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| After the most unique reunion in Gay history, proudly pictured above are (l-2-r): Queen Allyson A. Allante, S.V.A. Spokesperson; Jeremiah J. Newton, S.V.A. Vice-President; Sylvia Rae Rivera, S.V.A. Secretray; Cristina Hayworth, S.V.A. Ambassadress (up from Puerta Rica); Yvonne Ritter, RN, S.V.A. Executive Committee; Ivana Valentin, Executive Committee; Danny Garvin, pending S.V.A. member; Terri Van Dyke, S.V.A. Treasurer; Ramon Morales-Torres, SVA-25 Committee; and many other veterans of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion not shown as they span across the huge stage. The media -- print and television -- had a huge Gay bonanza with this tremendous one-of-a-kind event. |
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Legendary Stonewall Club patrons
and other participants of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion -- since named by Williamson Henderson and now known as
the "Stonewall Veterans" -- fought the New York City Police
Department, the First Division Detectives and the Tactical Patrol Force
in late June and early July 1969 for five evenings and nights and ultimately won an everlasting physical,
emotional, psychological and spiritual victory! The interested and active "veterans" became members of the STONEWALL Veterans' Association ("S.V.A."). On our landmark 25th Anniversary in 1994 of the now worldwide historic uprising, which should have demonstrated a real "heritage of pride", the S.V.A. had to almost physically fight the "Stonewall 25 International Committee" -- comprised of many wannabe corporate, self-serving, egotistical, non-representative, rude Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender ("GLBT") characters whose disrespect, greed and financial mismanagement ruined and bankrupted that wholly dishonorable and disrespectful organization. The Stonewall veterans, of course, do not agree on everything -- who does -- however, one of the unanimous opinions is that: The "SW-25 Committee" was the worst group of assembled GLBT-ers that any of us ever saw anywhere. Guess what? Despite their despicable discrimination (the opposite of the spirit of "Stonewall"), exclusionary tactics, ignoring and various visciousness, the S.V.A. won again! "Stonewall 25 Int'l Inc." did all their meetings, planning, promoting, scheduling, and screaming, arguing, etc., etc., etc. without ever inviting or consulting the people who this event was initially intended to commemorate and honor: the Veterans of the Stonewall Rebellion. The "SW-25" ad-hoc committee's mostly arrogant, pompous members -- who acted like they created the GLBT community -- negotiated with New York City officials and other gov't representatives and endless others without ever inviting anyone from the S.V.A. Besides mindlessly and rudely ignoring the S.V.A. -- an act which was a literal "heritage of shame" -- the "SW-25" Committee ludicrously also left out The Stonewall Inn from their spineless game plan. Why? Because they were told that they couldn't. They even left our the regular N.Y.C. Gay Pride Parade route -- Fifth Avenue. Why? Because they were told that they couldn't. And they didn't know that they needed the S.V.A.? Thus, the "SW-25" committee committed a real "sell-out" of the real GLBT communities. Most everyone sadly realized this and at too late a date. The favorite word of the "SW-25" Committee was "no". "No" to this and "no" to that and, most shamefully, "no" to the Stonewall veterans. What?! Nonetheless, several true GLBT organziations and individuals with the real Stonewall spirit and guts such as ACT-UP, the IQKNY, et al. and, of course, the S.V.A. said: "Yes, we can!" Yes, we can start the march at The Stonewall. Yes, we can march up Fifth Avenue. Yes, we will lead into Central Park. And, yes, we will be democratic, inclusive, considerate friendly to ALL! The Stonewall 25 Committee had a seemingly unlimited budget with endless sponsorships, contributions, donations pouring in from all over the world plus their own fund-raisers and money-gathering campaigns. Money was rampant -- for them! Yet, they never gave the S.V.A. one dollar. Not even to have the most famous GLBT community car "detailed" ($69) -- or to fill up its gas tank ($19.69). But the "SW-25" clan saved their biggest insult for the actual event day.... The Stonewall 25 Committee did not even include the S.V.A., representing the Stonewall veterans, as one of the "101" speakers, organizations, acts, groups, individuals, singers, dancers, comedians, comediennes, poets, etc., etc., etc. as part of the Stonewall Celebration Rally in Central Park. Yeah, like we were going to tolerate that. "Knock! Knock!" Who's there?" S-T-O-N-E... Who? S-T-O-N-E-W-A-L-L! Guess who ultimately won? Common sense and common decency: You don't "stonewall" the "Stonewallers"! We did our 'reaching out', too. Most S.V.A. members coordinated writing