That’s the current interior of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Harlem, the gorgeous Episcopal cathedral – sixth largest church in the world, by area! – that has been under construction for more than 100 years.
LGBT rights have been under construction for barely more than half that time, but a lot more progress has been made on LGBT rights than on the cathedral! Still, when they came together during a recent afternoon visit, the Cathedral marking Gay Pride, it was a magnificent sight. Here’s the altar:
I was in the area looking at the places where my show takes place, as I did last time. But during the time when my show is set, 1999/2000, gay rights were far from accepted. Gay marriage was nearly two decades away. Given the forces in the government, even the Supreme Court, that are preparing to strip those rights away from millions of people, it seems important to note the progress that has been made.
I left New York last night, the day after Pride, during which I ran into friends unexpectedly, and then met up with another friend and his gang downtown. It was a joyous, though occasionally wet, day.
I finished up with a late night beer in a Burner friend’s bar in the East Village, with an old Burner friend who I hadn’t seen in some time.
What friends I have here! Venus, Nanci, Ron, Kelvin, Tim and Derek, Dan, Everett, Kat, Michael and of course, my oldest friend, and host, Paula. Plus some new friends. And I missed a few old timers, but I’ll see them next time.
I love New York, and although my trip here was impromptu, I got exactly what I wanted. Wow. Did I ever! I feel shot out of a cannon.
I hardly know where to begin. I saw shows, of course, and a good number of friends. But I also made some extraordinary professional/creative connections and, most of all, got back on track regarding my own work on the musical. That was what I was hoping for, and all it took was one encouraging, lengthy conversation with a serious professional, to put my work into perspective.
I am fired up!
My travel is not yet over, however. First, London, where I have two shows already booked, and then back to Italy for a few days to catch up with a few more friends. But then I’m back to Berlin, where I have got myself set up for a month, right at my favorite time of the year there.
I’ve got a solid month in which to work, and in which I will complete the first act of my show. It’s a commitment.
New York City inspires me, always has. As I wrote in an earlier post, I first came here exactly 50 years ago, as a teen, and was instantly smitten. Through many visits, through getting married here, coming out here, sojourning here, actually living here, doing a happy relationship here, working for Bloomberg and NPR and other outlets here, writing and performing my one man show here, and above all, making dear friends and creative companions here…New York has remained the center of my…hmmm…not sure how to finish that sentence.
I guess City of Dreams does cover it.
I’ll probably live here again, someday. Hard to imagine anywhere else, really. It is already more a part of my life again this year than it has been since COVID. And it’s affecting how I view my life in Europe…how everything I do, and want to accomplish, fits together. The Berlin-London-New York City axis has a lot of power in it. Whoosh!
So: Some details…
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