GAY IN WASHINGTON
GAY IN WASHINGTON
Peekaboo shot of gothic cross atop church, as seen through canopy of leaves; zoom out to host Sheila Banks speaking in front of St. Thomas parish, an Episcopalian church. Banks discusses the growth of organizations for gay members of various religious denominations and other interest organizations within the larger gay community.
GAY IN WASHINGTON
Lilli Vincenz, Gay Rights Activist, "When I joined the Mattachine Society in 1963, we were meeting in people s homes, a small group, less than 20, fewer than, using pseudonyms, who were all kind of daring pioneers. You couldn't advertise using the words gay or homosexual in the newspapers. We had a hard time getting office space. It was just a taboo. It was the love that dare not speak its name. And over the years after the first gay picket in 1965, and I was on that very first gay picket in front of the White House in 1965 there were only 10 of us. So it was just a small number of people that were involved, many years ago..."
GAY IN WASHINGTON
Early Gay Rights picket march, well-dressed Caucasian people carrying signs demanding full citizenship. Gay Rights Spokesman Frank Kameny speaking to reporter. Gay Rights protest march.
GAY IN WASHINGTON
The first Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day parade, groups of college students and other clubs carrying banners identifying themselves, people in hippie gear dancing during the march; gay pride march. Gay Rights protest march.
GAY IN WASHINGTON
Host Shelia Banks interviews Lilli Vincenz, Gay Rights Activist. Shelia Banks, "What are some of the problems that still exist?" Lilli Vincenz, "Fear is still a very big problem. There's so many gay people, maybe not so much in Washington any more, but all over the country, that don't dare speak out, that are frightened, whose lives are stunted because they can't talk, they can't talk to their families. Other minorities are luckier because at least they can talk to their families. Here people are very scared to mention their gayness. And of course some families react very negatively and that's also, in view of the conditioning that people get, is understandable. So one has to learn to cope with this. Families need to grow. Their consciousness has to be raised if they have a gay daughter or son. You know, it's one of those things. Everyone is benefitted but this because everyone's conciseness is raised when human rights are expanded to include everyone who legitimately has title to it. And I think gay people are entitled. We don't hurt anybody."
GAY IN WASHINGTON
Host Shelia Banks interviews Gay Rights Activist Lilli Vincenz. Shelia Banks, "Lilli, has being Gay ever presented a problem for you?" Lilli Vincenz, "Oh yes, yes. I would say that it has been inconvenient. In that it would have been easier if I didn't have to worry about what people would say. When I say inconvenience, I don't mean that I have quarreled with the lifestyle or being gay. It is simply inconvenient to be Gay in a Straight society. It's just inconvenient to be in a minority that is hated. Wouldn't you say that's inconvenient?"