updates.  Ruthybird reads cream of the crop letters.  Mendy Seltzer gives the political report.  The September S.V.A. meeting happens at the  S.V.A. streetfair.  The meeting gusts up @ 4:15 p.m.  However, the location is the middle of (closed for the streetfair) Greenwich Avenue at Charles Street in front of the Greenwich Village School playground.  

The Rubinstein Gallery presents an exhibition of unique art-designer boxes in all sizes for sale!  They are great for gifts or as gifts!  Original water-color prints by Denis Poncot are available.  One of his framed prints is raffled for $5 per ticket with the drawing @ 6 p.m.  You do not have to be present to win!  The gallery's chief artist, Ruth Rubinstein, is present for the event.  The S.V.A. provides tables, chairs and treats for members!  On display and guarded by AnDre Christie is the 1969 "Stonewall Car"!


   





Friday, September 23 -- TRIBUTE to PINE VALLEY:  END of "ALL MY CHILDREN"

Williamson Henderson of SVA, Susan Lucci of AMC and Tom Viola of BC/EFA


Susan Lucci
the venerable and Emmy-award winning superstar of "All My Children" (AMC), playing the unpredictable and notorious Erica Kane for over four decades, has been a favorite, and, in some cases, role model, for many in the Gay community.  The glamorous, ambitious and exciting character Erica -- she was married ten times -- is the most famous personna in television soap opera history!  "AMC" was ironically created by Agnes Nixon during the Stonewall Era.  Miss Lucci auditioned for and was cast as Erica Kane in 1969!  "AMC" debuted on t.v. in January of 1970, just six months after the Stonewall Rebellion.  The show flashbacks and surprising finale episode is today on CBS-TV @ 1 p.m.









Tuesday, September 20 -- GAY VICTORY:  END of the SHAMEFUL and STUPID ANTI-GAY U.S. MILITARY POLICY "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" thus ALLOWING U.S. SERVICE PERSONNEL to BE "ALL THAT THEY CAN BE" and "TO BE WHO THEY ARE"


   

 



Sunday, September 11th, 2011 -- NATIONAL DAY of MOURNING:  TENTH ANNIVERSARY of AMERICAN CIVILIAN AIRPLANES HIJACKED, AMERICAN CITIZENS VICTIMIZED and AMERICA'S WORLD TRADE CENTER ICONIC TWIN TOWERS DESTROYED by EXTREMIST TERRORIST ATTACKS!!!!



Remembering all of the Innocent Victims and Selfless Heroes,
 deceased and alive, including all of the First Responders,
 of the four terrorist Attacks in New York City twice at the
international World Trade Center's magnificent Twin Towers;
The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia (near Wasington DC);
 and United Flight 93 in Shanksville (Somerset County), Pennsylvania
  and the other three hijacked Airliners -- American Airlines Flight 11,
United Airlines Flight 175 and American Airlines Flight 77 --
on Tuesday the 11th of September 2001!!!!




Sept.11 tribute crying rose
   
 
  





 

Saturday, September 9 -- NYC COMMUNITY COMMEMORATION of SEPTEMBER 11th

On the tragic tenth anniversary of "September 11th, 2001", millions of people are reflecting on that day of infamy and the decade that has passed since the terrorist attacks!!  We knew that our lives would never be the same; they're not!!  We believe that bringing people together is the strongest and most effective way to help heal and forward.  In that spirit, the City of New York is honored to invite you to join us on Saturday, September 10th, at Hand-in-Hand "9/11", an event bringing people together from around the World to Lower Manhattan to commemorate and reflect.  This huge undertaking has been tremendously organized by Julie Menin, Downtown Manhattan's Community Board One President.  (For future reference, Miss Menin is the SVA's monthly meeting guest speaker for October.)

On Saturday, September 10th, 2011 starting at 8:46 a.m., thousands of people will grasp hands to form a human chain along the waterfront from the tip of Lower Manhattan heading north.  There will be a Wall of Remembrance in historic Battery Park where you can post a message or memento.  The "9/11" Memorial Museum will keep a portion of this wall for display for years to come.  Downtown non-profits will be hosting special community service projects throughout the neighborhood.  We invite you to get involved and volunteer in the community.  Participation in the event is open to all; however, you must register through the Hand-in-Hand website.  We encourage you to visit the site and register to ensure that you can participate.  We hope that you will join the tribute as we stand hand-in-hand to remember, reflect and unite!!  For all of the event information, please visit:  
www.HandInHand911.org.

 



Tuesday, September 6 -- S.V.A. HONORARY MEMBER and NYC MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG IS FIRST GUEST on the NEW SEASON of "THE VIEW" DISCUSSING RECENT EVENTS of the EARTHQUAKE, the HURRICANE and GAY MARRIAGE




   

Monday, September 5 -- LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

 


   

Friday, September 2, 2011 -- S.V.A. MEETING with NYS ASSEMBLYMAN KEITH WRIGHT at HIS OFFICE in the STATE LEGISLATIVE BUILDING @ 5 p.m.


   

Monday, August 29 -- "RELOCATION" COCKTAIL RECEPTION for S.V.A. SUPPORTER THE KURLAND GROUP at 350 Broadway at Leonard Street, Tribeca, NYC @ 7 pm to 9 pm

 




August 27th:  DUE to that "STORMY WEATHER" BEATCH IRENE, S.V.A. MUST CANCEL ITS FIRST MEETING in 42 YEARS -- ESPECIALLY since NYC SHUT DOWN ALL of the AIRPORTS, SUBWAYS, TRAINS and BUSES plus the GLBT CENTER CLOSED for HURRICANE "I"; EVEN the "GREAT WHITE WAY" (aka BROADWAY SHOWS) is CANCELLED for the WEEKEND


     

Saturday, August 27 -- HURRICANE MEETING of the STONEWALL VETERANS' ASSOCIATION IS STORMED ON-LINE plus VIA PHONE, E-MAIL and FAX

SVA Meeting August 2011

 



Williamson Henderson
presides.  S.V.A. guest speaker(s) shall be announced soon!  Liaison Gil Horowitz reports on community communications.  Steven Gradman delivers the public officials' report.  Ruthybird Campbell reads select correspondence to the S.V.A. plus a "Dum-Dum O'Ditty" from a Gay polly-tician!  AnDre Christie handles the sign-ins and dues.  Except for "Hurricane Irene", meeting would have happened @ 4:15 p.m. at New York City GLBT Center in Greenwich Village, N.Y.

Update:  Since New York City took the hurricane action to turn off the trains and subways and stop the buses as of 12 noon on Saturday and, therefore, the GLBT Center decided to close, it left the S.V.A. with no place to meet and no way to get there!!  As the Stonewall song goes, "See U In September"!









Thursday, August 25 -- LUNCHEON MEETING at NYC CONGRESSMEMBER'S OFFICE @ 1 p.m.








Tuesday, August 23, 2011 -- AMERICAN EAST COAST EARTHQUAKE in VIRGINIA with TREMORS to 21 OTHER STATES and DC including NEW YORK CITY and AFFECTING TENS of MILLIONS of PEOPLE








Tuesday, August 23 -- FRIEND-of-SVA BIRTHDAY:  SHELESTE WILSON of THE BRONX








Tuesday, August 23 -- ONE-YEAR REMEMBRANCE:  SW-VET IRWIN "IRV" KANE (aka  "IRMA" when she did drag!)








Monday, August 22 -- SONGWRITER/SINGER NICK ASHFORD DIES in NYC @ 69

Nickolas Ashford
(born in Manhattan), along with his four-plus decade music writing partner and wife, Valerie Simpson (born in The Bronx), composed some of the favorite Motown songs popular at The Stonewall Club.  They especially include Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's hit duets "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Your Precious Love", "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing", "You're All I Need To Get By", "Keep On Loving Me, Honey" and "Good Lovin' Ain't Easy To Come By".  There was also Diana Ross & The Supremes' "Some Things You Never Get Used To", The Fifth Dimension's "California Soul" and The Marvelettes' "Destination Anywhere".  Nick and Valerie not only wrote and usually arranged these songs but produced them!  As a singing duo Ashford & Simpson had their own hits in the 1970s and 1980s such as "Solid As A Rock".  As a lifetime smoker, throat cancer succumbed Nick.








Saturday, August 20 -- STONEWALL BIRTHDAY:  BOB ISADORE, SPOUSE of SW-VET DAVE BERMUDEZ in MASSACHUSETTS









Thursday, August 18 -- SW-VET REMEMBRANCE:  MICHAEL D. TONEY (1952-1992)







Tuesday, August 16 -- DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP of 21st CENTURY "SUMMER SOIREE"

The DL-21C's "Summer Soiree" is a lot of fun!  Public officials confirmed are U.S. Congressmember Carolyn Maloney, NYS Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries, NYS Senator Liz Kruger, NYC Councilmembers Dan Garodnick and Gale Brewer and Manhattan Community Board presidents Julie Menin (CB #1) and Brad Hoylman. (CB #2).  S.V.A. represented by Williamson.  PRIDE Dems rep'd by Steven Gradman.  Happily hosted by Elizabeth Caputo.  Party is at Chelsea Manor on West 25th Street between Avenue of the Americas and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, N.Y.  Soiree starts @ 7 p.m.    








Tuesday, August 16 -- SVA-ER BIRTHDAY:  RITA "RUSTI" ROSE of AMITYVILLE, LI







Sunday, August 14 -- FRIEND-of-SVA BIRTHDAY - FARRELL JEANTY ARMSTRONG








Thursday, August 11 -- STONEWALL V.A. and NEW YORK CIVIC LUNCHEON (Part 2) with COMMISSIONER HENRY STERN and HOSTED by SVA's ANDRE CHRISTIE on the East Side of mid-Manhattan @ 2 p.m.









Tuesday, August 9 -- NYC MAYOR BLOOMBERG'S ANNUAL COMMEMORATION of the AMERICANS with DISABILITIES ACT

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg pulls out all the stops to commemorate the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and accommodate all of the attendees.  The S.V.A. regularly organizes, helps and advises members and friends with various physical, emotional and mental disabilities.  Special disabilities achievement award presented to Jean Kennedy Smith, the surviving sister of President John Kennedy and Senators Robert and Edward Kennedy.  Mrs. Smith founded Very Special Artists ("VSA") for disabled persons in the arts.  Representing the S.V.A. is Williamson accompanied by AnDre Christie plus Maria Estevez reping for Friends-of-SVA and Beyon Jarju stands up for Youth-4-SVA.  The invitation event happens from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Gracie Mansion.  Event:  shine or rain!









