Larry Kramer’s Pulpit
Gays are a population, not a community, says Larry Kramer, legendary gay activist. This idea may help explain why it’s difficult to get the gay population to mobilize.
Mr. Kramer visited Lambda Rising in Washington D.C., Thursday, April 21, 2005, to read from “The Tragedy of Today’s Gays.” The book is a printed account of a speech he gave in New York City five days after Election Day, 2004 where he declared gay rights “officially dead.”
It was fascinating to watch as Mr. Kramer was interrupted by Dr. Frank Kameny, who bitterly argued when Mr. Kramer suggested that activism in D.C. is ineffective. After a short exchange, these two historical gay figures hugged, but still held widely different viewpoints about the state of gay rights today.
Both men, however, argued fiercely about how important it is for gays and lesbians to come out. Mr. Kramer said he does not see the visibility, while Dr. Kameny said the sight of throngs of gays and lesbians lining up for marriage licenses would not have happened ten years ago.
I love this article I found about Dr. Kameny.
The whole evening reminded me just how important our gay history is. It’s amazing how much we take for granted today as a gay American or HIV survivor. Many of the things we take for granted are directly rooted in the actions of these two men. Reminding ourselves where our society has been, what we have won, and who we have lost is an important step in organizing where we need to go in the future.
Where have you gone, Harvey Milk?
