Longtime LGBT activist Vernita Gray spoke April 25 at the Center on Halsted as part of its 'Fireside Chat' series, designed to highlight local luminaries.
Known for her charismatic sense of humor and deadpan style, Gray regaled the audience with stories from her four decades of community service, which has included a stint in the state's attorney's office and trips to the White House.
Douglas O'Keeffe, an author, educator and the 2004 Cellblock Shel-don Chicago Leatherman, conducted an on-stage interview before opening the floor to questions. The taped interview will be viewable at the Leather Archives & Museum.
History, racism and contemporary politics were hot topics. Describing race as "the elephant in the room," Gray, a Black woman, recounted visits to gay bars in the 1960s.
"If I went to a bar, I'd have to have to have my driver's license, my passport, my baptismal certificate. … I could never ever have enough ID," Gray said. "Now, what do you think that was about? Then there'd be white girls behind me—they'd [ giggle ] and walk right in."
Gray said she still sees that type of racism in the community.
"Racism is in our community [ because ] racism is in our country. There's no escaping it," she said. "Last year, one of the sadder events I went to was a community meeting about the kids and the [ stabbings ] here on Halsted Street." [ Nearly 800 people attended a vitriolic CAPS meeting on July 6, 2011, after several high-profile stabbings. ]
"There were a good 400 men in that room that were so hostile about these young, African-American kids that it brought tears to my eyes," Gray said. "These are not serial killers. These are kids who want to hang out and came down here because they're afraid to be out in their community. So they come to what they see as a safe area, and then when they get to the safe area, people don't want them because of the color of their skin or because they don't have that kind of money—because they don't look Sidetrack enough."
"Here we are in the 21st Century," Gray continued, "and we're still dealing with the issue of race. Whether you're a gay kid here on Halsted Street or you're Trayvon Martin, the race thing is intense."
Despite persistent race issues, Gray said she was proud of the work the LGBT community has done to date.
"Our revolution is rolling," Gray said, noting that she was particularly pleased with the 2011 Pride parade turnout [ An estimated 750,000 people attended ] . "More and more gay people are going to be coming out, and our parade in Chicago will hit well over a million. … Our community is really going to grow in leaps and bounds, and 'closet' will be as antiquated as 'negro.'"
When asked about LGBT political progress, Gray voiced hope about Obama [ whom she supported in Illinois years ago ] but said the community still has a long way to go.
"I certainly feel Barack Obama is the best President we've had when it comes to LGBT issues," she said. "Bill Clinton … gave us 'don't ask, don't tell'… . Once you're cleaning up someone else's [ mess ] , you don't have time to create your own [ policy ] ."
"And then there's this whole way, where as an African-American, [ Obama ] doesn't even get to be President," Gray said. "He is in a constant state of fighting racism. … Barack could walk the water right now and pass out hundred dollar bills, and people would still complain. Those complaints come from the color of his skin. … To be the first Black [ anything ] , that's a very hard role. My heart goes out to him."
Gray, whose longtime partner Pat Ewert was in the audience, pushed for marriage equality.
"If it's marriage, it's marriage. Why do I have to have a civil union?" Gray asked. "It's like: If it's a water fountain, it's a water fountain. Why do you have to have a white one and a Black one? Do you have to have a Chinese one and a Mexican one too? If it's marriage, it's marriage for everyone. Why do I have to have less? Anybody in here want less? Who wants less? Anybody want less money? Less benefits? I want it all. … I want everything my tax dollar is paying for."
Though Gray spent most of the evening talking about weighty topics, such as her "hard as hell" career in the Cook County court system or her current battle with breast cancer, the local legend kept things light, constantly cracking jokes.
When she referenced SAGE [ Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders ] , Gray said: "I never remember what the letters stand for, so I just call it sexy and gay elders."
And when O'Keeffe asked Gray what she misses most about her activism days, the retiree quipped: "I miss being able to stay up past midnight. We used to close bars. Now if [ somebody ] called me to do that, we'd have to call the senior abuse hotline."
Gray said that despite the slow speed of progress, she'd been incredibly happy watching her community flourish over the past 40 years.
"Seeing my community come to fruition [ has been my greatest achievement ] ," she said. "Seeing gay papers, seeing gay events, seeing Lambda [ Legal ] , seeing HRC, seeing gay and lesbian people have children and having those children be a part of their family. … That has been incredible. Seeing us go to the White House [ has been incredible ] . I remember [ when I went there the first time ] seeing everybody else go in, and there I was, the old colored lady, with my eyes filling up with tears."
Windy City Times publisher Tracy Baim and Owen Keehnen have co-authored a book titled Vernita Gray: From Woodstock to the White House. Gray is overseeing final edits on the book, which will be released by this summer.