Sunday, August 7 -- REMEMBERING FORMER NEW YORK GOVERNOR HUGH L. CAREY

The 51st New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey died peacefully in his Long Island estate at 92!  The S.V.A. is happy that the good governor enjoyed a long and full life.  In the mid- and late-1970s, along with Mayor Ed Koch, he saved NYC from financial ruin.  Governor Carey was always respectful and supportive of the STONEWALL Veterans' Association.  You cannot get Gay community related 411 about this governor from Gay groups like the HRC and ESPA because they did not exist!  After two terms, Hugh Carey left the NYS governorship.  He became a partner with a major Manhattan law firm and the bond continued.  Mr. Carey brought business to Williamson Henderson's new business, Proofreaders Unlimited.  The firm Finley Kumble, et al. became one of Williamson's biggest clients.  Governor Carey also maintained his communications with the S.V.A. long after his governorship.  Indeed, in 2000, former Governor Carey proudly rode atop the back seat of the SVA's famous convertible "Stonewall Car" in the Yankees World Championship Parade through the canyon of heroes!  The governor notably declared:  "After supporting the Stonewall car for years, I finally get to ride in it"!  









Saturday, August 6 -- S.V.A. COMMUNITY COMMITTEE SUPPER at FIDDLESTIX @ 5 p.m.

For more 411 on the restaurant location, see their new business advertisement at the S.V.A. website at:
www.STONEWALLvets.org/businessadvertisers.htm.








Friday, August 5 -- AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (APA) ENDORSES GAY MARRIAGE








Thursday, August 4 -- STONEWALL QUEEN OF SOUL:  ARETHA FRANKLIN CONCERT
Queen Aretha sings several Stonewall Club (and everywhere else) hit songs such as "Respect", "Baby I Love You", "A Natural Woman", "Chain Of Fools", "Since You've Been Gone", "Think", "The House That Jack Built" and "Share Your Love With Me" plus her ultimate fave flipside song "Dr. Feelgood"  and many other big hits!  The great outdoor stage venue is the Brooklyn Summer Concert Series!








Monday, August 1, 2011 -- SECOND MONTH of HISTORIC NEW YORK GAY MARRIAGE


   


 

Saturday, July 30 -- S.V.A. POST-GAY PRIDE MONTHLY MEETING & DISCUSSION

SVA Meeting July 2011



The STONEWALL Veterans' Association kicks-off the new Gay season: July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012!   There is a rectangular-tables discussion about Gay Pride Month and Gay Marriage 2011 involving the S.V.A. including events, media coverage and interviews.  Representatives of Marriage Equality New York present reports on the tremendous victory of legalized Gay Marriage in large New York (20 million people) after a forty-plus year fight since Stonewall!  Some guest speakers who missed the "S.V.A. 42nd Conference" have confirmed speaking today.  One public official will be making his debut at the S.V.A.  Mendy Seltzer reveals the latest NYC mayoral candidate to be eliminated by the S.V.A. voters!  If you're keeping count, that's three down!  Of Counsel Fred J. Berg, Esq. reports on pending legal action against a political deadbeat and loser!  The S.V.A. presiding officer is Williamson.  Greeting folks at the door for S.V.A. sign-in and dues is AnDre Christie.  Youth-4-SVA recruiting handled by Beyon Jarju.  Summer snacks by Sheleste are served!  The SVA's monthly meeting is held at the GLBT Community Center on West 13th Street between Seventh and Greenwich Avenues in Manhattan, N.Y. @ 4:15 p.m. until 6 p.m.  








Thursday, July 28 -- STONEWALL SUPREME:  MARY WILSON at BROOKLYN-by-the-SEA CONCERTS

Mary Wilson is another longtime favorite singer of the Gay community from her seventeen years with the entire duration of The Supremes.  Listen for Mary to sing several Stonewall Club favorites that she performed as a member of the superstar girl group such as "U Can't Hurry Love", "In And Out Of Love", "I'm Gonna Make U Love Me" and "Someday We'll Be Together".  Also on the show is the legendary Motown group The Spinners peforming several million-selling hits including "One Of A Kind Love Affair" and a guy not at The Stonewall:  "The Rubberband Man"!  The outdoor event is at Surf Avenue and 21st Street.  Via train, take the "B", "D", "F" or "Q" to the last stop, Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue.  For more concert 411, call (718) 222-0600 and/or visit:  www.BrooklynConcerts.com.
 







Wednesday, July 27 -- STONEWALL V.A. and NEW YORK CIVIC SUPPER HOSTED by SVA'S ANDRE CHRISTIE at DA CIRO'S CAFE on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan @ 5 p.m.







Monday, July 25 -- GAY HISTORY FRONT-PAGE NEWS:  OVER 1,000 (and COUNTING) GAY MARRIAGES PERFORMED in NEW YORK STATE within FIRST TWO DAYS







GAY MARRIAGE/NY WEEKEND (Sun. eve) -- MARRIAGE EQUALITY NEW YORK (MENY) SPONSORS GAY MARRIAGE CELEBRATORY "SEA TEA" BOAT RIDE on the "QUEEN of HEARTS" in MANHATTAN BOARDING @ 6 p.m. and SHIPPING 'OUT' @ 7 p.m. at West Houston St. at Pier 40 on the Hudson River
 






GAY MARRIAGE/NY WEEKEND (Sunday) -- MASSIVE TOP-STORY TELEVISION NEWS COVERAGE plus CBS-TV (NY) the ONE NETWORK to CONNECT the HISTORY DOTS to the GAY MARRIAGE MOVEMENT STARTING with the STONEWALL REBELLION

 





Sunday, July 24 -- GAY MARRIAGES PERFORMED in NEW YORK as of TODAY!

New York City has made the magnanimous gesture in opening the marriage bureaus, i.e., clerks offices specially for the first legal day that Gay marriages can be performed in NY!  Over 800 Gay couples were married in the five boroughs of NYC!  Thank you, again, "New York, New York".  So nice, they named it twice!!  "Song of The Original Stonewall Club" #1 wedding theme song:  "Chapel Of Love", written by S.V.A. friend Ellie Greenwich and sung by The Dixie Cups!
 







Saturday, July 23 -- IN MEMORIAM:  TRAGIC ANNIVERSARY of NYC COUNCILMAN JAMES E. "JED" DAVIS MURDERED inside CITY HALL 8 YEARS AGO by an OBSESSED and CRAZED GAY MAN








GAY MARRIAGE/NY WEEKEND (Sat.) -- SVA's WILLIAMSON IS CONTACTED by TV and PRESS from ACROSS AMERICA including NEWSWEEK for I/Vs about NY GAY MARRIAGE










Saturday, July 23 -- S.V.A. BIRTHDAY:  WEBMISTRESS BABSALA R. LYNNE










GAY MARRIAGE/NY WEEEKEND (Fri.) -- NEW YORK CITY DECIDES on INCLUSIVITY of ALL GAY MARRIAGE 'CONTESTANTS' and END the LOTTERY to ACCOMMODATE ALL GAY COUPLES








Friday, July 22 -- MAYOR-4-LIFE ED KOCH (the 1st to do so) CONGRATULATES  WILLIAMSON & HIS PARTNER via TELEPHONE on THEIR PENDING MARRIAGE and SENDS a CONGRATULATORY E-MAIL







GAY MARRIAGE /NY WEEKEND (Friday) --  MAYOR MICHAEL'S OFFICE CALLS S.V.A. WILLIAMSON & HIS PARTNER with HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS that THEY ARE CONFIRMED as GAY MARRIAGE LOTTERY WINNERS!!









Thursday, July 21 (eve) -- WILLIAMSON'S PARTNER DOES RARE I/V with KNOWN to the COUPLE PRESS PERSON about THEIR LONGTIME yet DOWN-LOW RELATIONSHIP










Thursday, July 21 -- STONEWALL VETERAN WILLIAMSON & HIS PARTNER *WIN* NYC GAY MARRIAGE LOTTERY to be MARRIED on FIRST LEGAL DAY!










Wednesday, July 20 -- PRESIDENT BARACK ENDORSES RESPECT FOR (ALL) MARRIAGE ACT (RFMA), A STEP CLOSER for FEDERAL GAY MARRIAGE










Tuesday, July 19 -- S.V.A. DIRECTOR WILLIAMSON & HIS PARTNER ENTER NEW YORK CITY GAY MARRIAGE LOTTERY due to OVERWHELMING REQUESTS for CEREMONIES










"Monday, Monday" -- MORE GREAT NEW GAY HISTORY:  J. PAUL OETKEN IS APPOINTED and CONFIRMED as FIRST OPENLY-GAY FEDERAL JUDGE  



J. Paul Oetkenfrom Iowa has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate, incredibly without any objection, in a lopsided vote of 80 to 13 to be the first Federal Gay judge!  Have there been Gay judges on the Federal level prior?  Of course!  However, none that signed on the Gay polka dot line!  Judge Oetken introduced his male partner to the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Congratulations to them and the worldwide Gay community for this tremendous victory!  Learn more:  www.WashingtonPost.com/Gay-Judge-Makes-History.html.
   









Monday, July 18 -- MARTHA REEVES:  MOTOWN LEGEND and STONEWALL SONGSTRESS BIRTHDAY



Ironically, one of Martha Reeves & Her Vandellas' #1 songs in the jukebox at The Stonewall Club in Greenwich Village, New York, and everywhere else, was "Heat Wave"!  What do we have right now through most of America?  A 'yearnin' burnin' heat wave'!  Martha's classic dance hit "Heat Wave", reissued yearly in the 1960s on the Motown Collectors Series, was a perennial fave at The Stonewall.   "Heat Wave" was wildly featured in the 1968 Gay play "The Boys In The Band" and, notoriously in 1970, with the house dance party scene in the break-through Gay movie "The Boys In The Band"!

"Heat Wave" song and dance was featured in the Gay movie "The Boys In The Band"
Observe the double misspelling of "My Boyfriend's Back" on album cover!








Thursday, July 14 -- S.V.A. SPONSOR SUPPER MEETING at ONEGIN RESTAURANT in GREENWICH VILLAGE @ 5 p.m. and COMMUNITY BOARD #2 HEARING @ 6:30 p.m.








