The man behind the Quilt

If you know about The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, the man you can thank for it is Cleve Jones.  Along with Marcus Conant, Frank Jacobson and Richard Keller, Jones also created the Kaposi's Sarcoma Research and Education Foundation, which later became the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The tv program you enjoyed a few years ago, showing LGBTQ history (When We Rise), was based on a book by Jones "When We Rise: My Life in the Movement."

Close friends over the years with the late rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker, Cleve Jones might not be a name you recognize, and his face might not be familiar, but he has been an LGBTQ and HIV activist most of his life.  The stories he has are a powerful picture of how far we have come.  Cleve Jones knew Harvey Milk, and the seeds of activism were probably planted back then.  He has been a giant in the lgbtq community ever since.  In addition, Cleve has been a Community and Political Coordinator with a major hospitality workers’ labor union.

Cleve Jones is not someone I know well - I used to see him at events or walking around the neighborhood back when I lived in San Francisco, but I certainly respect and admire all he has done, and so am pleased to mention him here during Pride Month.

With over 48,000 3’ x 6’ panels, the story of The Quilt, is a fascinating one too. You can learn more about it, and even donate in support, at http://www.aidsquilt.org/  

Remembering Wilson

The name Wilson F. Fang might not be a familiar one to you, but it will always mean a lot to me. Reader's Digest magazine used to have a regular feature where folks wrote about the most unforgettable character in their lives.   I've said this before, and it continues to be true - that person for me is Wilson.  It's been almost ten years since he died, and I still think about him all the time.

I have fond memories of Wilson during LGBTQ+ Pride Months in the past and especially good memories on this date.  Today would have been his 53rd birthday.  

Wilson was active in San Francisco's Castro LGBTQ+ community, Gay Asian Pacific Alliance, and held the title of Mr. GAPA 2005.  He was the kind of person you immediately felt comfortable with.  I've been participating in AIDS Walk San Francisco from the beginning and Wilson would sponsor me every year.  I only knew him for about twenty years, but such wonderful years!  I remember sitting one night talking with him for hours at a now defunct restaurant.  

Wilson also loved to travel, and he generously shared pictures and stories of his adventures.  His warmth and kindness will always be remembered.

Happy birthday in heaven dear Wilson.  I miss you.  Thank you for the times we shared.  I'm sure you are showing your kindness now to the angels.

The Band

Before the parade passes by, I have to make mention of this fabulous annual event and especially say something about the band.  I LOVE the San Francisco Pride Parade.  There is so much color and so much diversity.  One thing I always love about parades in San Francisco is The San Francisco Pride Band, formerly the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, founded by Jon Sims back in 1978, they became the first openly gay musical organization in the world.

Michael J. Wong is the Artistic Director for both the Marching and Pep Bands. Watch him sometime. You can see right away that he is having fun.  He has been leading the band in the Pride Parade for fifteen years now.

By the way, back in 2018, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to officially designate them as "the official band of the City and County of San Francisco." That's pretty impressive.

There's nothing like the sound of a marching band, as far as I'm concerned, and these performers are extra special. Come out to the parade tomorrow or watch the television coverage. I know the moment I see Michael and hear the band, I'll have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. The Parade starts at Market and Beale Streets at 10:30am and ends at Market & 8th Street near the Pride Festival in Civic Center Plaza.

For more on the San Francisco Pride Band, go to https://sfprideband.org/

Tour of Ken Jones

Black, a veteran (US Navy), openly gay, community activist, and a survivor of HIV - even in San Francisco, it must have been pretty tough going, but Ken Jones kept smiling and kept making a difference.  Even before there was a gay rights movement, Ken Jones was there.  Ken worked on the committee for the new gay pride parade in San Francisco.  He was there when that brand new rainbow flag was first unfurled by Gilbert Baker.  He was a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS and for LGBTQ+ rights and equality.  I had the great joy of knowing Ken and can honestly say his excitement and enthusiasm was contagious.

