Mark My Words: October’s Youth Dreams Realized

This October feels like the moment my youthful dreams have come full circle — and as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for.

When I was young, all I wanted was to understand why society so deeply misunderstood us — why people believed we were the green monsters hiding in the dark closet. Moving to New York, I began to learn the answers. I wanted to scream at the world: “Stop oppressing us. Let us live our lives.”

But I didn’t yet know how to begin that process. Then one night at Stonewall, I became an activist — without even knowing what an activist was. Soon after, I joined others in the Gay Liberation Front, and together we became out, loud and proud.

Those three words changed everything. They transformed who we were and set us on a mission to create a community where none existed before. We dreamed that one day everyone could live openly — and that our work would make that possible.

And that’s how I arrived at this October.

There’s much more to my story, of course. But what I find most remarkable now is that I’ve become a witness to history. People want to understand how we got here — and somehow, I’ve become one of the people they turn to for answers.

So what does this October look like? I’ve just returned from a European speaking tour, followed by a trip to Dallas to raise money for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. Then came New York for a documentary shoot and an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer about a project I’ve been working on with Neil Frauenglass from Visit Philly: creating an LGBTQ visitor center, the Philly Pride Visitor Center, right here in Philadelphia. Yes — it’s real, and it’s opening in 2026.

There’s also been a serious debate over our history and how it’s interpreted, and I’m preparing for a speech in Virginia Beach, a panel in Palm Springs and, to end the month, an event in Hyde Park, New York.

None of this would be possible without the dreams and actions of my youth becoming reality. I’m a lucky man — to have witnessed our community grow from whispers in the shadows to voices that fill the world.

I’m not afraid of the future, because I know where we came from and how we fought for the equality we have today. I know the tools that will keep us moving forward.

So please — keep reading the news. Stay informed. Stay visible. The only way we lose is if we put ourselves back in the closet.

Stand with me — and I promise, brighter days are ahead.