Wednesday, July 13 -- IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE in the CIVIL RIGHTS of GAY AMERICAN  COUPLES, GET OUT of AMERICA, LAND-of-the-FREE!

Straights Deliver Gay Babies

  Gay Marriage 411 Poster:
 "If you don't like Gay Marriage, blame Straight People!
They're the ones who keep having Gay babies!"
 








Monday, July 11 -- BROOKLYN, Part 3:  COMMUNITY ACTIVIST KEN DIAMONDSTONE & HIS SPOUSE JOE KOPITZ REUNITE with SVA's WILLIAMSON, MENDY SELTZER, FRED BERG, et al. at T.O.U.C.H COMMUNITY DINNER for AIDS + HIV CLIENTS on Schermerhorn Street @ 6:30 p.m.








Monday, July 11 -- BROOKLYN, Part 2:  NYS ASSEMBLYMEMBER HAKEEM JEFFRIES RENDEZVOUS with S.V.A. at HIS OFFICE on Hanson Place off Flatbush Avenue @ 5 p.m.







Monday, July 11 -- BROOKLYN, Part 1:  NYC COUNCILMAN STEVE LEVIN MEETING with the SVA-4 at his DISTRICT OFFICE in BOERUM HILL on Atlantic Avenue @ 3:30 p.m.










July 11th -- 42nd ANNIVERSARY:  STONEWALL VETERANS' ASSOCIATION a.k.a. S.V.A. FOUNDED in GREENWICH VILLAGE, N.Y. and CONTINUES in GREENWICH VILLAGE




 









Saturday, July 9 -- BROADWAY CARES PRESENTS "BC/EFA 13th ANNUAL BROADWAY BARKS + MEOWS"


"Broadway Barks & Meows" Co-Hosts of this celebrity Pet Adopt-a-thon are film and television's Mary Tyler Moore and Broadway's Bernadette Peters.  Attending on behalf of the S.V.A. is Williamson and others and representing the Imperial QUEENS of New York is Dr. Dyane Karron.  Located at the famed Shubert Alley at Broadway and West 44/45th Streets and with big, air-conditioned, walk-through pet vans on both crossstreets, it starts barking and meowing @ 3 p.m.  Produced by BC/EFA Executive Director Tom A. Viola.  Early supper outdoors at adjacent Junior's Restaurant.  For more bow-wow and meow-yow 411, visit:  www.BroadwayCares.org.
   








Saturday, July 9 -- THE BRONX GAY PRIDE CELEBRATION, FESTIVAL & SHOW

Gay Pride in The Bronx is publicly and joyously cellebrated in scenic Crotona Park adjacent to Indian Lake!  The Gay Party starts @ 2 p.m.  For much more event "411" visit:  www.BronxPride.org









Tuesday, July 5 -- STONEWALL VETERANS' ASSOCIATION FOUNDER WILLIAMSON HENDERSON & HIS PARTNER REGISTER on FIRST DAY for NEW YORK STATE GAY MARRIAGE LICENSE!










Tuesday, July 5 -- GAY COUPLES in N.Y. CAN REGISTER for a MARRIAGE LICENSE

"Song of The Original Stonewall Club" marriage theme song:  "Wedding Bell Blues (When Are U Gonna Marry Me, Boy)" by Marilyn McCoo & The Fifth Dimension (1969).







Monday, July 4 -- AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY




 




Sunday, July 3 -- 42 YEARS since the END of the STONEWALL REBELLION







July 2011 -- TRIBUTE to GAY MARRIAGE LAW in the BIG STATE of NEW YORK

Rick Chris NY Gay Marriage

Gay Marriage Equality in the State of New York
[Original acrylic painting by Rick Chris of Colorado] 
Special arrangements with the artist to reproduce painting at the S.V.A.
For more of Rick Chris's expressive, eye-catching and unique Gay paintings, 
visit:  www.RickChris.com.







June 2011 -- S.V.A. WEBSITE RECEIVES 1/2 MILLION WEBSITE VISITS and over 5,600 VISITS to SVA'S BUSINESS & POLITICAL ADS in JUNE {...and still counting!}







Thursday, June 30 -- S.V.A. OFFICE MANAGER ANDRE CHRISTIE HOSTS YOUTH-4-SVA END-of-GAY-PRIDE MONTH SUPPER at MAN-A-TUS in MAN-HAT-TAN, N.Y. @ 6 p.m.

 






Wednesday, June 29 -- U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK PRAISES MARRIAGE EQUALITY in NY!








Tuesday, June 28 -- STONEWALL VETS RECEIVE a STONEWALL REBELLION ANNIVERSARY PROCLAMATION from NYC MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG







Monday, June 27th -- 42nd ANNIVERSARY of the G*A*Y  STONEWALL  R-E-B-E-L-L-I-O-N








Sunday, June 26 (afternoon) -- NEW YORK CITY 42nd ANNUAL GAY PRIDE PARADE in Manhattan @ 12 noon








Sunday, June 26 -- SVA on TV:  STONEWALL VETERANS CONFERENCE on NY-1 NEWS

New York One News T.V. broadcast a Gay Pride Special segment which started showing early Saturday evening after they attended the S.V.A. conference.  The feature continued through the night of Gay Pride weekend airing on their half-hour repeated news show about sixteen times into Sunday afternoon!  The Gay Pride piece showed interviews with Williamson Henderson, the director of the STONEWALL Veterans' Association, Cathy Marino-Thomas, the founder of Marriage Equality New York, and Robert Spiegel, S.V.A. Executive Committee.  To see S.V.A. television clip, see:  www.NY1News.com.
 







     

Saturday, June 25, 2011 * STONEWALL VETERANS' ASSOCIATION PRESENTS:  "S.V.A. 42nd ANNUAL CONFERENCE & STONEWALL VETERANS REUNION + PARTY" from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. featuring SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS and "SONGS OF THE STONEWALL CLUB"

SVA 42 Annual Conference June 2011
Download the S.V.A. 42nd Conference + Party Flyer (PDF)


This STONEWALL Veterans' Association ("S.V.A.") annual conference produced by the S.V.A. commemorates the anniversary of the June 27th through July 3rd, 1969 Stonewall Rebellion.  It is a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender ("GLBT") forum highlighting forty-two years of vastly improved Gay civil rights since Stonewall -- when there was none!  "The Happening" (as in the #1 DRS song at the original Stonewall Club) is also a reunion of Stonewall Vetz.  Most Stonewallers attend traveling from other states such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, California, Florida and New Jersey plus the District of Columbia!  The symposium highlights 'testimonials' from actual patrons of the original landmark Stonewall Club and veterans of the historic Stonewall Rebellion.  Prominent public officials and GLBT organization heads are among the Stonewall Pride speakers.  This year there is also a special segment on "Gay Marriage"!  


Stonewall Host:
Williamson Henderson, Director of the STONEWALL Veterans' Association

Political Host:
Morgan Pehme, Executive Director of New York Civic


Special Stonewall Speakers:

* New York City Public Advocate Bill De Blasio

*
NYS Assemblymember and Manhattan Democratic Leader Keith L. Wright

* Former NYC Parks Commissioner and NYC Councilman Henry J. Stern

* NYC Councilmember #1 (Manhattan)

* NYS Assemblymember (Brooklyn) Hakeem Jeffries

* Imperial QUEENS of New York (IQNY) Social Chairperson Mary S. Twist

* Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC President Joe G. Hagelmann

* NYC Councilmember #2 (Brooklyn)

* Marriage Equality New York (MENY) Board Chairperson Cathy Marino-Thomas

*
Legendary Civil Rights Attorney Hal M. Weiner

* Stonewall Veteran (of L.I.) Leigh McManus

* NYC Councilmember #3 (Manhattan)

*
PRIDE Democrats President Marlon W. Hunter

*
NYS Assemblymember Jonathan L. Bing

*
GLBT Political Coalition Chairman Paul A. Lucre

*
NYC Councilmember #4 (Queens)

*
Computer-Aided Surgery for Informatics (CASI) T/G Founder Dr. Dyane Karron

*
Stonewall Veteran (now of Massachusetts) David Bermudez

* American Equality Bill Project Coordinator Todd "Tif" Fernandez

* NYC Councilmember #5 (Manhattan)

*
Volunteers-for-Peace Organizer Andrew T. Bell

*
First Gay High School Harvey Milk H.S. Principal Bill Salzman

*
STONEWALL Vets Assn. Of-Counsel Fred J. Berg, Esq.

* NYC Councilmember #6 (Brooklyn)

*
S.V.A. Webmistress Babsala R. Lynne

* Stonewall Veteran (of D.C.) Robert A. Spiegel

* Gay Immigration Attorney Sean E. Kalba, Esq.

NYC Councilmember #7 (Manhattan)

* Bronx Gay Pride Center Deputy Director Demetrius McCord

* Stonewall Veteran Ruthybird Campbell

* Youth-4-SVA Coordinator Beyon Jarju

*

Proclamations:
Reading of the S.V.A.'s Proclamations of commendation and appreciation from NYS Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg plus Manhattan Democratic Leader Keith L. Wright


Political Segment:  
PRIDE Democrats
co-sponsors this annual political presentation of what public officials and candidates have done and plan to do for the general Gay community and the S.V.A. in particular.  "Preview:  2013 Mayoral Candidates" and who would really be best for both New York City ("NYC") and the GLBT community?  To clarify, the S.V.A. is not a political organization, as some assume.  Former Mayor Ed Koch has publicly stated that the S.V.A. is much bigger than that!  Nonetheless, the Gay Rights movement, by necessity, is entwined with politics.  That's ultimately how laws get signed.  The S.V.A. has been promoting Gay rights longer than any GLBT group!  To paraphrase a Barbra Streisand song, "We're still here"!  As is fairly known, since the Stonewall Rebellion, no one has been elected mayor of NYC without the S.V.A.
'blessing' (and alllll that it entails) and the SVA-ers' support (and alllll that it includes).  Will that four-decades-plus tradition be crack'd in '13?  We seriously doubt it, folks!
  

Tribute:  
A memorial tribute 
is presented for a legendary public official and longtime S.V.A. supporter, former U.S. Vice-President Nominee and N.Y.C. Congresswoman from Queens Geraldine A. Ferraro.

