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Williamson Lee Henderson V ("WLH") was born with platinum blond hair and crystal blue eyes under the zodiac sign of Libra on October 5th in Brooklyn in New York City. Relatives dubbed him "5" because he is WLH the 5th and he was born on the 5th. Williamson enjoys numerology. "Five plus five equals ten." He was born in the 10th month! The Hendersons, including his widowed grandmother and a great aunt Lily, lived in a big private house with crystal chandeliers at the corner of Snyder Avenue and East 49th Street off Utica Avenue in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. The house is still there! Native New Yorker Williamson vividly recalls riding on the Church Avenue (dark green with silver top) trolley cars with his grandmother Mary -- a name he would dishily use on others years later in Gay life. The fun trolley cars ended in Brooklyn on Halloween of 1956. Williamson regarded that as a mean "trick" and a loss to his daily life. He wanted his attentive mother Helen to find out "who did that"? The "treat" was that his family bought a new car, a dark green sedan. Ironically, it was a Dodge! Back to real life's bad news: the World Series-winning Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team left Brooklyn the following year, a double blow to Brooklyn and its natives. What's the connection between trolley cars and the Dodgers besides Brooklyn? The Brooklyn Dodgers got their name "Dodgers" from cars "dodging" the trolley cars in Brooklyn! As a true Brooklyn kid, Williamson was on the side of the trolleys. To this day, Williamson relishes asking people, "What do trolley cars have to do with major league baseball?" He delights in revealing the trolley connection. One wish of Williamson is to somewhere in New York City, whether in Downtown Brooklyn or on Manhattan's crosstown 42nd Street, have "The Return of The Trolleys"!
This streetcar
is similiar to the Brooklyn trolley car!
[Courtesy of Brooklyn Historic Railway Association]
Ironically, exactly a decade later to the day on the 27th of
June in 1969 was the invasion, arrests and uprising at The Stonewall
Club. "The worst day was ultimately eclipsed decades later
by the unthinkable, life-shattering, cowardly, insane, extremist,
terrorist airplane hijackings and multiple attacks (four) on America on
Tuesday morning, September 11th, 2001", reflected Williamson. |
Williamson Henderson, still the model, ten-plus years after "Stonewall"
[Professional Photography in Manhattan by Kenn Duncan, et al.]
Williamson is a longtime member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG)
=Stonewall Activism & Gay Leadership History=
| Williamson Lee Henderson is a unique, educated,
talented, energetic, innovative, effective and unsinkable GLBT
leader. When he receives an acknowledgment or an award, it is
earned and deserved and not from a pretentious bureaucratic
position or palery. For determination, who else do you know who
could keep a car -- and in great condition -- for four decades?
That reality is motivated mostly by the car's historical
Stonewall significance. Williamson can accuratetly boast that he
has been a Gay, Bisexual and Transgender leader and innovator for
an intense, diverse and extensive three-plus decades, giving him the
pragmatic experience rarely found in the Gay community. There is
much more to Williamson than his daring 1969 Stonewall Rebellion
history on the very first night of the spontaneous uprising.
Anyone who knows Williamson Henderson is not surprised at his
courage, outspokenness and leadership. Personally, he does not
regard his successful efforts at the rebellion as "heroic", though many
others do. Some, queerly enough, are even envious!
Williamson regards that watershed event as "...destined
happenstance but reacting in a right, just and forceful way.
Look, with as much as I was at The Stonewall -- my favorite Gay
club then, and now -- if anyone was gonna get caught up in that
invasion, the odds were that it would be me! That was my meeting
place. It was my second home. When my friends from all
five New York City boroughs, Long Island and New
Jersey were going out any given night and we had to decide where
to meet, I always said: We'll meet at The Stonewall Club -- analagous
to "We'll meet at the Yellow Brick Road". If you want to see me,
that's where I'll be. And, trust me, the straight ones went,
too!"
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Williamson Henderson modeling composite in the early 1980s
[Photo by Donald Ray Williams of Long Beach, Long Island]
| Williamson Henderson went on to do more history-making in the
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender ("GLBT") community
and beyond. Williamson formed more GLBT organizations
than anyone in GLBT history. There is no one even close.
