RIP Annie Kaylor

[leigh.bess.toad]

Most of you won't know her. Most from DC won't recognize her name, at least her full name. But she created an institution in DC that has been a part of the gay community for almost 65 years. Ms. Kaylor was the namesake of Annie's Paramount Steakhouse, the site of the DC luncheon every year for the last 3 years. She passed away yesterday evening at the age of 85. Annie's has been a fixture in the gayborhood long before there was a gayborhood. Always welcoming to the LGBT community, long before there LGBT owned restaurants and business in the area. An obituary of sorts is in MetroWeekly today.

 

http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=8498

 

RIP Ms. Kaylor. And thank you for such a welcoming place to all.

[nate_sf]

Thanks for sharing this news and the article. I liked the bit how in the interview she said the customers "who came in for me were all crazy. My brother would say, 'You can tell when Annie's working -- look at this place!''' Gotta love it!

 

Also, that they were serving gays in the 50s and 60s is a big deal. I understand that during that same time period, if I guy who looked gay went to the bar at the St Francis Hotel in San Francisco, the bartender would pass him a small card that said on it that he was not welcome to be there. I believe this was common in many places. So even if Annie and her sister and staff did not have a name for us guys, the fact that they knew the score and provided a place where we'd be welcome is a big deal.

 

I notice they are having a memorial next month at the restaurant....

[Guest countryboywny]

I have many good memories of conversations with Annie. She was a no nonsense lady who was always caring and direct, with a killer sense of humor. I will miss her. God Rest her.