Indoor Displays:
There are display tables with literature and 411 from the S.V.A. and other GLBT organizations.  There is local business information such as New York Connect, the complete Internet Service Provider that you can count on, and the soon-to-open restauarnt, Onegin, in Greenwich Village near The Stonewall!
  
Landmark Decision:  
Several Gay attorneys will separately read excerpts throughout today's program from the decade anniversary of the New York City landmark 7-page Court decision -- the only one with the subject of the Stonewall Uprising -- declaring Williamson Henderson as the "Gay Rosa Parks" and the Stonewall Veterans analagous to the women's rights movement "The Suffragettes"!  They are the symbols of the Stonewall Rebellion!  The Court's definitive and final sentence:  "The Stonewall Rebellion advanced a (Gay) movement.  Mr. Henderson works tirelessly to keep that history alive!"

Special Appearance:
Legendary entertainer and Stonewall veteran King Storme DeLarverie now in his blessed 90th year!

Outdoor Display:
The classic blue 1969 Cadillac DeVille convertible popularly known as the famous "Stonewall Car".

Stonewall Music Traditions:  
Sandy Rapp, acclaimed Gay singer/activist/songwriter/author/guitar-player, performs pop and folk.  Today, for the Stonewall Rebellion anniversary, Sandy performs a self-penned, quintessential  "Stonewall" song!  

"Songs of The Stonewall Club", authentic jukebox songs from the original Stonewall Club in the late 1960s, are played @ 4:15 p.m. prior to the event opening, during intermission @ 5:30 p.m. and before the closing @ 6:45 p.m.  This year's jukebox deejay is Melique Rainbow.  Enjoy great songs of the original Stonewall Club from the late '60s by Diana Ross & The Supremes, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Shirley Bassey, Frank Sinatra, The Shangri-Las, The Four Tops, Barbra Streisand, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, The Spiral Starecase, Dusty Springfield, Smokey Robinson, The Marvelettes, The Young Rascals, Dionne Warwick, Len "Dovell" Barry, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Temptations, Connie Francis, Herb Alpert, Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles, Sly & The Family Stone, Mary Wells, Edwin Starr, The Ronettes, The Turtles, Cilla Black, Tom Jones, The Angels, The Jackson 5, Vikki Carr and Chris Montez ('is it a boy or a girl')!  The last song will be the same song as the last song played every night at the original 1960s Stonewall Club!  Guess which song?  You won't find the answer in any doc-u-men-tar-y!  

Stonewall Song Recreations:
Williamson Henderson performing Len Barry's "1-2-3" (1966)!
AnDre Christie performing Michael Jackson's "I Want U Back" (1969)!
Brooke Lynn performing Shirley Bassey's "This Is My Life" (1968)!

Televison Media:
Confirmed television media are New York 1 News (Channel 1 in NYC) and Fox News T.V. (Channel 5 in the Tri-State area).


Location:
New York City Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center at 212 West 13 Street between Seventh Avenue and Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich Village, New York City.  The S.V.A. event is in the grand Auditorium!  The Center is located a stone's throw from these subways:  "A", "C" and "E" (West 14th St. station at Eighth Av.); "1", "2" and "3" (W. 14th St. station at Seventh Av.); "D", "F" and "Q" W. 14 St. and Av. of the Americas station); and "L" (Eighth Av. station at W. 14 St.).  It is on bus routes of #M-14 and #M-20.  Visit:  www.GayCenter.org.

=Guest Speaker Requests and S.V.A. Event Format=
Potential guest speakers must contact the S.V.A. Office Manager AnDre Christie.  Please do so by telephone at (212) 6-27-1969 to be considered and scheduled in the S.V.A. line-up of guest speakers!  In that way, the event will be best accommodating of all the speakers and most orderly for the attendees.  Main topics should be Gay Rights, the 42nd anniversary of the historic Stonewall Rebellion, Gay Marriage, the STONEWALL Veterans Association and/or how the person has or will help the Gay Community and/or the S.V.A.  At S.V.A. symposiums and forums, we are not interested in subjects of subway construction projects, death penalty, parking meters, prison complaints, senior services or pre-K -- do those at their events.  Public officials may contact the political host Morgan Pehme at (917) 496-4565.  After each guest speaks from the podium, there will be a "question and answer" session.  Audience members must stand to ask a question and give their full name and any organization affiliation.  (If you reach the S.V.A. voice mail, feel free to leave a detailed message.)

  

=Listing at New York City Up & OUT!=
www.NYCupAndOUT.com/calendar/20110625


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Post-Gay Pride "S.V.A. Conference", you may attend informative S.V.A. monthly meetings and pridely participate every month throughout the year:   www.GayCenter.org/groups/regulargroups#S 








Saturday, June 25 -- SVA-ER BIRTHDAY:  JOHN R. WATTS, JR. of BROOKLYN now CALLY  







"Last Friday in June" (night) -- EXACTLY... 42 YEARS AGO TONIGHT:  THE STONEWALL REBELLION








Friday, June 24 (evening) -- From STONEWALL to STATEHOUSE:  NEW YORK STATE VOTES in FAVOR of GAY MARRIAGE in the STATE of NEW YORK by 33 to 29!!

"Gay Marriage" in New York ignited at The Stonewall Rebellion in 1969 on the second through fifth nights!  In the jukebox were marriage songs like "Wedding Bell Blues" and "The Wedding Cake".  At the rebellion, protest signs read "Gay Power", "Gay Rights" and, yes, "Gay Marriage"!  The S.V.A. has carried that torch to this victorious moment!  So, first thanks go to the Stonewall Veterans!  Greatest thanks now to NYS Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, a longtime supporter of the S.V.A.  He truly is for all of the people!  Big thanks to the NYS Republican Senators who made this equal rights achievement possible.  Proudly, every New York State Democrat -- except the bigotted and ignorant Ruben Diaz Sr. of The Bronx (always with the whacky hats and shades) -- voted in favor of marriage equality!  Hats off to them; shame on him!  Next election, Diaz Sr. needs to be voted OUT!  In the diverse Gay community, our heartfelt appreciation to the determination, inclusiveness, diligence and pleasantries of Marriage Equality New York (MENY).  This evening hundreds of people converged where?  The streets had to be closed!  Where else?  The Stonewall!  







Friday, June 24 (Gay Pride Weekend) -- "THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY":  WE WILL KNOW IF GAY MARRIAGE WILL BE LAW IN NEW YORK STATE.... one way or another!  Stay tuned!







Thursday, June 23 -- S.V.A. ROUND-UP & PROMOTION in front of GLBT CENTER

YOUTH-4-SVA is heading up a leafleting for the STONEWALL V.A. during Gay Pride Week and a promotional for the "S.V.A. Conference & Reunion" in two days.  Coordinators are AnDre Christie, Elton Johnson and Beyon Jarju.  With many special visitors, the blitz lites-up appropriately out front of the GLBT Community Center @ 5 p.m.







Wednesday, June 22 -- NYC MAYOR'S GLBT PRIDE CELEBRATION at GRACIE MANSION

The mayor is appropriately substituted by Deputy Mayor Patti Harris, originally hired by Mayor Koch in 1978!  NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is grieving the very recent loss of his mother and cannot attend.  The only councilmember confirmed is the Gay Council Speaker.  The S.V.A. is represented by Williamson Henderson, Robert Spiegel, Leigh McManus, Keith Lonesome and Gil Horowitz.  Youth-4 SVA is covered by AnDre Christie and Gina Wright.  S.V.A. associates include Web Host  Andrew Coren, Webmistress Babsala and Webmaster Petie Levi.  The only councilmember confirmed is the Gay Council Speaker.  Event commences @ 5:30 p.m. with plenty of food and gaiety!  {By US-mailed invitation only.}
   






Tuesday, June 21 -- GAY MARRIAGE EQUALITY in NYC SUPPER with S.V.A.

This new eatery venue for the S.V.A. is Olio Italian Restaurant on Greenwich Avenue off Christopher Street, just a couple of blocks from the old Stonewall site.  Williamson hosts the outdoor event @ 5 p.m.  

 





Monday, June 20 (eve) -- NEW YORK CITY GLBT CENTER'S "29th ANNUAL GARDEN PARTY"

The "Garden Party" fund-raising event for the New York City GLBT Center has evolved into fabulous tasty food treats from over forty quality restaurants!  There are featured speakers throughout the evening.  Location is at the West Side Highway at West 14 Street in Manhattan, N.Y. at Pier 58 at the Hudson River.  Festivities start @ 6 p.m. and continue until 10 p.m.  General admission (including endless excellent food):  $85.  For more 411 on the "Garden Party" and worthwhile (tax-exempt) donating to the Gay Center, visit:  http://www.GayCenter.org/specialevents/GardenParty28.







Monday, June 20 -- FRIEND-of-SVA BIRTHDAY:  RICHARD J. 'RICHIE' DOCTOR of LONG BEACH, LONG ISLAND, NY, now LEMOORE, CA








"Monday, Monday", June 20 -- "CHAPEL of LOVE" COUNTDOWN:  GAY MARRIAGE in NEW YORK?   

As of presstime, the New York State Senate has not decided on whether to vote on "Marriage Equality" much less actually vote.  Yet, the legislative session has been extended three days.  That's poz!  The Gay Marriage bill is finally expected to be voted on and narrowly passed -- 42 long years after the Stonewall Rebellion, where the "Gay Marriage" movement ignited!  For updated 411, visit:  www.MENY.us
.
 






Sunday, June 19 (evening) -- MARRIAGE EQUALITY NEW YORK BENEFIT with GAY PLAY "THE DECLARATION"

This production "The Declaration" is a benefit for Marriage Equality New York ("MENY") and the STONEWALL Veterans' Association.  The Gay-themed play is about a NYC high school teacher who comes out of the Gay closet and declares his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in New York as an open-Gay!  Production director is Rick Leidenfrost.  Special introduced guest:  Williamson Henderson of the S.V.A.  Venue is the Robert Moss Theatre at 440 Lafayette Street near Astor Place in Manhattan, N.Y.  Curtains up @ 6 p.m.  After the performance, there is a "Q&A" session with Cathy Marino, Director of MENY.  For more 411, visit Marriage Equality NY's website at:  www.MENY.us
.  Post-event dinner is at Fiddlestix Restaurant on Avenue of Greenwich @ 9 p.m.

