Shoulders to Stand On

DJs! Music! Dancing! Female Impersonators! great food & drinks! sunday june 3rd!

Join us for a great tea dance style party at ONE Restaurant & Lounge in support of Evelyn Bailey's phenomenal Shoulders to Stand On project, which has archived the unique entire history of the LGBT Community in Rochester. We'll also be giving a special honor to Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy in recognition of his work on behalf of the LGBT community.

Featuring performances by Rochester's best female impersonators, DJs John Herbert & Hector, and international hip hop violinist extraordinaire Svet. Enjoy the music and shows with complimentary hors d'oeuvres, and delicious signature cocktails at the cash bar.

Be a part of this exciting event and sign on as a host at the $200 level. Supporting shoulders can purchase tickets for $125, and a special $50 youth rate is available for those under 30. For more information, please visit the Gay Alliance Shoulders to Stand On online or via telephone, 585-244-8640.

 

Key Dates in Shoulders To Stand On History

by Evelyn Bailey

• November 2002:  Initial meeting to produce a promotional video for the GAGV
• January - December 2003: Promotional video taped and script written
• March 2004:  Final draft of promo completed
• April 2007:  Shoulders to Stand On Committee formed
• September 2010:  40 years of Empty Closet microfilmed and digitized
• 2009 - 2010:  With a NYS Documentary Heritage Program Archives Grant the LGBT records of 260+ organizations, agencies, groups and individuals were identified
• 2010 - 2011:  With a NYS Documentary Heritage Program Archives Grant, a minimum of five record collections were surveyed
• January 2011:  A chronology of 40 years of Empty Closet articles was completed
• October 2011:  Started fundraising for a 90 minute documentary 
• December 2011:  A NYS Documentary Heritage Program Archives Grant was awarded to place a minimum of three record collections in permanent repositories
• January 15, 2012:  A fundraising goal of $10,000 was matched by Tony Mascioli for a total of $20,000

Tony Mascioi - Thank You for Your Shoulders! We Met Your $10,000 Challenge!

by Evelyn Bailey

In October, 2011 I asked Anthony Mascioli, a friend, native Rochestarian, and gay business man, for a rather large donation to the Shoulders To Stand On 90 minute Documentary on the LGBT History of Rochester. 

I explained that the documentary has been in the making for over 40 years, and that our history needed to be documented and preserved.  He responded by saying he is much more comfortable Matching Donations than just giving a donation outright.  Thus began the planning for raising $10,000 between December 2, 2011 and January 15, 2012. 

Are You As Queer As a $3 Bill?

by Evelyn Bailey

Today Shoulders To Stand On announces a $10,000 Matching Donation.  Mr. Anthony Mascioli (shown in the picture on the left with Kevin Indovino) will match all monies that are donated to Shoulders To Stand On between December 2, 2011 and January 15, 2012 that total $10,000.  A Rochester success story, Tony was born in Rochester, left Rochester and in 1974 opened the Wall Street Sauna in New York City with two other partners. Tony now splits his time between Rochester, NY and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Shoulders To Stand On is at a critical point in its fundraising efforts.  WE NEED YOUR HELP! THE GOAL: Have every LGBT person or straight ally in the Rochester region contribute at least $3 to help us raise $120,000.

Are You Queer as a $3 Bill?

In October, Shoulders To Stand On, Rochester’s LGBT History Project, will be launching its public fundraising campaign to raise $120,000.

Are You as Queer as a $3 Bill? Your $3 contribution will help to celebrate and safeguard Rochester’s LGBT history. If every lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or straight ally in the Rochester region donates just $3, we will reach our goal to produce a new local documentary celebrating our history during next year’s 20^th Anniversary ImageOut Festival.

Make a donation today online:

http://www.gayalliance.org/shoulders-support.html or send your donation to: Shoulders To Stand On, 875 E. Main St., Suite 500, Rochester, NY 14605 Attn. Evelyn Bailey.

How much is your history worth to you?  Give today! Thank you.

Lights, Camera, Action: STSO Program Update

By Evelyn Bailey

Shoulders To Stand On is ready to begin filming the 60 minute documentary on the gay history of Rochester. The necessary research pieces are in place. Now the real fun of this project begins.

Total Production cost is $120,000. The cost of filming the oral history interviews for the Documentary is $40,000. We currently have $2,750 in the coffers. This is a community project so we are hoping to identify 15 to 20 donors who will fund the entire project. Every dollar counts and your donation is very important. You can make your contribution on the Support the Project page at www.shoulderstostandon.org.

The GAGV Succeeds Again: NYS DHP Archives Phase II Grant 2010 - 2011 Awardd

By Evelyn Bailey

In late September 2010, the Gay Alliance was notified that the New York State State Education Department (SED), had tentatively awarded the GAGV a NYS DHP Phase II Archives Grant for 2010 – 2011 in the amount of $9,885.

In October, we received word from Pamela Cooley, DHP Grants Officer, NYS Archives that all the required paperwork had been submitted to the proper agencies, but that we needed to have final approval from State Ed. Dept., Depapartment of Budget, the Office of State Comptroller, and the Governor’s office. On Nov. 15, all approvals had been given, and 50 percent of the grant award was released. Finally we could officially begin work on the Project.

History Corner - September 2010

by Evelyn Bailey

This month we want to outline the accomplishments of the Shoulders To Stand On Program of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley.

Early Nov., 2002     -  Initial meeting with Eric Bellman and Michael to discuss a project which would record the history of the gay community in Rochester.
Jan. – Dec., 2003    - Year celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley
January, 2005         -  Roots Chronology Proposal approved by Board.  Continue the chronology begun by Steve Picchi and Gary Hallinen from 1969 - 1984
March, 2005            -  Gay Alliance Promo completed.
April 13, 2007          -  Video History Project Committee organized and held it’s first meeting.
May, 2007                - Begin to write grants for the Digitization of the Empty Closet.
September, 2008    - Archives and Library Projects identified as Programs of the GAGV.
November, 2009     - GAGV Awarded DHP Grant for identifying and surveying records of gay organizations, agencies, groups and individuals with records.
May, 2010               - Digitization of the Empty Closet completed

We have come a long way in preserving the history of our LGBT Community in Rochester, NY.

Look for our ads, updates and requests for your time, talent and money in future issues of the Empty Closet.

Our Moving History - A Big Success

Thank you to everyone who told their story at yesterday's Gay Pride Picnic. "Our Moving History" van (a project of Shoulders to Stand On) was kept busy as people one-by-one or in pairs told their stories of being gay in Rochester. Thanks to our interviewer Kevin and videographer Travis.

Pictures by Gerry Szymanski:

 

Ducky and Jim recounted the days when the gay bars organized the picnic.

Gay Today and Yesterday

City Newspaper, July 14, 2010
by Tim Louis Macaluso

"Being gay once meant that you were part of an underground subculture. Now the LGBT's community's journey into the mainstream, leaving out that pesky marriage-equality thing, is nearly complete.

"The gay rights movement was one of the most important social and political movements of the 20th century, and Rochester was at the forefront of that struggle. A year after gays clashed with New York City police at Stonewall, a group of University of Rochester students formed the Gay Liberation Front.

"In this story, founding members of the GLF and longtime gay rights activists recount what it was like to be gay in Rochester back in the day, and the challenges the movement faced. In the process, they give Rochester's gay community a sense of its own history.

"'This is our history,' says activist Evelyn Bailey. 'And young people need to know that there were people before them who fought hard to get us to this point. It's something we can be proud of.'"

Read the entire article.