Interior GLOBE News

Interior GLOBE Sparked and Guided the Collaborative Effort to Recognize Stonewall

On February 11, 2000, Bruce Babbitt, the Secretary of Interior, signed a form officially designating the site of the Stonewall riots in New York City's Greenwich Village as a National Historic Landmark. Stonewall is now among a select group of about 2,200 historic sites that have earned the highest level of official endorsement in this country for their historical importance. GLOBE, in partnership with many others, had finally achieved what it had set out to do a year and a half earlier - get official recognition of Stonewall's significance as the birthplace of the modern gay and lesbian rights movement and a place of great importance in the history of the United States.

It was at one of GLOBE's monthly meetings in the summer of 1998 that the idea of honoring Stonewall as an official historic Site was first discussed - the members hit on this as a bit of a legacy project for the Clinton Administration, which had brought so many openly gay political appointees to the Department. Recognizing Stonewall seemed particularly appropriate since the Department's mission is to preserve the country's natural and cultural heritage. It turned out, of course, that it was not a new idea; there had been an unsuccessful effort to designate Stonewall as a National Historic Landmark four years earlier to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the event.

Undaunted, a small committee of GLOBE members sought the support of Andrew Dolkart, a historian and preservation consultant, and a participant in the earlier attempt to have Stonewall designated. Dolkart and his colleagues agreed to prepare a National Register of Historic Places nomination for Stonewall, as a first step in the process of becoming a National Historic Landmark. GLOBE also reached out to the Organization of Lesbian and Gay Architects and Designers, which offered its endorsement, and to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, which became a true partner by obtaining the support and consent of Stonewall's owner, and by securing local community and political support. GLOBE members, Dolkart, and the Preservation Society became an informal team which arranged financial Support for a historical researcher, asked for endorsements from State elected officials and key Members of Congress, and solicited letters of support from historical scholars and leaders in the historic preservation community.

The nomination for listing in the National Register covered not just the building housing the bar (which had been altered significantly since the time of Stonewall) but, since much of the action during the riots took plac^eoutside, also included the small Christopher Park across the street,, as well as a number of the surrounding streets. To bolster the argument that Stonewall was exceptionally significant (required for listing properties les~ than fifty years old), Dolkart and his counterparts made an excellent case by citing the hundreds of organizations and events around the world named after Stonewall.

In April of 1999, the New York State Historic Preservation Review Board, made up of historians and preservation experts, unanimously recommended listing Stonewall in the National Register - a strong endorsement of its historical importance.

This recommendation was sent to the Keeper of the National Register at the National Park Service. In accordance with regulations, the proposed listing of Stonewall was published in the Federal Register for public comment and there was some concern that anti-gay groups might take the opportunity to voice their opposition. No opposition materialized and some wondered if the official name of the listing, which was simply 'Stonewall', had led potential opponents to mistake it for a Civil War site associated with Stonewall Jackson!

The listing was made official when the Register's professional review staff concurred with the endorsement of the New York State Review Board and the nomination was signed by the Keeper. Of more than 60,000 properties listed in the Register, Stonewall was the first to be listed specifically for its association with gay and lesbian history. A formal announcement of the listing was delayed slightly to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. The Department's Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget, John Berry, went to New York and gave a stirring speech about what the listing meant at a major Gay Pride event. Stonewall's designation in the Register garnered extensive coverage by the media, both gay and straight, including CNN, and National Public Radio, and the New York Times.

Having accomplished the first step, GLOBE members then began investigating how to achieve status as a National Historic Landmark (NHL), which by virtue of including only nationally significant historic properties, is considered a much more rigorous process than listing in the Register. Fortunately the fine work done by Dolkart and the others carried the property on to the next level without the need for further documentation or studies. The head of the Park Service's NHL program reviewed the nomination and pronounced it more than adequate to be considered for NHL status. On December 13,. the Landmarks Committee of the National Park System Advisory Board met to discuss and consider recommending 19 properties for designation, including Stonewall. At the meeting of the full Board several days later, a representative of the Landmarks Committee presented Stonewall along with the other properties and the Board voted to recommend that the Secretary of the Interior designate it and all the others (with one exception).

GLOBE, in partnership with many others, had successfully seen the Stonewall designation grow from just an idea into a National Historic Landmark. Stonewall has taken its place in history, and serves as a fitting legacy for the Clinton Administration's appointees and the gay employees of the Interior Department.

Happy New Millennium and welcome to the first issue of Interior GLOBE’s newsletter! In looking forward to 2000, it is worthwhile to look back on Interior GLOBE’s many achievements of 1999. The articles in this first edition highlight the outstanding work we did last year. Interior GLOBE took on several big issues and succeeded spectacularly, including seeing Stonewall designated a National Historic Landmark, participating in the AIDS Ride and AIDS Walk, and hosting June Pride.