 





Sunday, June 19 (afternoon) -- GAY MARRIAGE RALLY in UNION SQUARE, NYC

Let this be the last day of 'Marriage Inequality' in the State of New York -- the state that made history thanks to the Gay 'veterans' of the historic Stonewall Rebellion a remarkable 42 years ago this month!  Stop the bigotry from the outside, particularly by undemocratic politicians who were elected to be democratic!  No one in America should have to be told that Gay Americans expect equality!  And, Stop the hate from within the Gay community; it has served us badly!  GLBT speakers today include Leigh McManus ("G"), Rusti Rose ("L"), Janine Hakim ("B") and Mary Twist ("T") all from the  STONEWALL Veterans Association.  The rally blasts off @ 3 p.m.
 






Friday, June 17 -- UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ORDERS an END to GAY DISCRIMINATION WORLDWIDE








Thursday, June 16 -- NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL GAY, LESBIAN, BI & TRANSGENDER (GLBT) PRIDE EVENT at COOPER UNION HALL
 






Wednesday, June 15 -- NYS ASSEMBLY PASSES GAY MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL








Tuesday, June 14 -- NYS GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO SUBMITS GAY MARRIAGE BILL to the NYS LEGISLATURE -- BOTH HOUSES -- for a VOTE!







Tuesday, June 14 -- S.V.A. SOCIAL COMMITTEE BRUNCHEON

This get2gether is a strategizing bruncheon with several group reps in preparation for the "S.V.A. 42nd Annual Conference & Stonewall Reunion" on June 25th).  Reports including from Leigh McManus (S.V.A.), Dr. Dyane Karron (IQKNY), Steven Gradman (PRIDE Dems), Shari Clemons (GLBT Political Coalition), Rik Kingston (JFLAG) and Elton Johnson (Youth-4-SVA).  Hosted by the dredded S.V.A. Office Manager AnDre Christie.  "What are you having for brunch" orders at the Varick Diner at 201 Varick Street (one block south of West Houston Street and on the #1 subway) in Manhattan, N.Y. start @ 2 p.m.







Monday, June 13 -- STONEWALL NEWZ REPORTER B-DAY:  VITO ABZUZZOLUCCIONE






Sunday, June 12 -- LONG ISLAND 18th ANNUAL GAY PRIDE PARADE & SHOW at Hecksher State Park @ 12 noon







Saturday, June 11 (evening) -- BROOKLYN 15th ANNUAL GLBT PRIDE PARADE with line-up along Prospect Park West and from 10th to 15th Streets in Park Slope, Brooklyn @ 7:30 p.m.  






Friday, June 10 -- SVA-ER BIRTHDAY:  BILL SALZMAN of and in BROOKLYN

   





Thursday, June 9 -- BROOKLYN GAY DIVERSITY CELEBRATION

This annual event is sponsored by the Brooklyn Borough President every year for Gay Pride.  The S.V.A. is repesented by Brooklynite Keith Lonesome.  Event is held at the Brooklyn Municipal Building at 209 Joralemon Street in Brooklyn, N.Y.  Toast-off time is @ 6 p.m.







Monday, June 6 -- S.V.A. IS a GROUP MEMBER of NEW YORKERS UNITED for MARRIAGE








Sunday, June 5 -- QUEENS (COUNTY) 19th ANNUAL GAY & LESBIAN PRIDE PARADE on 37th Avenue at 85th Street {shortened route} in Jackson Heights, N.Y. @ 12 noon {earlier time}







Saturday, June 4 -- STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. 7th ANNUAL GAY PRIDE PARADE from Central Avenue up Hyatt Street to Tompkinsville Park at Victory Boulevard and Bay Street, S.I. @ 1 p.m.







Friday, June 3 (afternoon) -- MARRIAGE RALLY & PRESS CONFERENCE in THE BRONX

As part of the urgent push for Marriage Equality in the state of New York, this is a strategic place in NYC which needs emphasis.  Gay group speakers feature Williamson of the STONEWALL Veterans' Association (SVA), Cathy Marino of Marriage Equality New York (MENY) and Ross Levi of Empire State Pride Agenda.  Confirmed public officials include Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., NYS Senators Jeff Klein and Gustavo Rivera and NYS Assemblymembers Jeffrey Dinowitz, Jose Rivera and Carmen Arroyo.  Event is hosted by openly-Gay Bronx District Leader Kenny Agosto.  Location is on the grand steps of the Supreme Court of The Bronx at the Grand Concourse and 161 Street -- just three blocks from visible Yankee Stadium!  The outdoor press conference speaks up @ 2 p.m.






Friday, June 3 -- SVA-ER BIRTHDAY:  MICHAEL I. SWERDLOW of LONG ISLAND







Wednesday, June 1 -- GAY TOWN HALL FORUM:  MARRIAGE EQUALITY in NEW YORK

Statement from the United for Gay Marriage New York Coalition including Marriage Equality NY and the STONEWALL V.A.:  "The end of this New York State legislative session is June 20 (unless it is extended) -- and time is running out to get a win for Marriage Equality in New York!  No Marriage Equality vote has been scheduled or announced.  No Marriage Equality bill has been filed in the New York State Senate.  The time to act is now!  We need the help of everyone to push this Marriage Equality bill forward!  In the past few weeks, we've seen focus on gathering signatures, writing letters, making calls and visiting public official offices to urge our elected State Senators to stand on the right side of history and vote for Marriage Equality!  In the past few days, we've seen NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo, among other prominent officials, make strong public statements supporting Marriage Equality, we've seen polls now showing an increased majority of Americans supporting Gay Marriage as an American right and equality and we've seen many of our Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) organizations directly involved in this process.  Now, we need the entire community and friends to rally together, to demonstrate our dignity and to stand up for what is rightly ours by the United States Constitution:  Equality!  During the community-wide meeting is discussed the status of legislative votes, assess where things are in the legislative process and offer a range of options to join the push for Marriage Equality.  We offer many choices for engagement: 
* Collecting Gay Marriage petition signatures
* Writing letters and making calls to public officials
* Visiting your representatives
* Planning and attending a rally in New York City and/or Albany
* Joining in direct action in NYC or Albany, N.Y.
* Organizing a vigil at the Capitol in Albany
The time to take equality action as we commence Gay Pride Month is now!  
Speaking for the S.V.A. is Williamson, representing PRIDE Dems is Steven Gradman and rep'ing Youth-4-SVA is Beyon Jarju.  The Marriage Equality Forum is at New York LGBT Center @ 7 p.m.  For more 411, visit: www.MENY.us







June 2011 -- GAY PRIDE MONTH




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May 2011 -- S.V.A. WEBSITE REGISTERS over 1/2 MILLION VISITS in MONTH of MAY









Tuesday, May 31 -- NYC "WEINERGATE":  HOT-DOG in the DOG-HOUSE  









Monday, May 30 -- MEMORIAL DAY (U.S. HOLIDAY)

In case you are new to the United States, "Memorial Day" is a national holiday intended to remember the past Veterans, both living and deceased, of wars and military conflicts critical to our ultimate American democracy, and to honor the current troops crucial to the continuance of our great American freedoms!







Saturday, May 28 -- STONEWALL VETERANS' ASSOCIATION MONTHLY MEETING on MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND appropriately in GREENWICH VILLAGE, NEW YORK CITY

SVA Meeting May 2011


This pre-Gay Pride Month gathering is presided over by S.V.A. Director Williamson.  This year, the S.V.A. is observing the 42nd anniversary of the hate-busting Stonewall Uprising!  Personally, WLH is observing the tenth anniversary of his being declared the "Gay Rosa Parks" by the City of New York!  There will be Gay Pride Month strategizing for the S.V.A., the Gay Pride parades (which to do, witch to avoid) and, chiefly, the planning of the "S.V.A. Annual Conference & Stonewall Veterans Reunion" (6/25) event.  Guest speakers include New York City Councilmembers.  Meeting sparks @ 4:15 p.m.

Politix:  S.V.A. members and the audience vote via ballot on which NYC mayoral candidate for 2013 to eliminate!  This segment happens each quarter-of-the-year to expunge four candidates by year's end.  There 
will still be a choice of two or more.  S.V.A. plans ahead on the next mayor of our Gay Capital:  New York City!  Nobody has won the mayoral election in over four decades since the Stonewall Rebellion without SVA's 'blessing'!  In 1969, candidate John Lindsay had SVA-ers at City Hall.  He earned our support.  S.V.A. will not support any hypocrite, excluder or hater candidates!  We want nice!

A "Stonewall Supper" happens at an SVA-supportive restaurant (TBA) in Greenwich Village @ 6:15 p.m.
 







Sunday, May 22 -- "STONEWALL NEWZLETTA" BRUNCHEON COMMITTEE MEETING

The "Stonewall Newzletta" committee gets updates from Editor-in-Chief Leigh McManus, in-put from Webmistress Babsala Lynn and ideas from Web Consultant Petie Goye plus committee reports from  members.  The meeting is at Lyric Diner on Third Avenue at East 22 Street in Manhattan @ 2 p.m.







Friday, May 20 -- BIRTHDAY:  YOUTH-4-SVA'S COORDINATOR ELTON JOHNSON of and in THE BRONX









Thursday, May 19 (mid-eve) -- MARRIAGE EQUALITY NEW YORK:  MENY GAYLA PARTY

This annual Marriage Equality New York Gayla produced by MENY is the lucky thirteenth!  Can Gay Marriage in the State of New York be far behind this year?  MENY is the first Gay Marriage group for New Yorkers.  They did it and continue to do it sincerely without being funded by outside millions of dollars.  Cathy Marino is the executive director.  Tonight's significant, timely and fun event happens at the scenic Ogilvy Roof Garden at 636 Eleventh Avenue at West 47th Street in the Clinton section of Manhattan, NYC.  Official party says "We Do" @ 8 p.m. until 10 p.m.  For more 411, including awards and the host committee, including the S.V.A., visit:  www.MENY.us/Gayla


        





Thursday, May 19 (early eve) -- STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CLUB of NYC'S SILVER JUBILEE PARTY

Stonewall Democratic Club 2011


The Stonewall Democratic Club ("SDC") is celebrating its 25th anniversary in NYC!  Many in S.V.A. recall when SDC started in 1986 -- and why (to re-elect Mayor Ed Koch)!  Confirmed guests include US Congressmembers Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler, NYC Public Advocate Bill De Blassio, NYS Senators openly-Gay Tom Duane and Daniel Squadron, Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, NYS Assemblymembers openly-Gay Deborah Glick and Linda Rosenthal, NYC Councilmembers Dan Garodnick, Gale Brewer, Letitia James and openly-Gay Danny Dromm plus former Member and now Judge Kathryn E. Freed.  NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo is represented by Erik Bottcher.  The S.V.A. is symbolized by Williamson, Rev. Gerardo Ramirez and Fred J. Berg, Esq.  PRIDE Democrats is rep'd by Steven Gradman.  Event is gayly hosted by SDC Prez Joe Hagelmann.  Venue is at the Woolworth Building (once the tallest in Manhattan) in their Woolworth Tower Kitchen Restaurant at 233 Broadway at Barclay Street from 6 to 9 p.m.  For more 411, visit:  www.SDNYC.org
.







