Last week's Historic Preservation Commission meeting made me recall the many contributions of the LGBT community to Plainfield in terms of saving its housing stock. In the early 1980s, members of a local gay group set up a gazebo on Christopher Street during Gay Pride weekend and invited people to Plainfield for a house tour. Many historic homes were purchased and restored as a result of the interest engendered through these tours.
Plainfield's most valuable ratable category is still its housing stock, and one of the items on the agenda Tuesday was the discussion of signs designating the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood with the idea of attracting New York buyers to Plainfield. The signage issue proved to be more complicated than anticipated, but thinking back to earlier days made me recall the debt of gratitude owed to those who spared no effort or expense to preserve the mansions of yesteryear.
It also recalled to me, quite sadly, another wave of activism that grew out of the AIDS crisis. Patients in the 1980s were treated cruelly and it took a volunteer effort of Unitarians and others to get proper care for them. Dozens of Plainfielders died in the days before medical advances allowed people to live with HIV and AIDS.
A lot of talent and community pride died with those individuals, but there is still a substantial LGBT population that is now engaged on many levels in the life of the Queen City. In public service and everyday life as parents and neighbors, the contributions are invaluable. "Happy Pride" to all, for the past, the present - and the future, now that marriage equality is the law of the land.
--Bernice
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Hi, Bernice,
ReplyDeleteThe Supreme Court's acknowledgment of the civil rights of LGBT Americans of all ethnicities and colors was a hopeful and happy outcome in the midst of this truly traumatizing couple of weeks. I was actually one of those who first heard about Plainfield by stopping by their booth (in the shape of a Victorian house) at NYC Gay Pride in 1997. The rest, as they say, is history--I moved here in 1998. The city has always been welcoming, and as an out lesbian of color, I am happy to continue to promote "the gay agenda" (as the homophobes would characterize it) here in Plainfield. What is the gay agenda, you ask? Love, peace, neighborliness, and happiness!
Best,
Rebecca
Hi Bernice, Those early LGBT pioneers were amazing and yet some might be sad to see what is fast becoming an issue of neglect of many homes across the City. I have such deep regard for all the people (both past and present) that have made preserving Plainfield a priority and their passion. Tough economic times have been taking its toll. We must make beautification and preservation a priority once again to ensure we honor those that have gone before us and those that will follow. I applaud any and every beautification effort especially during these challenging times when the risk of loosing many years of positive strides can easily slip away due to neglect, abandonment and a lack of appreciation for the incredible treasures many of us are fortunate to call home.
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