The vast, diverse and long-lasting roster include (in
chronological order): 1) Imperial QUEENS & Kings of Greater New York ("IQKNY"), 1968. The first (and still a relative rarity) transgender organization (light years ahead of its time) representing a complete, diverse variety (DQs, DKs, TSs, CDs, et al.) and their friends and admirers to wisely increase its appeal and acceptance, the first T/G group to appear before any New York government body or agency and the first to meet with any public official. View NYC Mayor John V. Lindsay's letter (below) to IQKNY's founder Williamson Henderson, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in 1994.  2) STONEWALL Veterans' Association ("S.V.A."), 1969. The legendary organization that only Williamson Henderson would have the wherewithal and the foresight to 'organize' -- like a union -- the actual Gay and non-Gay veterans of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion. And, only Williamson did! Among the S.V.A.'s many milestones are their leading five annual Gay Pride parades every June and providing Stonewall veterans to high schools, colleges, civic associations and other groups through its S.V.A. Speakers' Bureau.  Williamson with S.V.A. Honorary Male Chairperson Mayor Ed Koch in 1978 [Photo by Leigh McManus at Gracie Mansion] *  Williamson with S.V.A. Honorary Female Chairperson Bella! Abzug in 1978 [Photo taken by Bella's husband Martin Abzug on WLH's camera] 3) Stonewall Republicans ("S/R"), 1972. Strategically for the GLBT community, Williamson inventively founded it as a Democrat, which ultimately and surprisingly benefitted Republicans, Democrats, Liberals and Independents to this very day in the form of Gay-first, political party-second coalitions and endorsements.  Williamson with President George W. Bush, Sr. in 1989 [Photography by the Official Photographer of The White House] The occasion of this surprising photo was the annual Lincoln Day Dinner grandly held at The Waldorf-Astoria's Empire Room in Manhattan, N.Y. Long before there were any big million-dollar budget Gay rights orgs like HRC, ESPA or SDC, Williamson was -- and is -- out there promoting Gay people and Gay history without any budget and doing it his effective way -- starting at the top! Observe that the President of the United States is holding a blue S.V.A. flyer (and form on the reverse). Of course, none of the other few hundred special guests would dare to bring much less distribute their info; however, Williamson knows that the S.V.A. is uniquely worthwhile and deserves special consideration. President Bush Sr. and the First Lady agreed! Though he looks great in it, this is the first and last time that WLH wore a tuxedo! Williamson commented, "I only dress up formal for presidential affairs"!
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 Williamson marching in Gay Pride Parade and against Anita "B" the hater in 1977 6) Stonewall Car Club ("SCC"), 1984. The famous year 1984 started when Williamson simultaneously owned three -- 1969 (blue), 1970 (black) and 1984 (burgundy) -- Cadillac convertibles, with a fourth added in 1985 (brown). *
7) PRIDE Democrats. An intentional acronym PRIDE for "Pride Rainbow Independent Democrats Etc." -- (a.k.a. "PD"), which, like many babies, began nameless as the political arm of the S.V.A. and has been independent since "Stonewall 25" in June of 1994. PRIDE's biggest year was 1998 with the largest candidates' forum in the history of New York State! 
Mayor Ed Koch
hand-in-hand with Williamson in 1998
[Ironically, photo by Bella's daughter Liz Abzug] Under Williamson's leadership, innovativeness and productivity, PRIDE Democrats made history on Thursday, August 27, 1998, for hosting the largest political candidates' forum in the history of the State of New York. Besides on stage, there were public officials and political leaders in the audience. The participants roster was like a "Who's Who" list including former U.S. Congressmember and herstoric only-woman (at that time until a decade later) Vice Presidential candidate Geraldine A. Ferraro, who was also celebrating her birthday. After the Congressmember spoke and took questions, Williamson had a total surprise for her and everyone else! He had the entire audience, including her opponents and their supporters, sing a rousing "Happy Birthday" to Gerry! That is typical, thoughtful and unbothered Williamson. The New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Sr., was there as a candidate for N.Y.S. Governor. So was former Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey now as a gubernatorial candidate. New York State Senate candidates Eric Schneiderman and Danny O'Donnell participated (Eric won!). The current N.Y.S. Attorney General Oliver Koppell was there as candidate. So was A/G candidate Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes. And, A/G candidate N.Y.S. Senator Catherine Abate. WLH officially introduced the Gay community to the soon-to-be N.Y.S. Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer, who subsequently hired Williamson as his campaign Gay Liaison and, at times, surrogate speaker, for both the Primary and General elections. 