Monday, May 16 -- SVA'S WILLIAMSON HENDERSON in the NEW YORK POST

One of the New York Post's grand dames Andrea Peyser, who has written many thorough stories relating to Gay life, Gay relationships, Gay marriage, Gay issues and Gay topics, produced her new entry today:  "Chaz Bono a real Drag for the Gay Community"!  Referring to the newly-transgendered Chaz Bono, S.V.A. founder Williamson is cleverly quoted with:  "Paraphrasing a popular Britney Spears song about Chaz:  'He's more than a woman but not quite a man'"!  The popular columnist Andrea takes time to educate the readers that:  "The STONEWALL Veterans Association that started the modern Gay Rights movement in 1969 when they stood up to cops raiding a Greenwich Village Gay bar!"  Williamson was last in Andrea's full-page New York Post article a few months ago about the timely topic "Are Oprah & Gayle King lovers"!  See this "Drag King Chaz Bono" story link at: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/chaz_real_drag_for_gay_community_vivuNOwoSYrOLUPd6NZhhJ








Sunday, May 15 -- NEW YORK CITY 26th ANNUAL AIDS WALK in CENTRAL PARK 

For much more AIDS Walk 411 including registration and route, visit:  www.AIDSwalk.net








Thursday, May 12 -- 40th ANNUAL BRONX WEEK in NEW YORK CITY with GAYS GALORE

"Bronx Week" is actually by Bronx count, thus ten days!  It is from Thursday, May 12 to Sunday, May 22.  For all the exciting geographic, cultural, business, arts, banking, entertainment, sports and tourism events plus the yearly Bronx Parade and interesting details on all the aforementioned, visit:  www.ILoveTheBronx.com

 






Monday, May 9 (all day) -- From STONEWALL to STATEHOUSE:  GAY MARRIAGE EQUALITY DAY at the STATE CAPITOL in ALBANY, NEW YORK








Thursday, May 5 -- FLORIDA REUNION of STONEWALL VETERANS in MIAMI and TAMPA








Wednesday, May 4 -- VILLAGE DEMOCRATS PRESENT "GET OUT THE VOTE" FORUM with ASSEMBLYMAN KEITH WRIGHT, et al. at NEW YORK CITY GLBT CENTER @ 7 p.m.








Tuesday, May 3 -- GLBT FORUM:  "GAY MARRIAGE in NEW YORK STATE"

Information and discussion about "Marriage Equality" in New York State.  Most people, including Gays, do not realize that the "Gay Marriage" movement actually started visibly and in print at the historic 1969 Stonewall Rebellion not with decades-later, bureaucratic, million-dollar Gay organizations.  Prior to Stonewall, the concept of Gay Marriage was unthinkable.  After the first night of the Stonewall Uprising, signs were created.  Besides "Gay Power" and "Gay Rights", a theme sign was "Gay Marriage"!  Gay panelists are Richard Socarides of Equality Matters, Cathy Marino of Marriage Equality New York ("MENY") and Ross D. Levi of Empire State Pride Agenda ("ESPA").  This forum is sponsored by the Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century ("DL-21C") and hosted by Elizabeth Caputo.  Venue is the Katra Lounge at 217 Bowery at Rivington Street near Spring Street in Lower East Side, NYC @ 7 p.m.









Monday, May 2, 2011 -- STONEWALLER BIRTHDAY:  JACKIE BARRETT of GREENWICH VILLAGE, N.Y. and in SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA

   






Sunday, May 1 -- DOWNTOWN INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATS "SPRING-FLING" PARTY

The Downtown Independent Democrats ("DID") mainly encompass Lower Manhattan, Battery Park, the WTC area, Chinatown, Tribeca and SoHo.  Confirmed speakers include U.S. Congressman Jerrold D. Nadler, standing tall New York City Public Advocate Bill De Blasio, New York State Senators Daniel Squadron and Tom "Duanda" Duane, NYS Assemblymembers Keith Wright, Sheldon Silver and Brian Kavanagh, NYC Councilmember Margaret Chin, former Councilmember (now Judge) Kathryn Freed, NYC Community Board #1 Chairperson Julie Menin, District Leaders Jean Grillo and Paul Newell, among other NYC political luminaries.  Introductions handled by pretty DID President Jeanne Wilcke.  She also presents the DID awards!  Representing the S.V.A. is Williamson.  Ticketed event is at Sweeney's Inn at 125 Greene Street off East Houston Street in Tribeca, N.Y.  Party starts @ 3 p.m.







Sunday, May 1, 2011 -- FRIEND of STONEWALL BIRTHDAY:  FORMER NYC PARKS COMMISSIONER HENRY J. STERN








Saturday, April 30 -- S.V.A. MONTHLY MEETING

SVA Meeting April 2011


S.V.A. meets the last Saturday of every month!  "Miss April" guest is NYC Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (Queens).  Stonewallers continue planning for "Stonewall 42" in June.  This gathering includes a tribute to American political legend and S.V.A. Honorary Member Geraldine Anne Ferrar
o.  Stopping by after hosting the outdoor "We Need A Real Hospital Again Rally" in Greenwich Village is Yetta Kurland and also former Council candidate Pete Gleason.  The meeting is chaired by Williamson at the New York City GLBT Community Center on West 13th Street off Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.  Meeting opens @ 4:15 p.m. and closes @ 6 p.m.  Feel free to bring foods or drinks.  See:  www.STONEWALLvets.org/upcomingevents.htm.
   







Saturday, April 30 -- COMMUNITY RALLY to REGAIN GREENWICH VILLAGE HOSPITAL

The rally with speakers happens in front of the abandoned, yet still majestic, St. Vincent's Hospital on Seventh Avenue at West 12 Street.  A full-service hospital is greatly needed for the Gay mecca of Greenwich Village, Chelsea and East Village.  Rally starts @ 2 p.m.  Conveniently, the S.V.A. monthly meeting up the block and around the corner on West 13 Street begins after the rally... and lunch!







Thursday, April 28 -- S.V.A. SPONSORS the DAVID R. ALI YOUTH-4-SVA YEARLY DINNER








Monday, April 25 -- BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS PRESENTS ITS 25th ANNUAL "EASTER BONNET"

A spectacular event of Broadway, off-Broadway and American touring shows competing for the most artististic and unique (and usually huge) Easter bonnet!  It is presented by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS ("BCEFA") as a benefit.  Every entry is accompanied with an eye-catching skit, song and dance production.  Curtains up @ 4:30 p.m. at the Minskoff Theater at 200 West 45 Street in Manhattan, N.Y.  There is a second performance and the awards on Tuesday, April 26th @ 2 p.m.  For this and many other entertaining BC/EFA benefit events, please visit:  www.BroadwayCares.org.
 






Sunday, April 24 -- EASTER SUNDAY and the "EASTER PARADE" on FIFTH AVENUE, NYC








Thursday, April 21 -- MANHATTAN COMMUNITY BOARD #2 PUBLIC MEETING

This month's general community board meeting features members of the S.V.A. speaking from the podium.  The public meeting is held at P.S. 41 School Auditorium on West 11th Street between Avenue of the Americas and Seventh Avenue in Greenwich Village.  The gavel hits @ 6 p.m.








Saturday, April 16 -- S.V.A. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE "STONEWALL SUPPER" at SVA's #1 CAFE in GREENWICH VILLAGE @ 5:15 p.m.







Friday, April 15 -- STONEWALLER BIRD-DAY:  RUTHYBIRD CAMPBELL of PENNSYLVANIA and NOW (3 decades) BROOKLYN, NYC


   






Thursday, April 14 -- STONEWALLER BIRTHDAY:  AUBREY LEES of PHILADELPHIA, PA and in MANHATTAN, NYC








Thursday, April 7 -- SVA-ER MEMORIAL 5-YEAR REMEMBRANCE:  DAVE WEST



   
   





Tuesday, April 5 -- STONEWALLER BIRTHDAY:  QUEEN ALLYSON ALLANTE of L.I.








Friday, April 1st! -- S.V.A. BIRTHDAY:  HE'S NO FOOL - SVA-of-COUNSEL FRED J. BERG








Friday, April 1, 2011 -- STONEWALLER BIRTHDAY:   ROBERT A. SPIEGEL of QUEENS and in DC








Tuesday, March 29 -- FORUM:  NEW YORK CITY YOUNG REPORTERS DISCUSS POLITICS

New York Civic in association with Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century and the New York Young Republican Club invites you to attend a thoroughly non-partisan event "Behind The By-Lines:  An Evening with NYC's Top Young Political Reporters".  The panel is as follows:  Celeste Katz of the New York Daily News, Azi Paybarah of the New York Observer, Edward-Isaac Dovere of City Hall News and Katharine Jose of Capital New York.  Forum is moderated by New York Civic's director (Mr.) Morgan Pehme.  Venue is Iguana Lounge at 240 West 54th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue in Manhattan.  Talk is @ 7 p.m.







Sunday, March 27 -- "MILDRED PIERCE" IS BACK!

The return of a fictional Gay icon:  Mildred Pierce!  We're not plugging HBO-TV but if you want to see this dramatic and sexual take on Mildred and Veda, you must tune in for the three-part television mini-series starting tonight @ 9 p.m. (EST).  Instead of microwaving popcorn, bake a pie!  Or, at least get Sara Lee.  What does Mildred Pierce have to do with the famous Stonewall Club?  Plenty!  Since Gay bars (they were not called GLBT much less LGBTQ bars) with same-gender dancing were shamefully 'illegal', the Mafia-run clubs were required to be a "private club".  As such, every patron had to 'sign-in'.  Never a night went by without someone signing the guest book as "Mr. Pierce" and "Veda, Mildred's daughter" and flat-out "Mildred Pierce"!  Yes, there were also numerous "Joan Crawford"s! 








