Before Stonewall, Cherry Grove: How a Fire Island beach town beme a gay 'safe haven'

Contents:

• MATT ROGERS: ‘A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE AN ANTIQUATED, WHEWASHED IMAGE OF WHAT A GAY PERSON IS’
• BEFORE STONEWALL, CHERRY GROVE: HOW A BEACH TOWN BEME A GAY 'SAFE HAVEN'
• MATHEWS AND BULGER: AT GAY CONEY ISLAND
• THIS IS PRI PORTRA: JUDGE MATTHEW J. TONE, STATEN ISLAND’S FIRST OPENLY GAY ELECTED OFFICIAL, BROKE BARRIERS THE FACE OF DISCRIMATN

MATT ROGERS: ‘A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE AN ANTIQUATED, WHEWASHED IMAGE OF WHAT A GAY PERSON IS’

I’m a 46 year old gay man livg on an island somewhere between Boston and the North Pole. I love them and thank you for postg such great old photos, ads and of urse all the gays!

If anyone is doubtg that gay culture exists- they need to see this blog. Try to fd a place that is n by and for gays as opposed to say your lol hoe of worship. When you feel more secure and acceptg about beg gay you will be a lot more able to whstand the hate and efforts to csh your soul that sounds like your fay and associat might have for you when you e out.

Beg more secure about your sexualy will also give you the strength to move on wh your life – move to another cy or untry and start aga as an out gay man. There are, lerally, half a billn gays the world – you are not alone. You n start to beef up on your self-nfince by explorg gay culture onle and eventually g to realize that ’s nothg to be ashamed of the slightt.

BEFORE STONEWALL, CHERRY GROVE: HOW A BEACH TOWN BEME A GAY 'SAFE HAVEN'

Allow yourself to start to transform the negative to a posive – stead of seeg beg gay as a negative/weakns realize that n be a strength – jt as others lean on relign for strength. Ci are generally more liberal than ral areas and that’s why so many gay men flee the untry and move to the cy.

I’ve seen many turn to alhol or heavy dgs to pe the self-hate (ternalized bee all those around them hate gays) and that jt mak matter a lot worse. I urge you to explore gay life on the ter and figure out what steps to take to eventually get to the pot you are away om all those who would ny the abily to be yourself.

Crawford was a famo 1970’s gay photographer who chronicled the men of San Francis the 1970. Bee I didn’t fd anythg new for today (yterday your time), I went browsg, and I found a betiful photo of a gay uple om 23 May 2013 hidg below imag of divers.

MATHEWS AND BULGER: AT GAY CONEY ISLAND

THEN I found my pi of your gay upl, and pasted below your recent photo of two blon guys – they are amazgly siar – what serendipy! Matthew, I have several old photos you would like (gay skater, Hollywood boy-toy, men together.

THIS IS PRI PORTRA: JUDGE MATTHEW J. TONE, STATEN ISLAND’S FIRST OPENLY GAY ELECTED OFFICIAL, BROKE BARRIERS THE FACE OF DISCRIMATN

Have told my gay wdsurfer nephew (sometg the fay gen) livg on the North Shore to pass by your se. He was an spired mician who at 44, like all the other gay men, had their liv cut short by this vis. I gus we have at least three thgs mon – we’re both named Matthew, we’re both gay, and we’re both at least origally om Boston (though I was not born there and lived there only for much most of my first 17 years).

I prent myself my name is Marcel am also gay and have been a relatnship for 35 years I am 64 years old kiss to you.