Candidate Eliot Spitzer, lovely wife Silda and
GLBT liaison Williamson
[Photo by Princess Jenni Egan] And where did Williamson stage this largest-ever, four-hour candidates' event? He held it loud and proud at the New York City Gay Community Services Center! That's what's called "giving back big time". The Center benefitted financially, too, as Williamson smartly made the event a take-it-or-leave-it fund-raiser for The Center. Some Gays (of all people) 'queeried' how WLH could have candidates pay a fee to speak? Williamson quoted former U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy from New York in his reply: "You ask why! I ask, Why not?" Interviewed by STONEWALL Newzletta reporter Vito Abzuzzoluccione if he had any plans to form any other GLBT organizations, Williamson retorted, "Yes, in reality, I already have! I did it several years ago and I do not pin my name on it -- yet! And, yes, it is certainly listed, involved, active and successful." |
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New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (2nd term) with S.V.A. President Williamson
and other SVA-ers Cristina Hayworth (left) and Jeremiah Newton (right) im 1999
[Note: This fun and semi-famous photo also appeared in the New York Post.]
[Photo by SVA-er Raymond McCaffrey]
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=WLH Interviews=
Newspapers, magazines, journals and newsletters have been requesting, and usually granted, interviews with Williamson since 1969. Williamson's favorite interview result is the three-page spread in the New York Daily News in 1994 on "Stonewall Sunday" celebrating the huge 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. Williamson and a few other Stonewall Vetz such as Jeremiah Newton and Leigh McManus were profiled relating to the original Stonewall. The tribute story included a great head-on photo of the 1969 "Stonewall Car" shown with Queen Allyson Allante. Over one million copies of that newspaper were sold! One of the most interesting stories from a historical point and recertifying Williamson's expertise was displayed ten years later in 2004, again on "Stonewall Sunday", entitled "The Two Sides of Stonewall Raise Glasses on Common Ground". It was published on June 27, 2004, in The New York Times. "'I'm just glad that they were all sitting down', Williamson Henderson joked on Monday evening (June 21) soon after walking into a room filled with about two dozen burly retired police officers at Arturo's Restaurant in Greenwich Village. Mr. Henderson was harking back to the summer nights 35 years ago this month, when some of those officers and dozens of others, faced off against him and hundreds of other Gay guys outside the Stonewall Inn on Christopeher Street. The confrontations, which became known as the Stonewall Rebellion, marked the birth of the modern Gay rights movement." The story concluded in a "reach out" mode with retired NYPD Sixth Precinct Sergeant Frank Tuscano relating how he sought out Stonewall veterans and was directed to Mr. Henderson and told him: "If you guys come out and join us (for the reunion), I'll buy you a beer. You were on one side, we were on the other side. Who says we can't have a drink together?" Williamson famously responded: "Okay, I'll do it -- but I don't drink beer!" They've been 'pals' ever since that call. Tellingly, many of the vintage Sixth Precinct cops recognized Williamson from The Stonewall scenario. One former detective publicly remarked, "Williamson doesn't look that much different"! A retired sergeant commented "It's not my thing to remember any of The Stonewall kids from then but I sure remember that beautiful blue 1969 Cadillac convertible. And that definitely looks exactly the same"!
Williamson Henderson relaxing at home in Manhattan
on his burgundy leather sofa with one of his cats "Quiksand"
(like the MRV song). Notice the Gay pride flag in a brass
planter (on the right). On the glass-topped coffee table is
a red picture bank shaped like a British telephone booth. Mostly
obscured on the wall is a brass-framed poster of Bette Davis
as Margo Channing in "All About Eve".
[Photo by Terri Van Dyke]
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| Barely any so-called leaders in the Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual and Transgender ("GLBT") community have ever created
anything, not a department, a division or even an expansion
of something already established by somebody else. In a
historical perspective and summary overview, this is greater
testimony to Williamson Henderson's enduring leadership, effective
accomplishments and selfless contributions to the GLBT community and
beyond. Williamson broke down the political doors for Gay access
to and communication with New York public officials when it was
literally non-existent. Today, it is taken for granted, usually
without any regard to 'the long and winding road' and all the volunteer
work and creative ingenuity that led to this point. There is
probably not one public official in Manhattan (NYC) who doesn't know
Williamson or hasn't worked with him on matters, issues, concerns
or events of the Gay community. Williamson has actually had
many of them as guest speakers for the various GLBT organizations
which he founded.
