Thursday, May 26, 2011
HISTORY
You know that the gay rights movement has been going on for a long time when you read this.
Chuck Dima, Gay Softball Pioneer Dies at 81
He is third from the left.
Gay softball was a breakout activity for gay men in the 70s. Something that was group oriented, organizable and fun. Dima organized an east coast west coast tournament in 1976.
I never went for it myself. I was political.
But for the non-political and the jock, softball was the answer.
There were leagues in Boston from the very beginning. Ideal.
There are many gay pioneers reaching their old age and dying from relatively natural causes.
I have a friend who has all kinds of "in the old days" stories who is slipping away from emphysema and he is in his late 80s.
I will soon be a part of the last cohort passing on.
I don't say that sentimentally or morbidly, but with the realization that so much has been gained, so much has happened. A very full life. Satisfied.
Labels: gay history, gay pride