Besides his activism, Ken Jones was a wedding officiant and united couples not only in San Francisco, but all over the world.  He also conducted tours and brought San Francisco's LGBTQ+ history alive in his walks through the Castro District.  There were so many delightful historical tidbits you heard directly from someone who had actually been there and been involved.

In September 2020, Jones was diagnosed with bladder cancer, from which he died early the next year.  He was 70 years old when he died.  Many years earlier he had been prepared to die when he was first diagnosed with HIV.  Thankfully he lived many more years and truly made a difference.

There are times when I wish I could spend more time here on the posts I write.  There is so much more I could say about Ken Jones.  I'm glad I got to know him.

Inspiration From Kenneth

When I first wrote here about Kenneth Felts, I said "he is proof that it is never too late." At the age of 90 he had just come out as gay!

After serving in the US Navy during the Korean War, and through his college and working years (at Colorado State Rehabilitation), Ken lived as any heterosexual man. Nobody knew his secret. All that changed though in 2020. He told his daughter, who is also gay, and then he told the world.

Since then, Ken met a man and fell in love. They have married and are very happy together. July 8th will be their third wedding anniversary.

Ken has also written a book, My Handful of Stars: Coming Out at Age 90, which tells the story of his life and of his coming out. He seems to be pretty active too. I'm told he baked a delicious homemade sweet potato pie last week.

Coming out certainly agrees with him. Look at the smile on his face. Ken says he hopes his story will give others the courage to embrace their sexual orientation as well. I'm personally grateful to have him in my life. What an inspiration!

 

Never give up

I've written here a lot about Harvey Bernard Milk.  Probably more than any other person. People need to know who this man was and what he did. His early years were on Long Island, and even after a stint in the Navy, Harvey returned to Long Island to teach. We remember him more though for the short time he spent in San Francisco, and for the encouraging words he spoke, and for his tragic death.  

His famous "Hope speech" is so often quoted, but there was much more encouragement than that. In a taped message that wasn't heard until after his assassination, he urged gay people to come out. "I cannot prevent anyone from getting angry, or mad, or frustrated. I can only hope that they'll turn that anger and frustration and madness into something positive, so that two, three, four, five hundred will step forward, so the gay doctors will come out, the gay lawyers, the gay judges, gay bankers, gay architects ... I hope that every professional gay will say 'enough', come forward and tell everybody, wear a sign, let the world know. Maybe that will help."  That is part of what LGBTQ+ Pride Month is about.

Harvey's political career was short, and he didn't accomplish many of the things he might have, but he became a symbol - an icon. He gave us hope, and he continues to, 46 years after his death.

Once, in an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle, Harvey said "If I turned around every time somebody called me a faggot, I'd be walking backward - and I don't want to walk backward."

Harvey Milk led us forward. I recall those days in San Francisco, and the energy and the enthusiasm still exists. There may be difficult moments, and our country may regret some political decisions, but we must continue to move forward and never give up. Recalling a portion of Harvey's most famous speech, "The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give them hope. Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right. Without hope, not only gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the us'es, the us'es will give up." 

This month, take a moment and remember Harvey, and never give up!

It's Mikey Bustos Day

One of my favorite members of our LGBTQ+ community is Canadian Mikey Bustos. (His full name is actually Michael John Yadan Tumanguil Pestano Tilapia Bustos III, but I'll just call him Mikey).

For many years I have enjoyed the humor that Mikey shares in his videos and also his great musical abilities. You will find he is a nature lover too and that includes ants. Mikey operates the YouTube channel AntsCanada, which specializes in ant-keeping.

It was back in 2019 that Mikey came out as bisexual and also told us that he is romantically involved with his manager RJ Garcia. The two of them share a lot of their lives via social media, including a wonderful house and farm they built in the Philippines. Listen to him sing the song 'Parachute' to get a better sense of their relationship.

I have written about Mikey for the past several years during Pride month, not only because he is openly bisexual, but also because today is his birthday. Happy birthday Mikey and thanks for continuing to share so much joy!