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"A Stonewall Boy and His Stonewall Car" In 2000, Williamson was finally The One in the GLBT community who had the power and wherewithal to legally sue some scurrilous poison pen blowfish who many people wanted to sink but no one had the hooks! Williamson made himself the Will-ing and determined plaintiff against a debased, dubious, debted and (now-)defunct "Gayragpaper". Besides slanderers and creeps, they were notorious crooks. WLH took 'em on! As a matter of fact, after several inconsecutive days spanning two months of sworn testimonies by several actual veterans of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, the Court decisively concluded that Williamson Henderson was and is the "Gay Rosa Parks"! The Stonewall veterans were likened to the famous Suffragists in this landmark Court decision -- the first to ever involve the subject of the historic Stonewall Rebellion. Based on the plentiful testimony and overwhelming evidence, as a result of that landmark New York City court case, Williamson was prominently declared a "public figure"! That distinction was news to him, though not to many others. The seven-page decision concluded that "Mr. Henderson continues to educate and fight for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community"! Hey, let's more of us join him in those efforts! |
S.V.A. Williamson Henderson and N.Y.C. Mayor Michael Bloomberg
[Photography by the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York]
All officials of the STONEWALL Veterans' Association ("S.V.A.") were traditionally invited to Gracie Mansion for the New York City Mayor's "Gay Pride Celebration". Williamson considerately coordinated the inviting of the S.V.A. members and others. The Mayor thoughtfully accommodated the photo-op with him and each of the invited guests. This year 2003's event was held on Thursday evening, June 26. The Mayor knows Williamson since the latter welcomed candidate Bloomberg as a guest -- along with Mayor Rudy Giuliani -- of the influential S.V.A. leading the "32nd annual Gay Pride Parade" back in landmark 2001.
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S.V.A. Chairperson Carolyn Maloney with S.V.A.'s Williamson Henederson
For 2005, Williamson was re-nominated as President of the STONEWALL Veterans' Association ("S.V.A."). He won re-election again unanimously! Reflecting on the S.V.A.'s history, Williamson observed, "The S.V.A. has had many important years -- in addition to 1969, there was 1977, 1994, 1999 and 2004 -- and this coming year 2005 should be another of significance. Unfortunately, we've turned the deadly corner on having more veterans of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion deceased thn alive. In the past year or so, we sadly lost key Stonewall vets such as Terri Van Dyke, Charles Snyder and Electra O'Mara, all of whom were ideally active with the S.V.A. We also passed the thirty-five year milestone of the rebellion. Each subsequent year must be celebrated, protected and cherished." The RDP Group has once again invited Williamson to be the host of the Opening Ceremonies of the Gay Business Expo at the New York City Javits Convention Center in February. Williamson has accepted as he has done literally since the last Century! Congressmember Carolyn Maloney has personally invited Williamson and the S.V.A. officers to attend her annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast and join her marching in the big St. Patrick's Day Parade. Williamson greenly accepted both! In the Spring of 2005, actor Williamson Henderson marked over three decades as a union member of the prestigeous Screen Actors Guild ("SAG"). The last movie that he was professionally involved with was, appropriately, "Stonewall". He nearly was in the 2005 film "Ring of Fire" about his longtime, intimate friend championship boxer Emile Griffith. However, at the time of the filmed interviews, producer Dan Klores was unaware of the Williamson connection. Dan finally met Williamson with members of the Griffith family at a special screening of "ROF". The Summer of 2005 (an important election year) had Williamson again involved in politics, something in which he is educated, self-trained, experienced and savvy. He helped defeat -- in last place -- a tacky citywide candidate who was a shameless user of the GLBT community and a convicted enemy of the S.V.A. In a separate contest, with the back-up of PRIDE Democrats and the support of S.V.A. individuals, WLH was crucial in the narrow win of a Council candidate who is SVA-supportive and personally nice. "Double delite" was Williamson's proud reaction to these two outcomes. When S.V.A. election-time rolled around again in November of 2005, although members pleaded, Williamson decided not to be a nominee for President. One Stonewall veteran senior woman declared, "We'll elect you anyway!" (Yes, she's Italian.) Williamson explained that "If I'm not a nominee, I can not be elected; and, if I am elected, I will not serve". By the next month, Williamson was convinced of the need for his being the head Stonewaller. After all, who does the World think that people contact or source when they want to know about the actual Stonewall Rebellion and its real participants? The S.V.A. and its active elected officers -- who else?
