Stonewall Streetfair Background: In 2003, the STONEWALL Veterans' Association ("S.V.A.") finally, at long last, applied for a New York City permit to have a streetfair!  Meanwhile, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender ("GLBT") political clubs like GLID and SDC have been having these streetfairs, which, unlike the S.V.A., are strictly self-serving.  They rake in thousands of dollars for each political group year after year after year -- and selfishly never donate a dollar to the S.V.A. or even pay a $19.69 membership!  With the S.V.A. application completed and delivered, Community Board #2 ("C.B. #2") said "yes" -- and then the City said "no"!  After former S.V.A. President Jeremiah Newton testified at a hearing before the latter, the "City Hearing Tribunal" said "no".  S.V.A. Executive Director Williamson Henderson said this this is never -- never! -- going to happen ever again!  And, it didn't!  In 2004, C.B. #2 ridiculously, stupidly, insultingly and shamefully said "no" to the local S.V.A. and, actually and foolishly, put it in writing.  Shame on them!  Williamson said "yes".  When you think "Greenwich Village", one of the themes that you should think is the "Stonewall" rebellion, the "Stonewall" club, the "Stonewall" this and the Stonewall" that.  Williamson said "YES".  Right on to him!  And, Williamson also beat the war drums once he was informed that the imbecilic C.B. rendering was signed in blood by the likes of an ingrate looney Gay goil who is allegedly a Stonewall vet!  Further, the Gay C.B. Chair Jim Somethingorother falsely stated that there's "...nothing he can do!" and "no!"  Can you imagine?  Williamson relayed to him:  "U are a liar!" and "YES!"  The Streetfair Permit Office said "no".  Williamson said "YES".  The Community Assistance Unit said "no".  Williamson said "YES".  The related Office of the Mayor said "yes" to a "hearing".  That was the first break-through.  However, Williamson surprisingly and challengingly said "NO"!  A "hearing" for what, Williamson queried?  "They all are 100% wrong and the S.V.A. is 100% right!"  S.V.A. is not a "new" applicant, as explained above.  This is not, e.g., a "new" streetfair as wrongly stated.  The S.V.A. is, in fact, head-quartered in Greenwich Village.  Our dear Stonewall Newzletta readers can all appreciate the aforementioned "readings" and can readily tally all of the above.  The ultimate decision is in:  Come to the S.V.A.'s "Street Fair", our friends!

The S.V.A. specifically thanks N.Y.C. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who we had the honor of being in his company -- and vice versa -- three times during Gay Pride Month.  Was he informed of this scenario?  Is the Pope a Catholic?  The S.V.A. also wishes to thank all of the other concerned public officials who were on standby if needed to assist the non-profit, civil rights and historical S.V.A.  Obviously, that excludes the exclusionary and uphonious "Gay Taliban" -- who could care less!

2004 

Due to the mindless delays caused by Community Board #2's stonewalling of the STONEWALL Veterans' Association's streetfair plans, the date must be victoriously rescheduled.  The S.V.A.'s "Stonewall Streetfair" in 2004 will not be on the original planned date of July 31st due to the subsequent time restraint for vendor booking and group planning.  An alternate date months later sometime in autumn's October was offered to the S.V.A.  Williamson rightly reacted:  "Fuhgedaboudit!"  The revised date will now only be one week later on Saturday, August 7th.  And the location has been confirmed to be -- where else -- in Greenwich Village!  That's where the S.V.A. started on Christopher Street and that's where our base remains.  Our history is in Greenwich Village, our office is in The Village, our phones, etc., etc.  More S.V.A. officers live in Greenwich Village than in any other community.  The "Stonewall Car" is registered and garaged in Greenwich Village.  It's Greenwich Village especially that benefits financially, especially every June -- and throughout the year -- by millions of dollars, as a result of the influx of business and the worldwide tourists since the historic 1969 Stonewall Rebellion.  Who would think that anyone would think of an S.V.A.-sponsored streetfair anywhere but in The Village?  Butt someone(s) did!  The C.B. #2 manager ludicrously told S.V.A.'s Jeremiah Newton and Bert Coffman in person (after they made a surprise visit to the C.B. office) that the STONEWALL Veterans' Association is really not based in Greenwich Village!?  Right!  Hunh?  And Big Ben is really not located in London!  S.V.A. President Williamson called Gay him and asked, then where is the S.V.A. based?  Chinatown?  Perhaps the Stonewall Vets from the Stonewall Club of Stonewall Rebellion fame on Stonewall Place at the Stonewall Historic Site should have our streetfair on Rikers Island?

Early streetfair set-up scene on Saturday morning, August 7, 2004 on Greenwich Avenue in the heart of Greenwich Village, New York.  Back in the Stonewall Era, this street was widely known as "Avenue of the Queens".  Pictured (l-2-r) are:  Williamson Henderson, S.V.A. President, and Robert Ashe, Clearview Festival Productions on-site manager.  Peeking out in the middle is Steven Gradman, Vice-President of PRIDE Democrats and friend of the S.V.A.  From this picture you cannot see the actual streetfair as that is actually on Greenwich Avenue for a five-block stretch.  In the background at a school playground is the special auxillary "Flea Market".  By the way, in the above photo, Williamson is sticking out his tongue at who?  Who else?  AnDre!  (If U heard what the latter said to the former, we're surprised that WLH didn't stick out more than his tongue!  Ain't we got fun!)

The S.V.A. had double tables and eight quality chairs set up.  S.V.A. literature provided 411 on the organization spanning 35 years!  Besides S.V.A. coordinator Williamson, other Stonewall Vetz who arrived to help man the tables or just visit included:  Jeremiah Newton, King Storme, Biggi Bert Coffman, Principal Bill Salzman, Hurricane Dave West, Leigh McManus, Henry Koutoulas and Fred Folk as well as S.V.A.'s Community Liaison Bill Murawski and Friend-of-SVA Mikel Phipps.  Special guest to visit us was Clearview Festival Productions owner Todd Berman with his two dogs.  The most visible political club was the local Village Independent Democrats with their brochures and flyers on display.  William Stricklin, Tony Hoffman and Lee Enken, among others, were present or stopped by from VID.  AnDre Christie, the S.V.A. Assistant, dutifully and happily distributed over 1,000 lavender S.V.A meeting notices with the S.V.A. support and ad form on the flyer reverse.  

Besides helping the S.V.A. organization with this fund-raising mechanism to outreach to the local community, the city and the state -- which also gladly benfits the City of New York -- we all had a lot of great talks and fun.  And, just wait til next year!  Our "Stonewall Streetfair" will happen regardless of who says what.  It's just that simple -- and fair (pun intended)!

"Stonewall Streetfair" 2006

To be a beneficial participant and to register for next year's very
well-attended and guaranteed exciting "Stonewall Streetfair", during Gay
Pride Month in June 2006, as a vendor or an exhibitor, please visit the
sponsoring website of Clearview Festival Productions at:
www.StreetFairsNYC.com.