I hope this newsletter serves several purposes including raising the visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered employees within the Department, recruiting new members (toaster ovens to those who bring in 3 new members!), and serving as an information source. I would also like this newsletter to provide a forum for communication between members. I would love to hear from members around the country about activities, events or other items of interest.

As 2000 gets underway, we should all be proud of what Interior GLOBE has achieved, and continue to focus our energies on improving working conditions for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered employees at Interior.

June was Gay Pride Month at the Interior Department and on June 8th, the Department hosted its first annual Gay Pride Celebration. Kathy Karpan, the Director of the Office of Surface Mining was the Mistress of Ceremonies. After the presentation of the colors by the National Park Service and the singing of the national anthem, she introduced John Berry, Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget. John, a Clinton Administration appointee who was the first openly gay nominee to be confirmed by a majority tammy.jpg (126438 bytes)

Republican Senate, thanked the approximately 180 people who attended the ceremony. He spoke of the trying times for the Gay movement and the ignorance, fear, and frustration that it encounters. John then introduced the guest speaker for the event, the Honorable Tammy Baldwin. Tammy, the first openly lesbian Member of Congress, was OUT when she ran for, and was elected to Congress. "Out and About in Government" was the theme of this year’s celebration and Tammy spoke about her own process of self-discovery and self-definition. She said that "there are two things that keep us oppressed. Them and Us. We are half the equation. There will not be a magic day when we wake up and it’s suddenly OK to express ourselves publicly. We make that day . . . simply by doing things publicly. First in small numbers, then in greater numbers, until it’s simply the way things are and no one thinks twice. If you dream of a world in which you can put your partner’s picture on your desk. Then put his picture on your desk. If you dream of a world in which you can walk down the street holding your partner’s hand. Then hold her hand. If you dream of a world in which there are more openly gay people in public office. Then run for office."

After receiving a standing ovation following her speech, Assistant Secretary Berry presented Tammy with a copy of Thomas Moran’s famous painting "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone." Two candles were then lit for the Victims of AIDS and the Victims of Hate Crimes. During the hour long program, music was provided by members of the Gay and Lesbian Chorus of Washington. The overwhelming consensus of the GLOBE members attending was that the event was inspirational, uplifting and a spectacular success.

Are you creative? Interior GLOBE needs a name and a logo for its new newsletter. Come up with the winning name and/or design and you’ll win the admiration of us all. Submit designs to Maria Wiseman by May 1.

President:	Maria Wiseman, Solicitor’s Office	maria_wiseman@ios.doi.gov
Vice-president:	Bob Veltkamp, National Business Center	robert_j_veltkamp@nbc.gov
Secretary:	Jim Gasser, National Park Service	jim_gasser@nps.gov
Treasurer:	Michael Sadie, Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs	michael_sadie@ios.doi.gov
Fed GLOBE Representative:	Jay Douglas, Bureau of Land Management	jay_douglas@blm.gov

Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings usually take place in the North Penthouse of the Main Interior Building. All members and their invited guests are encouraged to attend.

On September 26, 1999, I and members of Interior GLOBE, along with other Departmental employees, and an estimated crowd of 22,000 groups and individuals, participated in the Whitman-Walker Clinic’s 13th Annual AIDS Walk. The walk began at Third Street and Constitution. The course took walkers around the White House, up to Dupont Circle, back to 23rd Street, NW, and wound up at the Washington Mall. The 6.2 miles took approximately three hours to walk. It was very exciting to get to the finish line and see that there were lots and lots of people twenty minutes behind me.

On the whole, $1.2 to $1.5 million were raised for the area’s largest provider of services to those living with AIDS and HIV infection.

Personally, I get so much enjoyment from knowing that I can help make a difference in the lives of individuals living with AIDS and HIV. Next year I would like to see more participation from the Department in the walk. I’ve been participating in these walks since about 1985, and I’ve enjoyed walking with the Interior team for the past 4 or 5 years. Since the Department is a large government organization, I want to see the 10 to 15 participants grow to 100 to 200 in the next walk. I look forward to seeing more Interior employees join this very worthy cause.

Hope to see you and others for the annual walk this year. We can start early to recruit individuals to make a difference in someone’s life.

Jim Gasser, National Park Service
Reprinted with permission from People Land and Water

Hundreds of bodies littered the ground. Riders in their colorful bike clothes lay exhausted in the shade of a grove of cherry trees by the Washington Monument. In a tent nearby, lunch was being served. In a parking lot down Constitution Avenue were the 1,700 bikes that had brought the riders here. To the uninitiated, the scene looked like something out of a war zone. It wasn’t; it was the final assembly area for the DC AIDS Ride 1999!

The four-day event raised $4.8 million for AIDS services in the Washington Metro Area. Net proceeds will benefit the Whitman-Walker Clinic and Food and Friends, a food program for persons with AIDS. The 360-mile course that made up the Raleigh, North Carolina to Washington, DC AIDS Ride covered some of the most challenging terrain of the many AIDS Rides around the country. One of the biggest challenges was the humidity and heat of the mid-Atlantic summer.

