my journey into the heart of new york's gay community began with a memorable performance, a moment where I embraced my individuality by sporting a vibrant wig and foregoing makeup. the experience was met with laughter and applause, a successful, albeit unconventional, artistic expression.
however, the aftermath brought a sharp critique from a professional colleague who deemed my flamboyant portrayal inappropriate for someone in a professional capacity, drawing a stark contrast between undergraduate experimentation and established professional conduct.
this critique, delivered with a sting that felt deeply personal, left me contemplative, prompting a period of quiet reflection to avoid any regrettable responses.
this incident, though impactful, wasn't the only professional hurdle I encountered. another significant challenge arose during my doctoral studies.
my research focused on societal tolerance and exposure to homosexual individuals, with a student sample drawn from various schools within new york university. to conduct my survey, I sought approval from the deans of each school. while most readily granted permission, the stern school of business raised a concern, fearing their students might be offended by the questionnaire.
this rejection was disheartening, particularly after six years of dedicated study. presenting this news to my dissertation committee was difficult, though they were neither surprised nor entirely dismayed. they understood the context and approved my research to proceed without the stern school's participation, a decision that only fueled my determination to validate my work and demonstrate that the study's participants were not, in fact, offended.
upon completion, my study yielded a significant finding: not a single complaint was registered regarding the survey.
while I couldn't definitively prove that increased exposure to homosexuality directly correlated with enhanced tolerance, my committee suggested that a longitudinal study, tracking students throughout their academic careers, might have demonstrated a stronger link between prolonged interaction with gay individuals and lifestyles, and increased societal acceptance.
this experience underscored a crucial lesson: the process of research, the development of analytical skills, often outweighs the definitive validation of a hypothesis. it's a sentiment hard to reconcile with the 1990s, a period whose challenges and triumphs are perhaps incomprehensible to younger generations today, just as the experiences of those who came before me remain a mystery to me.
reflecting on the global landscape, it remains disheartening that pockets of intolerance persist, a reality that evokes both sadness and anger.
returning to new york city in the 90s, the city offered a rich tapestry of gay social venues. depending on your location, vibrant gay bars and clubs were readily accessible. many of these establishments featured drag nights, events that, in my observation, fostered a particularly convivial atmosphere, often loosening up the patrons.
one notable venue near union square stood out with its impressive stage, often showcasing performances that included male dancers in artistic shower performances, likely a strong draw for cocktail sales. these establishments commonly featured private back rooms, spaces where gay men could freely express themselves.
however, the advent of the aids epidemic profoundly altered this landscape, necessitating strict public health measures against unsafe sex that had devastatingly impacted thousands.
i witnessed firsthand the significant impact the aids crisis had on the city's once-thriving bar and club scene, a vibrant environment that saw a dramatic decline.
with the introduction of treatments like AZT and protease inhibitors, the scene gradually began to revive, yet it never fully recaptured the uninhibited spirit of the 1960s and 70s. i won't delve into the moral aspects or assign blame here, as that's a topic for another discussion.
new yorkers, in my opinion, represent a uniquely adaptive and resilient segment of the global population.
this resilience, I believe, is largely attributable to the sheer density of the city's population. without a certain capacity for tolerance towards diverse cultures, navigating new york city would be an insurmountable challenge.
certain neighborhoods were perceived as less safe for the gay community, with instances of violent attacks, known as gay bashings, resulting in fatalities or severe injuries.
exercising caution was paramount, especially when traveling to and from nightclubs in the early morning hours, which could be a daunting prospect. I made it a practice to carry only the necessary funds and minimal jewelry, often just a modest watch. despite these precautions, I generally felt a sense of safety and a degree of invisibility.
the people of new york were largely preoccupied with their own lives, a stark contrast to my earlier experiences in the south, and a feeling I don't find in my current home in portugal. new york city has always been a magnet for individuals from across the globe, people seeking the freedom to be their authentic selves without fear of judgment or persecution.
this has remained true then and continues to be so now. it's a city unlike any other.
most of my fellow new yorkers share this sentiment. during that era, I engaged in volunteer work to support the LGBT community's pursuit of equality and rights, though I wouldn't categorize myself as an activist.
this was a conscious choice, as we all forge our own paths. my immersion in academic circles afforded me the privilege of knowing scholars, writers, public speakers, and journalists who were indeed activists, instrumental in advancing gay rights in the nation. I am profoundly grateful to have experienced that period and to have resided in new york city during such transformative times.