 City Council winner Melissa Viverito with Williamson at Victory Election Party 2005 [Photo by Randolph Mark]
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For Williamson, personally, there is always plenty of fun, games and action, too, with his longtime, good-looking, intense, well-built, lively, jealous, athletic, singing, protective, humorous, dancing, mouthy, voguing, outspoken, laughing, sometimes overwhelming, sexy, music-loving, possessive, home-cooking, cohabiting straight boyfriend and their four felines at their home in Manhattan, New York. One of their favorite theme songs appropriately is Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract". They have most of the "opposites" going on: color, age, culture, religion, education, orientation, employment, upbringing, friends, experiences, values, etc. -- all opposites!
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In honor of Gay Pride Month: Mayor Michael Bloomberg with Williamson Henderson
[Photography by the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York]
The year 2006 started theatrically on the 13th of January with urban cowboy Will rounding up a posse of SVA-ers to go see the top-rated Gay story movie "Brokeback Mountain". It was a nice way to kick-off the new social year together. Although Williamson sincerely intended to take a reprieve from being an S.V.A. officer, to quote from one of Williamson's other favorite 100 films, "The Godfather, Part III", by the Godfather himself: "Just when I thought that I got out, they pull me back in"! While considering the "offer" he could easily refuse, WLH decided to grant the will of the unanimous SVA-ers and remain as the S.V.A. President. Within one day he had a solo rendezvous with a public official and the result was a platinum sponsorship for the S.V.A. A sad task for Williamson was, as the chosen DFW Memorial Chairperson, to arrange the service for SVA-er and friend Dave West at the New York City Gay Community Center. The event on April 27th proved a huge turn-out, entirely planned and hosted by WLH. Next up, "Save the Stonewall Car" was the new meow from the S.V.A. Without Williamson's effective leadership, communications network and fund-raising, the famous car would have been lost to the gavel of an auctioneer! The prominence and prospects for the famed organization once again changed for the better throughout the year. By year's end, Williamson was nominated again at the December election meeting. He won unanimously as S.V.A. President for crucial 2007!
Williamson is stunningly stunned after seeing "BBM"
[Photo by Princess Jenni Jan; witnessed by Dave West]
Brokeback Mountain ("BBM") is the popular movie and compelling story about two intriguing cowboys who coincidentally meet in the Summer of 1963, simultaneously get jobs and work together herding sheep in the scenic mountains of Wyoming, unexpectedly but passionately have sex the first time in a tent and fall deeply in love with each other. However, one is totally straight, the other is slightly bisexual. Both Ennis and Jack marry women and have children. All of that and much more does not stop their twenty-year secret relationship. The BBM phenomena kicked up such steam that Williamson could not wait to see a beyond-Gay film that in many ways describes his current partner. When a newspaper story came out with the "From Stonewall to Brokeback" headline, Williamson organized a "Bareback Mountain Dinner & Movie Party" for Stonewall veterans and sponsored by the S.V.A. Besides Williamson, SW-Vetz attending included Emile Griffith, Leigh McManus, Storme DeLarverie, Bert Coffman and Dave West and some Friends-of-SVA such as Michael Livote, Anton Ohlin, Jenni Egan, Luis Rodrigo and, of force, AnDre Christie. In fact, BBM's Ennis and Jack were into their sixth year together when the Stonewall Rebellion occurred in June of 1969. The phenomenal movie BBM went on to be nominated for eight Academy Awards among winning many others such as the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild, of which Williamson is a longtime member. Williamson was a creative moderator and an avid member of a BBM internet board for the entire 2006 year. Upon his arrival, he created the immensely popular, largest-viewed and most-enduring game known as the "ABC'z of Brokeback Mountain". For example, "G" is for "Gay" and "C" is for "cowboys". The BBM-themed word game at last report incredibly continues for years after Williamson cast the first "A" for "Academy Awards"!