Sat., March 26 -- SUPREME BIRTHDAY:  DIVA DIANA ROSS







Saturday, March 26 -- STONEWALL VETERANS MONTHLY MEETING

SVA Meeting March 2011

Continued planning for Gay Pride Month in New York City in June.  Organizing more efforts toward Gay Marriage in New York State.  Voting on the elimination of an S.V.A. un-supportive 2011 NYC mayoral candidate.  This debate/voting procedure shall be undertaken quarterly this year.  S.V.A. prepares early!  For today's meeting there are pre-arranged guest speakers including two helpful EFT practitioners.  Tastee deelites!  The Gay gavel hits @ 4:15 p.m.









March 26 -- LEGENDARY NYC PUBLIC OFFICIAL GERALDINE FERRARO DIES at 75

Geraldine Memorial Card


Geraldine A. Ferraro ("GAF"), former U.S. Congresswoman from Queens and former U.S. Vice-President Nominee from America, although publicly active, sadly died after an on/off battle with multiple myeloma.  Geraldine was a solid and proud supporter of the Stonewall veterans spanning four  decades.  The S.V.A. shall have a special tribute to our friend GAF at our annual "S.V.A. Conference" on June 25.  Fittingly, it is at a place where S.V.A. had diverse Geraldine Ferraro enthusiastically speak prior:  NYC Gay Community Center!  In Geraldine's still appreciative and still delightful words in her letters to the S.V.A. since her campaigns, she happily reflects on the good times with the STONEWALL Veterans' Association namely leading the NYC Gay Pride Parade and the SVA-sponsored "PRIDE Democrats 1998 Candidates' Forum".  As a former educator, Congresswoman Geraldine commends the S.V.A. for educating the World and keeping "Stonewall" alive!  The group greatly respects and admires Geraldine Ferraro Zaccaro.  We will help keep her memory alive, too!  For more information, please visit:  www.STONEWALLvets.org/GeraldineFerraro.htm

 






Friday, March 25 -- "QUEEN OF STONEWALL SOUL" BIRTHDAY:  ARETHA FRANKLIN @ 69!









Thursday, March 24 -- GREENWICH VILLAGE COMMUNITY BOARD #2 MEETING 

This monthly meeting is held at the SEIU Union Hall, 101 Avenue of the Americas (near Canal Street), 22nd Floor, Manhattan, N.Y. @ 6 p.m.







Wednesday, March 23 -- REMEMBERING DAME ELIZABETH TAYLOR:  LEGENDARY ACTRESS, WORLD STAR, OSCAR-WINNER, GAY ICON, INT'L BEAUTY, TONY-AWARD WINNER and AIDS ACTIVIST DIES @ 79

Elizabeth Liz Taylor
 
Hollywood Legend, World Beauty and Gay Icon Elizabeth Taylor passes.....
 







Sunday, March 20 (night) -- ROCK & ROLL HALL-of-FAME AWARDS SHOW

Honoree
Darlene Love (who we've raved about for decades) is finally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall-of-Fame!  She performs for the who's-who music crowd reprising her original Stonewall Club jukebox 'Gay Marriage' song, "Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry".  Darlene gets a surprise accompanist with Bruce Springsteen on guitar!  Darlene is introduced by NYC Gay icon Bette Midler ("no voice drove me crazier than Darlene's") with audience members including Elton John and fellow nominees Neil Diamond (w/o Batrbra) and Leon Russell.  The event held at N.Y. Waldorf-Astoria is televised for two hours @ 9 p.m. on cable Fuse-TV encoring @ 12 a.m.


 




Sunday, March 20 (eve) -- DIANA ROSS, the "MUSIC QUEEN of STONEWALL", PERFORMS in the "GAY CAPITAL of the WORLD" NEW YORK CITY

Diana Ross St George Theatre

Unique opportunity to see Diana Ross, the legendary Queen of the original Stonewall Club Jukebox, perform several "Songs of The Stonewall" such as "Reflections", "You Can't Hurry Love" and "Love Child" plus many of Diana's other Supremes-led and solo #1 hit songs such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "The Boss", "Upside Down", "Endless Love" and "I'm Coming Out" -- plus movie theme songs from her films "Lady Sings The Blues", "Mahogany" and "The Wiz"!  Performance venue is the historic and grand St. George Theatre in Staten Island.  It is two blocks from the fabled Staten Island Ferry.  Theater lobby doors open @ 6 p.m. to socialize and buy Ross-lure (tour booklets, Diana t-shirts, C/Ds and key rings)!  Pre-show will be like a big Gay family reunion!  
Supreme showtime is @ 7 p.m.  

Updates:  For more 411 and pix of the famous theater inside and out, see:  www.StGeorgeTheatre.com.
New 411:  To see Diana Ross's "Concert Songlist", visit:  www.STONEWALLvets.org/DianaRoss.htm.
 
 
 





Thursday, March 17 (late morning) -- NEW YORK CITY ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE

Older than America itself is the 250th annual New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade!  The parade is led by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly with  Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr. heading up the NYC Council contingency.  The world's biggest, longest and oldest St. Pat's Day Parade toasts off @ 11 a.m.  Contrary to misinfo over the years by the NYC Gayragpaper and other naysayers, there are hundreds of Gay people in this parade!  It's a Gay-American tradition!  Line-up at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan.  Wherever you are, wear something green!







Thursday, March 17
(early morning) -- ST. PATRICK'S DAY N.Y.C. BREAKFAST & PARTY

The N.Y.C. annual St. Pat's Day Breakfast & Party is hosted by Congressmember Carolyn Maloney and sponsored by the Riese Restaurant Organization.  Confirmed to attend are NYS Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, NYC Public Advocate Bill De Blasio, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn -- and former officials NYC Council President Peter Vallone, Sr., NYC Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern and Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morganthau -- in addition to current state assemblymembers, state senators and city councilmembers.  The STONEWALL Veterans' Association is Gay-ly represented by Irish-American Williamson (Shaugnessy) Henderson and other Stonewallers.  Special thanks to event coordinator Carl Manzano.  The plenty-of-food breakfast and 'green-free' open-bar happens at Thank God It's Friday's restaurant on East 42nd Street off Madison Avenue in Manhattan, N.Y.  It Irish-springs very early @ 7 a.m. and generously rocks until 11 a.m.  Wear something green!  Suggested drink:  Green-tini! 
   
   

  




Friday, March 11 -- 50th ANNIVERSARY:  "THE GREAT JUDY GARLAND at CARNEGIE HALL"

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Gay icon Judy Garland's legendary performance at Carnegie Hall in New York, New York, the famed 69-piece New York Pops Orchestra with several known featured singers are recreating her entire show from the fabulous overture to the climatic finale "Over The Rainbow"!  Judy's acclaimed March 11th, 1961 appearance is described by many as "the greatest night in showbiz history"!  It was Judy's triumphant comeback from her very troubled times.  The original show was available as an album, 8-track and cassette and now C/D and DVD.  For those of you who would not know: What does Judy have to do with the original Stonewall Club?  Answer: What does The Pope have to do with Vatican City!  And, now, will Judy's daughters Liza Minnelli and Lorna Luft be at this tribute show?  Is The Pope a Catholic!







Thursday, March 10 -- VILLAGE INDY DEMS HOST NYC CONTROLER JOHN LIU

Village Independent Democrats have their monthly meeting.  New York City Controller John C. Liu ("J-Lu") brings his new arrogance and old smoke back to VID after two years.  Some SVA-ers will be present to see if he finally delivers his multi-promised 2009 election-year S.V.A. sponsorship?  Don't bet on it!  VID meeting is at Judson Memorial Church Auditorium off Washington Square Park @ 7:30 p.m.








Thursday, March 10 -- HEALTHCARE FORUM in GREENWICH VILLAGE

Since the closing of the famous St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, N.Y. a year ago, due to bankruptcy from mismanagement and giving away too many free services to too many folks for too long, there is no hospital serving the largest Gay population in the world!  The area includes Greenwich Village, Chelsea and the East Village.  The St. Vincent's Hospital was the facility where any injured were taken from the five nights of the watershed Stonewall Rebellion.  Also, some victims of September 11th, 2001!  (Other "9/11" victims sadly never arrived.)  Entire event hosted by openly-Gay District Leader Brad Hoylman.  Keynote is openly-Gay NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn
.  Although they falsely promoted themselves in posters, fliers, etc. as speaking, three politicians did no-shows:  The Leprochan, The Glickster and The Shlub.  That's shameful for E/R plans presented and a public discussion on urgently needed community healthcare.  Location is the Hudson Guild Center on Ninth Avenue between West 17th and 18th Streets in Manhattan, N.Y.  Speakers ignite @ 6 p.m. followed by audience questions.








Monday, March 7 -- S.V.A. BIRTHDAY:  OFFICE ASSISTANT MELIQUE RAINBOW of THE BRONX









Thursday, March 3 -- STONEWALLER BIRTHDAY:  BERT COFFMAN of THE BRONX and now in MANHATTAN








Wednesday, March 2, 2011 -- PRESIDENTIAL TRIBUTE to MOTOWN:  T.V. TELECAST

The White House event was held last month and telecast this evening @ 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.  Original "Songs of The Stonewall" include "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "You Can't Hurry Love" and "My Guy".  President Barack mentioned Diana Ross yet Tasha Benson (white), Jordin Sparks (A/I) and Ledisi were the pretend Supremes with "Stop!".  With the billions of 'aid' per country to over 100, why didn't the U.S. Prez have the actual, living and individually-performing Supremes:  Diana, Mary and Cindy?!  What a reunion!  To sing Michael Jackson's "I Want U Back" (also Stonewall, 1969), life imitated art as 'they' had Sheryl Crow (white woman) do it!  Hmmm.  The only present and performing Motown stars were Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder plus a spontaneous dash of Martha Reeves.









February 2011 --  
S.V.A. WEBSITE AVERAGES over 21,000 VERIFIED DAILY VISITS







Monday, February 28 -- HOLLYWOOD LEGEND:  ACTRESS & PIN-UP JANE RUSSELL at 89
 






Sunday, February 27 -- 83rd ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS SHOW @ 8 pm (EST)

The wonderful, entertaining and iconic American movie awards show (with British best film, best director and best actor) had a Stonewallish finale performed passionately by 64 young New York City students.  The New York Post reports:  "New York got plenty of love with elementary school kids from P.S. 122 on Staten Island channeling Judy Garland to sing the 1939 Academy Award-winning song 'Over The Rainbow'"!  