I also had the honor of spending time with larry kramer, whose work, though challenging to process, profoundly impacted my understanding of the world and gay culture. his journey began with script revisions at columbia pictures, leading him to london and a role with united artists.
he was married to william david webster.
kramer's play, the normal heart, significantly altered my perspective on the world and gay culture. it's been wonderful to reconnect with these memories. i cherish the times we danced together at 5 am in dimly lit, crowded discos, and our shared moments on crown walk in the pines, where our enduring friendship began.
i fondly recall watching you practice your craft, twirling fabric for hours. those times in the pines remain treasured memories. this site utilizes akismet to manage and reduce spam, and your comment data is processed accordingly.
the image showcases a now-demolished terminal of the grace line, formerly situated at pier 45, also known as christopher street pier, in an archival photograph.
this area was a hub for thousands of mariners from diverse nationalities, alongside over half a million transient, unmarried workers who passed through the port annually. by world war i, the location had already become a popular cruising ground for gay men. the construction of the elevated miller west side highway, since dismantled, further solidified its status by the 1940s.
the high concentration of men, numerous bars, warehouses, and the inherent isolation of the nighttime environment established this waterfront as a central locus for gay life, a scene that flourished well into the post-world war ii era. shifts in maritime operations and the rise of air travel rendered the piers and their associated shipping terminals obsolete, leading to their abandonment by the mid-1970s.
this facilitated the area's continued popularity as a clandestine meeting spot for gay men seeking sexual encounters after dark.
while utilized for commerce during daylight hours, these structures were vacant and accessible at night, becoming a favored locale for public intimacy until the early stages of the aids epidemic.
around the time of the stonewall uprising in june, christopher street emerged as a significant thoroughfare for the gay community, serving as the primary artery leading to the waterfront. the dilapidated structures, including pier 45 opposite west 10th street, along with piers 46, 48, and 51, were reclaimed by gay men in the early 1970s for activities such as sunbathing in the nude, cruising, and engaging in public sex.
gay bars began to replace former waterfront taverns on the western end of christopher street and adjacent blocks. six of the fourteen buildings within the nearby new york city weehawken street historic district housed gay bars from the early 1970s onwards, including the former location of the ramrod.
waterfront hotels that once catered to seamen were repurposed for new uses. from 1970 to 1980, the african american photographer alvin baltrop documented gay men engaging in these activities amidst the decaying architecture. artist david wojnarowicz frequently visited the piers starting in the late 1970s, creating art and taking photographs there over the ensuing years.
the aids epidemic and the subsequent planning for waterfront revitalization began to influence the area in the 1980s.
by the mid-1990s, when the christopher street pier terminal was demolished, it had become a sanctuary and a formative environment for numerous marginalized queer youth of color, who continue to constitute a significant portion of the city's homeless youth population today.
trans activists of color, marsha p. johnson and sylvia rivera, founders of street transvestite action revolutionaries (star) in 1970, established a presence in the area, offering essential provisions like food and clothing to the homeless queer youth who congregated there.
in 2007, the intersection of christopher and hudson streets, a few blocks from the pier, was officially designated as sylvia rivera way. the influential documentary paris is burning vividly illustrates the pier's and this district's significance for lgbtq+ and questioning youth.
in the early 1990s, initiatives were launched to redevelop the waterfront, including the christopher street pier, which was slated to become part of hudson river park, extending from battery park to chelsea.
the initial planning phases did not adequately address the presence and needs of the queer community, prompting a grassroots mobilization effort. a key objective was to facilitate community organizing to ensure that the renovation of the christopher street pier and the gentrification of the west village would incorporate the needs of queer youth.
the pier was closed in 1991 and subsequently reopened in 2000 as part of the revitalized greenwich village waterfront. new regulations were implemented, including a curfew.
since then, FIERCE has emerged as a potent advocate, supporting queer youth in their efforts to secure later operating hours and improved social services within the area.
although the waterfront and its piers now offer limited physical historical remnants of their lgbtq+ past, they endure as vital public spaces for the lgbtq+ community, particularly for queer youth and young adults of color.
this project benefits greatly from your contributions!