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WILKES-BARRE — Among young and old, a common theme emerged during Saturday morning’s “Rally for Queer Liberation” on Public Square.
American society is much more tolerant than it used to be, many said, but anxiety over the security of hard-won rights for LGBTQ people was a concern cited by many.
At the same time, others also expressed optimism in the attitudes of young people on the issue, as well as increasing support here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
“I think it’s more accepting than it was, but I think we have a lot farther to go,” said Sue Meyer, a Clarks Summit resident who was among the speakers at the rally, which drew about 70 people to the square.
LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, with the Q standing either for questioning or queer.
Organized by Queer NEPA in conjunction with several other groups, Saturday’s event marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots on June 28, 1969, in which patrons of a Greenwich Village gay bar fought back during a raid by New York police. It has been heralded as a watershed moment in the fight for gay rights in the U.S. and worldwide.
For Meyer, a Bronx native who was a teen in the late ’60s, the differences between then and now could not be more pronounced.
“The years before I was in my 30s I couldn’t even talk about being gay,” she said. “The amount that it’s changed in my lifetime has been extraordinary.”
Meyer also sounded a note of caution, however.
“I’m worried about the future because I’ve seen in my lifetime is that just because you’ve won a right doesn’t mean that you get to keep it,” she said.
“As soon as the climate goes conservative, rights that you obtained when things were liberal suddenly start to be questioned. It’s happening right now with abortion, and I think we’re next.”
Separated from Meyer by more than 40 years, Scranton resident Jazeiah Smith sat in the audience with her young son, Xavier Williams, quietly waving pride flags and cheering during the morning’s speeches.
Smith made it clear she doesn’t take tolerance or rights for granted.
“I’m bisexual,” said Smith, 23. “I came down today to support everybody else who might get judged in the community, just like I have.”
“Everybody deserves to have a say and be who they are,” she added.
Among the groups represented were the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Why Courts Matter – Pennsylvania, NEPA NOW and the Pennsylvania Youth Congress.
Some speakers urged the crowd to continue voicing opposition to conservative judicial nominees with a history of undermining LGBTQ rights, while others called for solidarity within the LGBTQ community, particularly embracing members of color.
Mary Rapach, 41, serves as treasurer for Queer NEPA, which describes itself as a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people and their allies working to create “an affirming and inclusive environment” in the region.
“I am worried about the future, but based on the young people we’ve encountered, less so,” Rapach said.
“I think they have picked up the mantle and are helping all of us to move into the future,” added Rapach, a Wyoming Valley native who moved away but came back to the region and now lives in Olyphant. “They’re not leaving like my generation. They’re staying (in the region) and making a difference. Twenty years ago we all left.”
Saturday’s event was in many respects reflective of that.
“I was just talking to a member of the community who I went to high school with. We never in a million years would have imagined the pride flag flying on Public Square, let alone this event,” Rapach added.
Shane Chandler, 28, grew up in the Exeter area and recalled coming out as gay at 13.
“How is it different now? Caring less about what people think has definitely been better for me personally,” Chandler said.
“It’s nice to see something like this in the area, and participate in the rally,” Chandler added, noting that boyfriend Ario D’Amato is on the Queer NEPA board. “I’m happy that I’m here 15 years later being me and doing what I do.”
Shickshinny native Anne Krothe-Wolfe, 27, is a board member and also director of development at the Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Youth Congress, who spoke positively of growing up in Luzerne County, but also of the activism that grew out of self-awareness and seeing others struggle with gender and identity issues.
“My family are very accepting of who I am,” said Krothe-Wolfe, who identifies as non-binary, a term for people whose gender identity does not conform to male or female, and often prefer the pronoun “they” as opposed to “him” or “her.”
“I was very ingrained in my rural community, and a lot of people I’ve found actually don’t really have a problem when I come out to them,” they said. “I always was kind of weird for being in a rural area. They just didn’t have any word to call me. I was just Annie.”
Even Krothe-Wolfe did not know the word until after graduating from Susquehanna University.
“I didn’t come out until after college. I didn’t know about it until after college,” they said. “This is not a recent phenomena — it’s been around throughout the entire human existence — but now we have words for it.”
“I think it’s so beautiful that there are so many youth who can pinpoint it, and they don’t have to have the questions that were rolling around in my head,” Krothe-Wolfe added.
Meyer, reflecting on what the future will hold for LGBTQ people, had a message for all, especially the young.
“We need to be ever vigilant, but I do believe that we’re strong enough to prevent the erosion of our rights,” she said, “but not if we just sit on our duffs and do nothing.”
