[GN] Bayard Rustin and Leonard Bernstein gay stamps
James Nimmo
Rustin, civil rights leader, as well as Leonard
Bernstein, conductor and composer of, among other
things, West Side Story.
Obviously, Jesse Helms and crew were caught
napping by the Postal Stamp Design Committee as
both of these prominent American men were gay.
I'm not acquainted with Rustin's life, but
Bernstein was officially bi-sexual, he was
married , happily mostly, according to the
biographies, and had three children. His wife
and close friends were aware of his gayness and
he kept it under wraps while his wife was alive,
though he had the occasional gay fling. His wife
left him for a time because of this, but they
were back together shortly before she died of
lung cancer in the 1970's, as he also did in
1991. Both smoked like chimneys.
After Felcia died his semi-self-imposed
restrictions were in the grave so he was much
more open and as they say, the rest is history.
Jim Nimmo
>
=====
"In essence, the conflict that exists today is no more than
an old-style struggle for power, once again presented to
mankind in semi-religious trappings."
- Einstein, on his dying day, April 18, 1955
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Chief Thracian
<violad...@yahoo.com> said:
<<
Obviously, Jesse Helms and crew were caught
napping by the Postal Stamp Design Committee as
both of these prominent American men were gay.
>>
No, I don't think so. The fact that they were gay/bisexual is not
known by the mainstream; and thus perceiving this as any sort of
"victory" is wishful thinking. Granted, we *ought to have some postage
stamps celebrating our lesbian/gay heros. Such stamps should clearly
convey their pro-gay stance...but those portraying Rustin and
Bernstein do not.
A few years ago when purchasing stamps at my local P.O., I said quite
loudly to the clerk: "Do you have any stamps of our gay heroes?"
Everyone in line heard me clearly. To her credit, she didn't bat an
eye, and said: "I'm sorry, we do not." So instead, I purchased stamps
depicting African-American leaders; the best I could do, short of what
I really wanted.
---
"Give us marriage or give us death:
Slay the beast of homophobia!"
-Zeke Krahlin, Chief Thracian
http://surf.to/gaybible
James Nimmo
largely unknown by the public. Maybe a Harvey
Milk stamp would be the right subject for the
next gay stamp?
--- Chief Thracian <chieft...@runbox.com>
wrote:
=====
"In essence, the conflict that exists today is no more than
an old-style struggle for power, once again presented to
mankind in semi-religious trappings."
- Einstein, on his dying day, April 18, 1955
__________________________________________________
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Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
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Chief Thracian
<violad...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Yes, you're right about the gay heores being
>largely unknown by the public. Maybe a Harvey
>Milk stamp would be the right subject for the
>next gay stamp?
Of course, that's obvious! We should also have a stamp with a pink
triangle, that says "Gay Pride in America". We should also sift out
gay artists and heroes of the past, and create stamps for each one,
indicating they were homosexual, by including a pink triangle on the
stamp. How about Alexander the Great, and Michelangelo, for starters?
Oh, yes, and honor our lesbian compatriots with equal valor. Sappho,
for one!
In fact, we should DEMAND that the US Post Office quit ignoring us
LGBT folks. Why, even Elvis Presley and Bugs Bunny have their own
stamps...as if we gays were even less worthy than these false idols!
Amerika, I spit on you...ptooey!
---
"Give us marriage or give us death:
Slay the beast of homophobia!"
-Zeke Krahlin, Chief Thracian
http://surf.to/gaybible
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PridePage.net
very interested in any organized effort to put pressure
on the USPS to put out a gay pride stamp, pink triangle
or rainbow stamp. Anybody know who the best official
to contact would be. I'll send the info out to my mailing
lists as well.
Thanks for your help.
David.
www.pridepage.net
Chief Thracian
>| On behalf of the Postmaster General, the Citizens' Stamp Advisory
>| Committee (CSAC) is tasked with evaluating the merits of all stamp
>| proposals.
("And we toss out any proposals for gay or lesbian heroes; but you
wouldn't know anything about that!")
---
"Give us marriage or give us death:
Slay the beast of homophobia!"
-Zeke Krahlin, Chief Thracian
http://surf.to/gaybible
**********