Williamson proudly posing during Gay pride parade with the famous "Stonewall Car"
[Photo by Hal M. Weiner]
In 2007, Williamson commenced the year at his posilutely favorite place in the world: home! With his mostly secret 'non-Gay' lover of several years and their two cats with him and his Mother on the phone long-distance, WLH was not "home alone". On the first Sunday in January, he rounded up an S.V.A. posse to attend the "Swearing-In" of SVA-supporter Andrew Cuomo as New York's new Attorney General. Mr. Cuomo strongly, publicly and sincerely stated his great appreciation for Williamson's effective support and longtime loyalty. He thanked the S.V.A., too. This event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was political happiness and another reunion with political colleagues. Moviewise, a year ago it was "BBM"; now it is "Dreamgirls" -- loosely based on the worldwide number one girl group Diana Ross & The Supremes!
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Leaders of the Pack: Mary Weiss and Williamson at The Stonewall
[Photo by Ed Ryan, manager of Mary Weiss]
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For Gay Pride Month, besides all the extra activities of the S.V.A., Williamson partied with the Mayor for his Gay Pride Celebration at Gracie Mansion, spoke on stage accompanied by other Stonewall veterans for the Heritage of Pride's Gay Pride Rally in Bryant Park, Midtown Manhattan, and, later that day, he was a featured speaker at the "Stonewall: From Persecution to Pride" celebration at St. John's Evangelical Church in Greenwich Village and attended the New York City Council Gay Pride celebration in the Council Chamber at City Hall. For the exact annniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion on June 27th, the S.V.A. sponsored and Williamson hosted the celebration at The Stonewall Inn. WLH arranged for the beloved "Stonewall Sweetheart" Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the legendary Shangri-las. On Stonewall Sunday, Williamson proudly led the N.Y.C. Gay Pride Parade down Fifth Avenue and Christopher Street with the STONEWALL Veterans' Association -- including Emile Griffith, Storme DeLarverie, Jeremiah Newton, Chyna Fucito, Tom Viola, Dr. Dyane Karron, Hal Weiner, Cristina Hayworth, Leigh McManus, Jean Devente, Keith Lonesome, Mary S. Twist and Jack Ramos -- and the famous 1969 classic Cadillac convertible "Stonewall Car"! After the wonderful event on a perfect day, Williamson and his significant other co-hosted the annual "Stonewall Duncheon" for Stonewall veterans at the outdoor Hudson Corner Cafe in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.
Summer of 2007 slow for the S.V.A.? Not with Williamson the 5th leading it! Besides daily multi-communications and education programs plus the ever-popular S.V.A. website, the S.V.A. meetings and SVA-invited events headed by Williamson include a barbeque and live-band dance party with Governor Eliot Spitzer in late July and mid-August meetings with several public officials. At a function hosted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg on August 15th at Gracie Mansion, the Mayor astutely commented to the SVA-ers how the S.V.A. is clearly "year-round". The Mayor then personally thanked Williamson for the interesting S.V.A. mailings and said "I personally receive all of your notices and enjoy reading them all"! The next day it was a Municipal Building meeting with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and his staff contingency about a grant for the S.V.A. The day after that it was a meeting with a N.Y.S. assemblymember. By Saturday, WLH and the Stonewallers were leading a civil rights march with the 1969 "Stonewall Car". On Saturday evening, there was a special "10/10" party planning committee supper hosted by Williamson at the outdoor Les Halles Restaurant on Park Avenue in Manhattan. And so on and so forth with the unique and interesting S.V.A. events.
