REVOLUTIONARY! By Mark Segal Philadelphia Gay News America’s newest museum – the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia – does something quite revolutionary: It recognizes the LGBT community as having played a part of that revolution. And it does so with several exhibits. This may seem strange to point out, as LGBT people have been a part of every facet of life and war throughout history – and at times the major historical players, from Alexander the Great to World War II codebreaker Alan Turing. But up until now, you might’ve thought that LGBT
Leon’s walls can’t talk, but old patrons can!
people were invisible at the founding of the U.S., and had no role in our country winning its independence. Thanks to this museum, that notion ends here and now. In addition to lauding the community’s historical efforts, another of the museum’s themes is that the revolution continues; we still have work to do. As Dr. Philip Mead, director of curatorial affairs and chief historian, states: “We’re so pleased to have a story of the American Revolution here that we hope includes all Americans and messages for people around the world.” Here’s how LGBT media played a part in getting that story to the museum. It’s a rare experience when you actually get to see something that you’re
July 7, 2017 | Volume XV, Issue 5
U.S.’s Newest Museum Highlights Gay Contribution to Independence
passionate about take root. It’s even more special when academics in the field run with that material, embrace it and make it a major point of their own project. What the museum has done is a great
leap in LGBT history. Those involved are well aware of that and embrace it, maybe more than me. And I just love when those twho join the march begin New to lead it or add to it to crelandmark– ate discussion. Philly’s Museum of So what has me so the American euphoric? It’s a story Revolution that goes back about six credit: Scott Drake years. I was watching a TV talk show on which LGBT rights were being debated when a conservative on the panel stated something to the effect of, “When our founding fathers created this nation, they didn’t have those [LGBT] people in mind.” Well, this angered me and, as you’d expect, became a challenge. In response to that TV show, I pitched —continued on page 9
Looking Back at Leon’s
By Rodney Burger There is an old saying that: “Everything changes, nothing remains without change.” That may be true, but I’ve never been a fan of change. There is something to be said about things that remain the same – like wonderful old movies that you can enjoy over and over or favorite restaurants that have been turning out the same delicious meal year after year. In Baltimore’s gay community that place that seems to ignore all the constant changes in
the world is a little dive bar located at 870 Park Avenue. As Leon’s prepares for a 60th anniversary celebration that current Leon’s owner Ron Singer informs me will take place sometime this fall, I wanted to take a look back at that little place that defies change. I first walked into Leon’s in 1984 when I first moved to Baltimore, but I recently sat down with my friend Gus Van de Castle. He knows much more about the history of Leon’s then I do. He first walked into the bar in 1967. I caught up with Gus one morning as he was working at The Drinkery, right down the street from Leon’s. As Gus hurried around the bar to get it ready for another day, I sipped on an ice-cold beer and we exchange stories
A watering hole with roots in the 1880s and a colorful detour through Prohibition
about a place that has been a big part of both of our lives. The building that houses Leon’s has been a bar since the 1880s. It has been reported by Baltimore Heritage that it was called “Georgia’s Tap Room” in those days, but Gus informed me that some old bottles were once found in the attic of a home on nearby Read Street. The labels on the bottles read: George’s Tap Room. In the 1930s a man named Leon Lampe bought the place and named it Leon’s. It has been Leon’s ever since. During Prohibition it was a speakeasy. Nothing stops the booze from flowing at Leon’s. In the late 1950s the bar was purchased by a man named Mace —continued on page 3