 




Saturday, February 26 -- S.V.A. MONTHLY MEETING at NEW YORK CITY GLBT CENTER

SVA Meeting February 2011

The S.V.A. Executive Committee begins preliminary planning for "Stonewall-42" in June!  Focus is on what Gay Pride invitations shall the S.V.A. accept?  Surprise and special guest speaker!  The S.V.A. meeting begins @ 4:15 p.m. and concludes by 6 p.m.  There is an after-meeting dinner at a nearby and supportive Greenwich Village restaurant in Manhattan. 






Friday, February 25 -- DIANA ROSS, SUPERSTAR of the ORIGINAL STONEWALL CLUB, SPECIAL GUESTS TODAY for the ENTIRE "OPRAH" SHOW @ 4 p.m. (EST)

Diana Ross -- ultimate Motown -- was not at The White House yesterday but is in The Oprah House performing today!  Diana opens the special show with the Gay anthem "I'm Coming Out!" and a show-stopping finale of #1 worldwide favorite "Ain't No Mountain Enough".  Interesting
ly, Oprah and her producers are ahead of Barack and his production team as this show performance is in greater -- and more Motown -- contrast to yesterday's entry (see below) at The White House!






Thursday, February 24 -- MOTOWN RECORDS PERFORMERS at THE WHITE HOUSE

Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder -- popular at The Stonewall Club then -- were at The White House today!  End of short list!  Berry Gordy, Motown founder and creator, is shown in a Motown sing-a-long for "Dancing In The Street".  The original artist, Martha Reeves, who was sitting off-center in the front row, fi-nal-ly climbed up on the stage toward her song's end!  Regretably, President Barack's idea of "Motown Performers" is mainly people not from Detroit, some not from America and most not alive during the 1960s golden age of Motown!  Inexplicably absent were all of the other surviving and still performing Motown artists namely Diana Ross, The Temptations, Brenda Holloway, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight, Lionel Ritchie, Boys To Men, (Miss) Chris Clark, The Isley Brothers and Motown's forgotten girl group The Velvelettes!  Again, these are Motown artists who were not at The White House for the misleading tribute "Motown Performances".  Instead, they had obvious non-Motowners obvious non-Motowners like Mr. Seal, Sheryl Crow, Jon Legend, Mark Salling (from "Glee"), Natasha Bedingfield, Nick Jonas (as lead 4 Top), Amber Riley ("Glee") and Ledisi!  It was raunchily hosted by Jamie Foxx.  When the President, after much coaxing, did some tepid dancing to a Motown song, Foxx rudely quipped:  "That's not from the black side of your ancestry"!  (This "Black Pride" event is scheduled for PBS television in the month after Black History Month!?)       






Wednesday, February 23 -- U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK RIGHTLY DECLARES the DISCRIMINATORY DEFENSE of MARRIAGE ACT (DOMA) to be UNCONSTITUTIONAL

The U.S. President and the U.S. Justice Department declaring that anti-Gay marriage is unconstitutional is the at-last great democracy news for Gay Americans!  DOMA-not!  Based on a similiar discriminatory law banning inter-racial marriages, President Barack knows that he might not have been born!  The lingering question is why didn't the alleged Gay community 'friend' and congressionally impeached ex-President Bill Clinton know that anti-Gay citizens marriage was unconsitutional instead of him (of all people) signing it into law 15 years ago in White House Oval Office in the middle of the night?  Alas, an American civil rights victory that U.S. government will stop supporting anti-marriage equality!

 




Tuesday, February 22 -- MEMORIAL SERVICE for GLADYS HORTON of THE MARVELETTES at FOREST LAWN CEMETERY in LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA







Sunday, February 20 -- STONEWALL BIRTHDAY:  RAY McCAFFREY of GREENPOINT, NYC and in NEW JERSEY (the last half-century)






Sunday, February 13 -- GRAMMY MUSIC AWARDS featuring 3 STONEWALL FAVORITES

This year's Grammys have a prideful connection to the original Stonewall Club (and their songs there) with performances by legends Barbra Streisand and Mick Jagger in addition to a 5-girl musical tribute to Aretha Franklin, who was also the "Queen of Soul" at The Stonewall.  Grammy's "In Memorium":  Gladys Horton of The Marvelettes.  Showtime on CBS-TV is 8 p.m. (EST).

 
 



Thursday, February 10 -- STONEWALLER BIRTHDAY:  BETTY BRISTOL of MANHATTAN and in CLEVELAND, OHIO







Wednesday, February 9 -- STONEWALL BIRTHDAY:  CRISTINA HAYWORTH of PUERTO RICO








Monday, February 7 -- BROADWAY CARES PRESENTS ITS "BROADWAY BACKWARDS" - the only BROADWAY SHOW GEARED to a GAY AUDIENCE

For interesting BC/EFA 411, please visit:  www.STONEWALLvets.org/BroadwayCares.htm
   





Friday, February 3, 2011 -- STONEWALLER BIRTHDAY:  EMILE GRIFFITH, JR. of ST. THOMAS, V.I. and in HEMPSTEAD, L.I.







January 2011 -- S.V.A. WEBSITE AVERAGED over 20,000 VERIFIED VISITS DAILY








Saturday, January 29 -- STONEWALL VETERANS ASSOCIATION MONTHLY MEETING

SVA Meeting January 2011


The first STONEWALL Veterans' Association meeting of the new year ~ "Stonewall 42" ~ confirms the S.V.A. Executive Committee for 2011.  Guest speaker is NYS Assemblyman Keith L. Wright, who is also the Manhattan Democratic Chairman and a longtime S.V.A. supporter.  PRIDE Democrats President Marlon Hunter delivers a political advisory presentation.  The get-together is chaired by Williamson Henderson.  Meeting starts @ 4:15 p.m.  Following the meeting is a "Stonewall Supper" at the Chelsea Gallery Restaurant at 72 Seventh Avenue near West 14th Street around the corner from The Center.  









Thursday, January 27 -- STONEWALLER BIRTHDAY:  DAVID V. BERMUDEZ of PUERTO RICO and in MASSACHUSETTS









Wednesday, January 26 -- GLADYS HORTON, ORIGINAL LEAD SINGER of THE MARVELETTES, DIES at 65

The Marvelettes, along with The Supremes, The Shangri-Las, The Vandellas and The Ronettes, were the most popular girl groups at the original Stonewall Club (1966 - 1969).  Gladys Horton was the first lead singer of The Marvelettes.  Her most popular song at The Stonewall Club was the (oft-re-released) Gay dance favorite and appropriately-titled "Too Many Fish In The Sea"!  Gladys was also known for her prior Marvelettes hit songs "Please Mr. Postman", "Twistin' Postman", "Playboy (Get Away From My Door)" and "Beechwood 4-5789".  Visit:  www.STONEWALLvets.org/songsofStonewall-8.htm.







Tuesday, January 25 -- NEW YORK CIVIC PRESENTS "MORALITY AND POLITICS:  ARE  THEY MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE?"

This worthwhile, educational event is sponsored by New York Civic and is moderated by former New York City Commissioner Henry J. Stern.  The panel features recent NYS Assemblymember Richard Brodsky, New York One T.V. political reporter Grace Rauh, New York Divinity School President Dr. Paul de Vries and NYC Civil Court Judge Arthur Engeron.  Audience Q&A!  Event is held at the historic and beautiful Calvary Baptist Church at 123 West 57 Street (btw. Avenue of the Americas and Seventh Av.) in Manhattan, N.Y. @ 6:30 p.m.  Visit:  www.NYCivic.org.








Sunday, January 23 -- S.V.A. 1970'S PAL B-DAY:  GREGORY L. DEMPS of THE BRONX and now in DEERFIELD BEACH, FLORIDA








Wednesday, January 19 -- NYC MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG'S "STATE-OF-THE-CITY" ADDRESS

This is NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's tenth annual "State-of-the-City" address to the public.  Every year the Mayor chooses a diffferent NYC borough to rotate the event through all five.  This year it is Staten Island at the historic and grandly restored St. George Theatre.  Prominent front-row guests are former NYC Mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkens.  Other front-rowers include current officials such as NYC Public Advocate Bill De Blasio,
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., Queens Boro President Helen Marshall and Brooklyn Boro President Marty "Schmarty" Markowitz.  The S.V.A. is reperesented by Williamson.  Program commences with musical performances @ 1 p.m.  
    
   





Wednesday, January 19 -- STONEWALLER BIRTHDAY:  LEIGH McMANUS of and in LONG ISLAND







Saturday, January 1, 2011 -- HAPPY and GAY NEW YEAR to SVA'S MEMBERS, FRIENDS, SUPPORTERS and ADVERTISERS!!!!






 

STONEWALL V.A. Website with over 1/2 Million Visits in June of 2011!
Visit the interesting stats:  www.STONEWALLvets.org/stats/2011_06.html


2011 S.V.A. Website Statistics

January (grey):  636,865 visits
February
 (red):  624,894 visits
March (green):  611,891 visits 
April (yellow):  603,752 visits
         May (pink):  545,216 visits
June (lavender):  505,386 visits    

July (blue): 411,818 visits
August (light blue):  406,446 visits 
September (teal blue):  424,235 visits
October (orange):
 456,470 visits 
November (brown):  432,479 visits 
December (bright green) {in progress}:  500,000 visits {as of December 30}

*

2011 Year-to-Date:  6,178,195 visits! {as of December 30}

www.STONEWALLvets.org/stats








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Stonewall Revellers

S.V.A. Editor:  (Sir) Leigh P. McManus

Webmistress:  (Mrs.) Babsala Lynne

S.V.A. Office Manager:  (Mr.) Elton Johnson

Stonewall Reporter:  (Miss) Penny Lane

Youth-4-SVA:  (Master) Beyon Jarju

Computer Gyrl:  (Girlie) Brooke Lynn








STONEWALL  Veterans' Association's internet search engine of choice:
www.AskJeeves.com
"The butler did it!"




 5 October
  
2014
*


==2011:  42nd Anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion==
[Friday night, June 27 ~through~ Thursday evening, July 3, 1969]

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