#being fired for being gay

[remembertheplunge]

Sweetwater's

March 4, 1988.  Friday

My God, whadda day. I never did make it to Sacramento. Instead, a drink turned LONG.

I hankered for a man. Not really the prettiest man, but, a man. Sam.  Who thumped me along side the head with a bible and then said—maybe—and “can we just be friends?” I said “yea”. Frankly, oddly, I’d prefer it—I’ll keep the LUST in my heart. I came out to Sam  at Sweetwaters. DAs were every where.It was a good bye party for one of them. RISK—SMILE.

Sam  said “gay is bad”. I said “Don’t try to save me.”

He attacked from many angles.

I emerge content and happy.

If the DAs or Sam  know or tell, (that I’m gay) what care I? Great night and life.

End of entry

Margin note to above:

June 15, 1990

The man at the Town House Bar asked  me “Are you happy with Life?” “Yes” I said, really feeling “yes”.

He said “I am, too.” really feeling “too." 

End of margin note

Notes 9/13/2024:

From what I recall about Sam (not his real name), he was very religious. Apparently he was taught in his church that gay was evil. And so, if I am remembering correctly, Sam told me that my being gay was wrong and evil on more than one occasion. This was despite the fact that I believe he, himself was gay. I haven’t heard from or of Sam  for decades now.

The Town House Bar was a gay bar in Sacramento, California. What the man at the Town House was asking me was “Are you happy being an out gay man?”

The DAs were Deputy District Attorneys. I was a Deputy Public Defender in 1988, so I would have known and worked closely with most or all of the DA’s in attendance.

RJ Sweetwaters  restaurant opened in the mid 1980’s in Modesto, California on 9th street. It closed in 2002 and the building  later burned down. It’s just a gravel lot now. 

I drive by that lot often on my way in and out of town and still see my  1986 good bye party taking place there. I was leaving the Public Defender’s office after working there two years.  Judges, DAs and Public Defenders came to the party. The office gave me a brief case as a good bye present which I still have.

I returned to the Public Defender's office in 1987, only to be fired in 1997 largely because on my return I had come out as gay and let people know  that I was working with and giving support to men living and dying wit AIDS. In 1997, there was no good bye party. No brief case good bye gift. . Just a boot out of the door. And, an unending story to tell. 

[xxivletxx]

we are so back

[sleep-deprived-luka]

Shadowpuppets

[houseswife]

bro can you imagine being tritter. you’re a power hungry cop who just wants to get revenge on the asshole doctor who humiliated you, so you approach his prescribing physician saying “here’s cold hard proof that he committed several crimes and endangered your career”. and instead of testifying against him in light of this information he’s like nooo he didn’t do anything wrong!! it was my fault actually that he committed felonies without my knowledge!! don’t take him away!! send me to prison instead!!! like. what do you even do with that

[dotted-clouds]

Eik is so cute!!!!

[sapphicyanli]

truly rare netflix w for casting the gayest person in the natla cast as zuko. literally couldnt get any better than this

[woodlaflababab]

I think my favorite zukaang moments are the ones that are so zukaang they confuse zukaangers

[james-p-sullivan]

okay so in french baguette means wand/rod and it’s not solely used for bread like in english

but even so seeing red call it his ice baguette makes me cry laugh

[thedaselcor]

“Not that one,” Arthur said, indicating the red, regally emblazoned cloak he usually wore. “We’ll be crossing the border today, it’s probably best I don’t just shout my identity the whole time. I packed a brown one, it should be with the blankets.”

Merlin nodded and made the adjustments, folding away the red cloak and helping Arthur into the brown one instead. It was in moments like these that Merlin realized how deeply Arthur thought out what seemed to be even the simplest of actions. Crossing the border for shopping as a prince was different than just crossing it. Arthur had to consider the message and weight of everything he did in a way Merlin wasn’t sure he could imagine. 

He must have mused a few moments too long, because Arthur caught his gaze with some worry, as if wondering just where Merlin had gone. Merlin smiled softly and shook his head as if to physically break the reverie. Before he could walk away and finish decamping, however, Arthur pulled him in by the shirt and gave him a soft, sweet kiss.

[helios-two]

cindy + studcoms compilation

[voidyellingtime]

happy new years to me I just read the scene where neil and andrew kiss everything in the world is good and there is hope and prosperity for the new year

[amebelladonna]

This feels like Leicester, Faerghus, Church, and Adrestia GL, in that respective order. Explanations on the tags, if you want.

[aluciddream]

Oh heeeeeell naw they be letting anyone be a serial killer nowadays

[zefirart]

Is it gay to gently caress your friend's cheek while you worry about his health (Yes)

[calmlyerratic]

Sirius really says he's been living off rats after Peter escaped in PoA

Harry pulled open his bag and handed over the bundle of chicken legs and bread.

"Thanks," said Sirius, opening it, grabbing a drumstick, sitting down on the cave floor, and tearing off a large chunk with his teeth. "I've been living off rats mostly. Can't steal too much food from Hogsmeade; I'd draw attention to myself."

He grinned up at Harry, but Harry returned the grin only reluctantly.

— GoF, Ch 27

[caernua]

oh goodie here we go