JWG's Necessity June 10, 2012

Zwerglipatch  June 10, 2012  7:00 a.m. EDT

My heart is full of emotion. I am so full of love and admiration I don’t know where to begin. I have witnessed the verve for living Happy Lives. I have met new acquaintances. I have been downstairs uploading many memories.

Today is the anniversary of Judy Garland’s birth ninety years ago. I would like to dwell on the happiness and fortitude that woman has brought to me and many of my Friends through these years. Much has been written in the attempt to explain her phenomenon as an emotional powerhouse. I am sure that much more will be said in the future. Ten years from now, perhaps, there will be even more notice of Judy Garland. Today, I am sure, most of us under twenty-five think of her, rather, do not think of her. They do not know her talent. They will.

At the Long Island Pride March in Huntington yesterday, it seemed to me a day for Youth. True, there were many, many, I am tempted to say: from my era. Era? Yes. That is appropriate even though I, myself, think of myself as part of the Youth.

I first marched in a Pride Parade in Manhattan in 1976. I was twenty-two. It was the seventh march that was held to mark the Stonewall Uprising in Greenwich Village. The rest, as they say, is history — turbulent, loving history.

The first march on Long Island was held in the 1980’s. I recall that “Newsday” reported that some people who marched were afraid of recognition and wore paper bags over their heads. Yes, paper bags. Sad. Even sadder was the fact that they were scorned and things were thrown at them. This was confirmed by a witness, a store owner, that René and I met yesterday. She said it was “despicable”. And, she said that a great deal of the vehemence in those early years came from the supposed “Born-again Christians”. These “Christians” for me, as I have said, have no right to call themselves “Christian” for they totally ignore what the man, Jesus Christ, taught. They, the “born-agains”, are a closed cult of ignorance which causes much misunderstanding and too much hate. Gladly, I can report that in yesterday’s march, not one person hid their face, nor were there any hecklers along the route. The policemen did not require horses to maintain a sense of peace as they did at that first Long Island march. It struck both René and me that many who were marching yesterday weren’t even born when those first brave people took to the street. I applaud all who marched and stood on the sidelines in support of us — people who simply wish to live in the open, freely, with no fear of being bashed. Acceptance makes for Pride. Forty-three years ago, our lives were in peril. True, they still are, however, Hope is huge. The laws are changing. Also true, here in New York State, we who are fortunate to live here are luckier than most in this Nation. However, again, today in “Newsday”, I read many, many downright ignorant statements of hate. And, even “Newsday”, itself, had to censor what people placed on their webpage. Considering what was left up to read I can only imagine, no, I know, the disgusting hate that had to be cut. And, I will add, that not one of the hateful comments had the decency, nor courage, to sign their name to their words. Need I say more? I think not.

As a witness to happiness, it makes me happy. As a person who recognizes happiness in myself, have I not said that it was always there, yet, I had to realize that I would, it seemed, always be surrounded by the ignorance, the hate, the foul side of human presence. History. History does not change — or, does it?

Today, I can honestly say that some history does change. As a perfectionist, reality disappoints. I do what I can by being honest with my emotions. Emotional Truth is a phrase that is as powerful as Aloha.

The personification of Emotional Truth in today’s World is Judy Garland. Brash? Yes. I say this because with all her imperfections, Judy was a survivor in many ways. She showed the way to courage when we listened to her sing. Here eyes echoed our personal emotions.

Aloha, Judy Garland!