and/or calling all the SW-Vetz that we knew in a dozen different states. For those SW-Vetz who were totally missing on the scene or not in touch lately but where we had some 411, we searched for and usually located the SVA-ers. In many instances it was like a detective game. We had Stonewall Veterans come to New York City -- and in many cases made housing arrangements with other Stonewallers -- from all over the United States. Meanwhile, the SW-25 Committee obviously was not concerned about contacting any Stonewall veterans -- nor was the selfish committee interested in having any Vetz at the huge event which is a tribute to what WE did! The S.V.A. can never reiterate enough how absolutely obnoxiuos and rude that behavior that was by the SW-25 Committee, which included several in kind members of Heritage of Pride! The newly-empowered STONEWALL Veterans' Assocoation even collaborated on the alternative "Spirit of Stonewall March". The main organizers wanted the 'alternative march' to have the real authenticity. For that, you had to have the Stonewall Vetz! As a matter of fact, it was proudly decided by the inclusive 'alternate march' organizers that the S.V.A. rightfully lead that march. Among many well-known Gay leaders over the decades were Harry Hay, John Burnside, Jim Kepner, Jack Nichols and David Thorstad marching with the "Spirit of Stonewall March. In fact, the march was led by the S.V.A. with the Stonewall Rebellion-impounded 1969 blue Cadillac "Stonewall Car". In a reversal in direction for this special iccasion, the march went up Fifth Avenue -- as it used to through 1977. The "Spirit of Stonewall March" amassed over 13,000 march participants and more than ten times that amount in cheering, colorfully-dressed, rainbow flag-waving spectators. The only public officials who joined us in the historic "Spirit of Stonewall March" were U.S. Congressmember Jerrold L. Nadler, N.Y.C. Judge Karen S. Burstein and N.Y.C. Councilmember Thomas K. Duane. What a glorious day! And ours all started at The Stonewall! At the Gay Rally, we confronted some of the "Big Wigs" and demanded to be presented or there would be a real "riot", not the hyperbolic 'riot' to which they wrongly refer. Instead of being introduced, first we had to wait over an hour for a few dozen other speakers and "acts". Once we were finally brought on stage, it was with minimal introduction: "Here are the Stonewall survivors"! "Survivors"? Survivors of what? We didn't survive; we created. It was like we were being dismissed as the haphazard survivors of some catastroiphe or crash. So, we actually had to introduce our own S.V.A. STONEWALL Veterans' Association organization. We broadsided the huge stage to tremendous and thunderous applause. |
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Incredible Backstage View of some Stonewall Veterans at "SW-25" The very well-organized STONEWALL Veterans' Association ("S.V.A."), which had just led the "Spirit of Stonewall March" with the blue 1969 Cadillac convertible "Stonewall Car" up from Greenwich Village, and, now, finally, after waiting over an hour, broadsided the very high and very wide stage. Only one-third of the SW-Vetz on stage are shown in this incredible photo. The approximate one million (1,000,000)-plus attendees from all over the world responded with a great, sound-breaking, five-minute chant of "Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you..."! Every Stonewall Veteran -- except one -- was overcome with emotion, lightly crying with pride or just having a few tears of joy or sadness stream from their eyes. Queen Allyson Ann, the President of the Imperial QUEENS and the S.V.A. elected Spokesperson, was not having her professionally-done make-up ruined. Anxious to begin her speech, Allyson finally said to the huge millionish crowd (a la Barbra Streisand and invoking a Brooklyn accent): "Alright already... enough already. Oy! Thank you! Already enough, thanks! We thank you, too -- for being here!" Enough now! What's a queen supposed to do already? Thanks! (Convincing one million people to "Stop!" is not easy.) We love you, too!" However, the enthusiastic crowd continued their chant: "Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you...." Highlights of the entire Stonewall 25 event, including the S.V.A. segment is/was available on the video, "The Future is Ours" -- a queerly inane title for the hugest Gay event in world history. Celebrities included openly-Gay actor/entertainer Harvey Fierstein who stated that none of us would be here today on this stage if not for the Stonewall Veterans. And, another Gay favorite, Liza Minnelli who reminded everyone that "It is the 25th anniversary of Stonewall.... and it is also the 25th Anniversary of Mama" -- referring to the Gay icon of Judy Garland, whose funeral was the first day of the rebellion that night June 27th. Coincidence? No! |
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