Mark Segal
Mark My Words: Putting An End To The Myths Of Stonewall
For years, people have debated what actually happened that night in June 1969 when Stonewall was raided and a new, more militant struggle for equality was born. Due to the debates, and the insistence of some who claim they knew all aspects of what had actually happened, an incredible void opened up where people could…
Mark My Words: True Colors Of Stonewall
Imagine if you could go back to Stonewall the first night of the riot. What do you see? Red, brown and black. That’s my answer to anyone who asks me what the inside of the Stonewall looked like before that infamous raid on that now famous night in 1969. It was inexplicable to me why…
Mark My Words: Reclaimed Pride?
If you ask any of us who were part of organizing or marshaling that very first Pride in New York in 1970, you would hear one word about it: joy. Yes, it was a protest that came one year after Stonewall, but it was also a celebration of our fighting back. We were celebrating a…
Mark My Words: Is There LGBTQ Culture?
Do we as LGBTQ people have a community and a history? Do we have a culture? You’ll find the answer by looking at what society considers a community, a culture, and a history. What is a community? In its simplest terms it’s a group of like-minded people who gather to celebrate and care for their…
Mark My Words: Somewhere Between Chicago and Ottawa…
August isn’t supposed to be busy, but as we’ve all learned, this year seems to have lots of surprises. Last week was no exception for us. It was a learn and share week with stops in Chicago and Ottawa, Canada, and in addition to all the new experiences, it was even better because I got…
Mark My Words: Stonewall & Visibility At 34,000 Feet Up
On my United Airlines flight from London to Newark, when boredom set in during the seven and a half hour trip, I decided to see what they had to offer in their entertainment selection. I was totally surprised to find a “Pride Collection” that featured many LGBT films and more. What was more surprising was…
Mark My Words: The Continual Process of Naming Our Community
There’s been an interesting debate going on in our community, and it’s been a continuous one for many years now. It’s fascinating to watch the ins and outs of this issue. So let’s delve into it. Since the 1960s, and even before then, there has been a debate within our community on what to name…
Trans Women In Sports Is A Fight For Equality
There’s an important issue in the community and around the country that many of us don’t understand fully, and it involves members of our trans community participating in sports. It’s been so misreported in the mainstream media that even fellow members of the LGBTQ community don’t understand the nuance. Let’s face it, it’s been a…
How Connecting the Dots Change LGBTQ History
I’m in Chicago, Skokie to be exact, at the Illinois Holocaust Museum, which is hosting the LGBTQ history exhibit “Rise Up Stonewall.” The exhibit features pivotal moments and artifacts from the history of the LGBTQ rights movement, including my work disrupting the TV networks in the ‘70s. I’m here to give two keynote addresses at…
Mark My Words: My Late Valentine to Jason and Mom
Isn’t love grand! We just celebrated Valentine’s Day, and for anybody who has that special someone in our lives, it’s an opportunity to celebrate your person and the two of you as a couple. For me, that person is my husband Jason. As a friend of mine once said ‘Jason is a gift of life…