Mayor Michael welcomes Williamson and publicly compliments his hair
[Photography by the Office of the Mayor of The City of New York]
Last year, Williamson Henderson was unanimously re-elected (mid-2007/mid-2008 tenure) one more time by the STONEWALL Veterans' Association membership as the creative leader of the S.V.A. organization. WLH started the year of "Stonewall 39" representing the S.V.A. solely at a special one-on-one meeting with a N.Y.C. borough president, Adolfo J. Carrion of The Bronx, on the very first morning of the very first business day of the new year. "The meeting went totally well as expected" and Williamson further declared: "But this will be my only morning conference of the year"! At one S.V.A. monthly meeting, Williamson hosted three members of the New York City Council. There have been many others since. On the national political scene, a half-dozen major Primary presidential campaigns directly contacted 'undeclared' Williamson. During the year, he hosted many other public officials and organization heads
On the literary scene, Williamson is included in the unrevealing book about one of his past and celebrity intimate friends (a.k.a. ex-boyfriend) and mutual S.V.A. official, former world boxing champion Emile Griffith, Jr. The book title amusingly mixes a boxing and a Gay term: "Nine... Ten... Out! The Two Worlds Of Emile Griffith". Initially, Emile and Williamson were introduced, at Emile's demand through a mutual, be-wigged, fag-hag friend, Sonia Jane Attkiss, at The Stonewall Club in the Spring of 1969! Williamson and Emile's eye-catching and on/off again relationship -- when it was mutually convenient spanning several years -- was considered a Gay power couple. "Basically", Williamson reveals here (nothing is revealed in the clandestine book), "we calmly went with each other when we weren't going with some usually hot drama guy". The fashion pot was sweetened since Williamson was an alluring commercial model (with a Gay flair off the set) and Emile's best buddy Charles was a daring designer. That threesome produced some wild outfits, mostly body-fitting jumpsuits and many with fringe. Oddly, none of this nor any of their Gay parties or Gay events are mentioned in the soft book. In the bookletee, Williamson is pictured twice yet only identified once. The S.V.A. is mentioned several times but never defined for the unknowing reader. The "Stonewall Car" is barely shown once with Emile exiting it after a Gay Pride parade but the famous car is not identified! You do not have to look Williamson up in the index as the book does not even have an index! WLH was bolded to help defeat the boring bogus book and to get it "knocked out".
In total literary contrast is the intelligent, worthwhile and successful book -- which has an index -- "Rumors Of Our Progress Are Greatly Exaggerated (Why Women's Lives Aren't Getting Any Easier)" by WLH friend and U.S. Congressmember, Carolyn B. Maloney. Williamson and many friends were at "1-2-3" of Carolyn's book forums and signings. Locations included the landmark National Arts Club and Cornell University. The Congressmember inscribed WLH's hardcover book and with his special nickname for her: "To my dear friend Williamson, You are always there! Love, Carolina".
During the "Stonewall-39" Gay Pride season, due to vast responsibilities and commitments, Williamson streamlined Gay event appearances in 2008. One occasion was the Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer's Gay Pride commemoration honoring WLH's longtime friend Judge Karen Burstein and acknowledging the S.V.A. Williamson and several SVA-ers happily partook in NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Gay Pride celebration at Gracie Mansion. The Mayor only mentioned one Gay organization: the STONEWALL Veterans' Association. Mayor Michael also mentioned Williamson stating their knowing each other seven years and praising his extensive work for the Gay community. For the S.V.A. Annual Reunion & Gay Pride meeting on June 28th, the worthwhile event was covered by New York 1 television. Williamson and other SVA-ers were shown on NY-1's recycled news about 20 times for Gay Pride weekend. On the S.V.A. frontline, Williamson decided for several reasons that he would not be a candidate for S.V.A. president for its mid-year election meeting. When STONEWALL Newzletta reporter Vito Abzuzzoluccione queried WLH about reversing his decision on the S.V.A. president candidacy, Williamson stated: "My term ends on the last Gay day of this Gay Pride Month! Williamson concluded in a contented tone of finality: "Ironically and appropriately, I'll be with the STONEWALL Veterans' Association for the S.V.A. party at The Stonewall Inn with "Songs of The Stonewall" music on my final day as the S.V.A. President on June 31st, 2008"!
