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The
Long Island GLBT Community Responds...
by Louis
Trapani
All over
the country and the world, people are responding and coping
with the horrible tragic events which were cowardly propelled
upon us on September 11, 2001. The Long Island gay, lesbian,
bisexual, transgender community was no exception in its reaction.
All too familiar feeling like a target of terrorism (what
GLBT person hasn't at times throughout their lives felt it),
we came together at various points and through various means
to express the outrage, sympathy, horror, and unity.
September
11th, the day in which we all saw the Twin Towers of the World
Trade Center that for years have graced the skies over New
York crumble in dust in an assault like no other we have ever
seen on this planet. Hijackers used two of our own commercial
jet airlines as guided missiles with our own people on board.
The Pentagon suffered a similar attack and another hijacked
airliner came down from the skies as a result that we can
only speculate that the crew and passengers took down the
jet to prevent the hijackers from achieving their destructive
goal.
As we
try to come to terms with the reality of a situation that
seems so unreal because it is so unbelievable in its very
nature... we do it as we often do, by coming together in a
show of support.
The attack
came on Tuesday, on Wednesday most of us were still trying
to comprehend it all, by Thursday you can see the visible
patriotic support, as well as grief, and horror of the past
week within our community. It continued on Friday and throughout
the weekend.
That Thursday,
five people from Community House of Long Island headed out
at 10:30 PM with candles and an American flag in hand, and
made their presence known on the intersection of Long Island
Avenue and Deer Park Avenue (Route 231) in remembrance of
those lost in the tragic events of the week. The five people
multiplied as neighbors in the area joined in. What was once
five grew into more than twenty. Traffic traveling through
the intersection responded in kind by honking in support.
 The
following day, that Friday at 7 PM, LIGALY
(Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth) joins the nation in an
impromptu candlelight vigil outside of the LIGALY center on
Main Street in Bay Shore. Across Main Street there were other
groups coming together at the designated time, though the
LIGALY crowd became the most visible as it grew in numbers.
As with the night before in Deer Park, passerby traffic showed
their support by honking and waving.
Before
heading back into the center, the crowd in front of LIGALY
joined together in unison and sang the National Anthem.
Later
inside, LIGALY as a part of their group program had a dialog
exchange on the events of the week lead by Minority Outreach
Worker and Club LIGALY Coordinator, Yvonne Wildner. Ideas
and concerns of September 11th's tragedies were brought to
the surface as well as what may lay in our future.
Meanwhile
at 8 PM at Pride
For Youth in Bellmore during their weekly Coffeehouse
program on Friday nights, there was an open mic and poetry
slam for those wishing to express their feelings concerning
the tragedy through poetry and rhyme. Afterwards there was
discussion group for youth to talk about their feelings and
to gain resources on how they can help those in need, as well
as gain self-support.
After
the discussion group, Pride For Youth joined the nation as
well in a candlelight vigil outside on their grounds and in
the Bellmore community.
As an
ongoing effort, Pride For Youth has established a table in
the Coffeehouse which is set up with art supplies for those
who wish create cards to send to families who have lost friends
and loved ones, and the workers and heroes who have given
of themselves to help rescue and care for those who were trapped.
The response
and reaction were not only limited to community centers on
Long Island within our community. One could also see it at
our bars and clubs here on Long Island.
In Farmingdale,
the renowned bar Blanche
on that same Friday also took part in a neighborhood candlelight
vigil outside of the bar. Peter made sure all the candles
were lit in an expression of unity and support. Inside, American
flags proudly displayed. On Sunday, with piano, Artie sang
the Star Spangled Banner which led everyone into a medley
of patriotic songs. It was somewhat spontaneous which only
added to the impressiveness.
The
Bunkhouse decorated with U.S. flags inside, on the night
of the attacks originally was not going to play any music...
Though after some discussion it was decided to play low volume,
mellow music in keeping with the somber mood of the community.
At the
venerable Forevergreen
in Lindenhurst, they too joined in with the rest of the nation
in a candlelight vigil at 7 PM that Friday in their community.
In addition, all proceeds from the door that Friday and Saturday
Forevergreen in an act of generosity and genuine concern will
be donated to the September 11th fund for those in New York
City. Close to $900 will be going to this relief fund. Many
of the patrons of Forevergreen knew people who were either
in the Twin Towers or were firefighters, police officers,
or emergency workers at the scene of the tragedy.
Camille
Gnolfo, owner of Forevergreen commented, "I am still
in disbelief of this horror... I can't imagine the fear that
the victims had."
Camille
is not alone in her sentiments. Other members of community
had similar reactions and comments. "In experiencing
what has happened today in America, I am left with a vapid
empty feeling...," said Archbishop
Bruce Simpson of the Old Catholic Church and Director
of Governmental Affairs of World Bishop's Council on the day
of the attacks. Simpson has been very active in the Long Island
GLBT community which he now calls home.
Jed Ryan,
one of our most prolific writers here on Community
Connection as well appearing in LIPP who also works
at NYU Medical Center in Manhattan stated, "Like everyone else, the events of the last few
days have saddened and shocked me." Continuing to state,
"The idea of a terrorist attack (of this nature) just
seemed so inconceivable." "I have already heard
stories about Middle Eastern-Americans who work at the hospital
being harassed, and it's very disturbing. I have the utmost
faith that anyone who is a member of this (discussion) group
is beyond that sort of reactionary prejudice, but we must
remember to try and SPREAD the message of rejecting
hatred," he expressed on the LI
Pride Discussion eGroup during this past week.
 Jed
makes a very valid point about resisting lashing out on those
that happen to be of Arab or of middle eastern origin. We
can't judge a people by the acts of these individuals. It
would be akin to judging Americans by 'White Supremacists.'
As of today, there have been already two deaths reported as
a result of backlash towards innocent people here in the US
of Middle-Eastern origins. This is sad and outrageous. Those
that take part in this type of action are no different than
those individuals that caused these horrible tragedies in
New York and Washington and PA... They are no different than
those that attack and kill the Matthew Shepards and the James
Byrds of our world.
We will
prevail, here on Long Island and elsewhere. We have all been
affected in some manner. Though some have been affected more
so than others. At least one prominent member of our community
had lost two friends along with their adopted son in one of
the airliner jets hijacked last week. Tragic indeed.
As Congress
has put aside their differences this past week and pass unified
resolutions, perhaps we too as a community here on Long Island
can do the same and put the pettiness and B.S. aside and refocus
on what it means to be a community and how to best serve it.
Though
our community is spread out throughout the geography of Long
Island, sprinkled across it, our community was unified once
again in participating in candlelight vigils. Where each small
candle holds a glimmer of hope for the future.
Photos
by Louis Trapani / ATP
© 2001
 Our
hearts go out to all affected
by the terrible tragedies
of September 11th 2001.
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