This year several Interior GLOBE members participated in the event, including John Berry, the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, and a board member of Food and Friends. John has lent his name to AIDS related charities during his tenure at Interior. John was able to raise $3000 during both years that he has participated in the Ride.

Chris Thomson, then a special assistant to the Secretary on Water Rights, has participated in two AIDS Rides including this year’s. He raised $2,000 this year for a total of $6,500 in the two Rides on which he has participated. Chris looks forward to the challenge and camaraderie that the Rides provide.

Jay Douglas, a minerals leasing specialist with the Bureau of Land Management and the President of Interior Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Employee Organization, raised $6,600 this year. It was his third year for the Ride. As a person living with HIV, Jay rode with the Positive Peddlers on the Ride; he has been positive for over 16 years.

Tami Heilemann, the primary photographer for the Secretary and a graphics specialist with Interior’s National Business Center, rode for the first time this year. She raised $2,500 for this AIDS Ride and promised that it would not be her last. Tami is an active sports person and enjoyed the challenge of the 360-mile ride.

By Sarita Y. Davis, Office for Equal Opportunity
Reprinted in part from People Land and Water

Employees and officials at the Main Interior Building commemorated World AIDS Day with a wreath laying ceremony and memorial service that stressed the need to make young people aware of the dangers of AIDS and HIV to prevent the spread of the disease.

The centerpiece of the service in the C Street Lobby was a 10-foot by 10-foot panel of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The presence of the hand-made quilt was so powerful, one observer commented, that you could feel the sorrow, anger, love, and hope of the people who made it. There also was a display of memorial boards on which participants signed the names of friends, family, and loved ones who have HIV or AIDS, as well as those who have died of AIDS. As employees and other participants entered the lobby, they were given a Red Ribbon, which is an international symbol of AIDS awareness.

E. Melodee Stith, the Director of the Office for Equal Opportunity, opened the Dec. 1 event, introducing the speakers and explaining the theme—Children and Young People: Listen, Learn, Live—that set the tone for the event. The theme reflects the belief that by reaching out to children and young people, we can prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, said Stith, who also explained the significance of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and the Red Ribbons.

John Berry, the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, stressed that the goal is to create an environment in which children and adults with HIV or AIDS can live free from discrimination. To achieve this, greater awareness and communication are essential. The stigma and myths surrounding HIV and AIDS are an example of the lack of education and communication.

Minnijean Brown-Trickey, the new Deputy Assistant Secretary for Workforce Diversity, said she was honored to make her first public appearance at such an important event. "The devastation of AIDS and HIV among young people strikes at the very heart of our families, our communities, our nation," she said. "We are all responsible for the reeducation of our children and young people and we need to take it seriously."

Maria Wiseman, President of Interior GLOBE, told a personal story of a dear friend of hers who made a panel for the AIDS Memorial Quilt for her brother who died of AIDS while in his twenties. "How do we help our young people?" said Ms. Wiseman. "We help by keeping the lines of communication open. We help by listening when they voice their concerns and questions about HIV and AIDS, whatever those concerns and questions may be. Today is a day to search our hearts and find how we can best work toward a dream—a dream that someday there will be no new cases of HIV, no more tears for our dying youth, and no more panels added to the AIDS Memorial Quilt."

The program ended with a musical selection by Sarita Davis, an Equal Employment specialist for the Office for Equal Opportunity. The song was entitled, Listen To Your Heart. We must indeed listen to our hearts concerning this HIV and AIDS epidemic, Ms. Stith emphasized. Brown-Trickey closed by saying , "I implore you to take responsibility and help teach our children and young people to listen, learn and live. As federal employees, as members of society, as family members, as friends, the responsibility is ours."

Thanks to the hard work of Bob Veltkamp, Interior GLOBE has it’s very own website:

In addition to providing Interior GLOBE’s mission statement and notes from monthly meetings, the web site is used to highlight special features and programs, such as an "Of Special Interest" talk that was given on the historically significant events in the Summer of 1969 that led to Stonewall becoming a National Historic Landmark, photos and notes from Interior’s World AIDS Day Program in December, 1999, GLOBE contact information, and links to other resources.

We here in Washington would love to meet Interior GLOBE members from around the country! Please join us at the Fed GLOBE reception Friday evening April 28^th. Let us know if you are planning to be in DC.

Victor E. Hodge, Solicitor’s Office, is a mystery & horror writer, graphic artist and illustrator. He has completed his first mystery novel, whose protagonist is a black gay male detective, which can be previewed at Blithe House Quarterly (www.blithe.com), a literary website for gay and lesbian fiction. Check out his story, "Justifiable Disappearance" under the Spring 1999 edition.