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=New Era for Williamson, Stonewall & the S.V.A.=
Guess what? The STONEWALL Veterans' Association could not elect another president! This seemed to only surprise Williamson. As such, the S.V.A. transitioned to Executive Committee format without any titled officers. Nonetheless, public officials and their staffs and GLBT organizations and their reps and other groups and individuals and the print, radio and t.v. press continued to contact Williamson Henderson. With 39 years completed and celebrated, this stage is now in the 40th year since the Stonewall Rebellion. Long story short, Williamson agreed to be the S.V.A. Director chorused by the Executive Committee. In mid-July, he spearheaded the new fiscal S.V.A. fund-raising year namely Stonewall 40! In mid-August, Williamson emceed a tribute to legendary SVA-er Storme DeLarverie and hosted a sponsoring art show by Susan Olmetti the abstract artist at the landmark Chelsea Hotel. In mid-September, Williamson and his special assistant promoted and attended a book forum and reception for the S.V.A.'s Honorary Chairwoman and their personal friend, U.S. Congressmember Carolyn Maloney, in Manhattan. At the S.V.A.'s end-of-year meeting at the New York GLBT Community Center, besides accommodating out-of-state Gay Pride committee representatives, foreign jourmalists and statewide students among many others, Williamson hosted the 88th birthday bash for King Storme DeLarverie and, unofficially, kicked off the forthcoming celebratory milestone of "Stonewall 40"!
Mayor Michael Bloomberg greets Williamson at Gracie Mansion
[Photography by the Office of the Mayor of The City of New York]
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For the occasion of "Stonewall 40", among other GLBT organizations, Williamson spoke at, for example, committee and general meetings of Heritage of Pride, organizers of the New York Gay Pride Parade, and the Gay Officers' Action League (GOAL) regarding a mutual "SW-40" law enforcement conference. He also testified at a NYC Community Board for the "Stonewall Streetfair" and taught at Harlem United for an educational program comprised of disadvantaged Gay youngsters. Moreover, Williamson was formally invited to speak at the renowed St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York, and in several American cities from Maine and Florida to several cities in California and in addition to Europe such as Amsterdam., Berlin and Copenhagen. And that's just the "A-B-C" of it. At one of the stateside events honoring the 40 years since the Stonewal Uprising, they announced: "Williamson Henderson puts an actual and real, and may we say nice, face on the happy Stonewall Club, the exciting Stonewall Rebellion and the entire Stonewall Era and all that it represents and symbolizes!" For the STONEWALL Veterans' Association's celebrations of "Stonewall 40", Williamson produced, promoted and hosted the "S.V.A. Annual Conference & Stonewall Veterans Reunion" at the New York City Gay Community Center on Stonewall Saturday. Two days later -- with the NYC Gay Pride Parade in between -- Williamson did likewise for the yearly "Stonewall Rebellion Anniversary Party" in the Stonewall Cabaret Room at the original Stonewall Club in New York City's Greenwich Village. In the notorious New York City political world, all three citywide candidates -- mayor, public advocate and comptroller -- which Williamson supported from the outstart and pulled out all-the-stops... won!!! Interestingly. besides being the most-qualified, the best and the nicest persons, all three candidates prior shared the designation of "unlikely to win"! As the decade raps up, the S.V.A. will have to be ruled by its Executive Committee as Williamson completes his extemperaneous, extended and exciting term as director of the S.V.A and refocuses on his own business.....
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=another new decade=
For the new decade, the "Twenty 10s", besides active business (reactivation of Proofreaders Unlimited), social (invited to many worthwhile and prominent events) and personal life commitments (with a lover several years (decades) younger plus their two cats aged 11 years and 11 months) and still requested for interviews, forums and events, Williamson produced and promoted the STONEWALL Veterans' Association's "41st Anniversary Conference & Stonewall Veterans Reunion" on Saturday, June 26th at the GLBT Community Center in Greenwich Village. The stellar guests included a U.S. congressmember, a N.Y.S. supreme court justice, a N.Y.S. senator, a N.Y.S. attorney general candidate, a N.Y.C. councilmember and all was uniquely hosted by Williamson! As this season's Gay icing for the Gay seven-layer cake this 2010 year, Williamson ultimately agreed to do an exclusive "Stonewall 41 Reflections" of the Stonewall Era, the Stonewall Club and the Stonewall Rebellion for the British Broadcasting Company ("BBC"). He wanted to do it from home: a top 40th floor in an apartment tower with a spectatular NYC view! They agreed! Hear some of the educational, interesting and unique program. Through the advances of modern technology since the Stonewall Era, you can now also hear Williamson -- in his inimitable, laid-back yet precise for interviews style, flavored with a Brooklynesque spice. At Williamson's suggestion BBC introduced the piece with a background song from The Stonewall Club. They chose the song; unknowingly one of WLH's all-time Stonewall favorites at: :www.BBC.co.UK/iplayer/WilliamsonHenderson/p0087s22
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10th of July
2010
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