Great memories @body2body. It is indeed a small world. I was one of the original charter members of Saga Ski Club. The stories I could tell, some inspirational, and some sad, of the backlash we received by traveling as a proud group of gay men. It was a different time, and I look back now at the courage it took to confront the hatred and the homophobia. I was young and idealistic, and the club provided a safe haven to stand unafraid in the face of it all. We were denied reservations, asked to leave restaurants, refused service, but there were the victories.
Once leaving Lake Tahoe, we were the last flight out for two days. One of the boarding passengers began yelling homophobic obscenities at us from the mezzanine level. Suddenly we were the center of attention. Everyone was looking at us. We called security, demanded to speak to a representative from the airline, and insisted on speaking with the director in charge of airport operations. Our demand was simple, the gentlemen in question was not to be allowed to board. It was the last flight out for a couple of days, so there was a bit of a stand off. He apparently had meetings he had to be at, on Monday in LA. One of the lawyers in our group kindly reminded them that this could all be litigated in a court of law, should they decided to take that route. It was either him, or they would lose 40 paying passengers. Twenty minutes later they agreed to our demand, and we all took off, minus one very pissed off passenger. The pilot and crew all applauded us once the door was closed. It might have been was just a ski club, but we were also ambassadors representing a community.
Yes Gay Pride is more celebration now than a protest, but when all is said and done, it really is the same thing. Despite the inequities that remain, there is much to celebrate. For me, it's a chance to remember how far we've come, and to stand, and be counted.
"Friends of Dorothy"