1989

Perrine died at the age of 48 on March 10. I didn't know Perrine very well, but I did know his work with Mattachine Society, one of the first gay rights organizations in the 50s/60s. He and I shared more than one drink at Mr. Ps and had many wonderful discussions about gay rights.

Patrick died at the age of 31 on August 31. Patrick was a bartender at Mr. Ps and again at Rascals and "bought" more than a few drinks for me and our friends. Tall, dark and handsome, he was also pretty quite. I remember how Michael Madison always had the hots for him.

Stephen died in his late 20s in July of that year. Our intimacy went way beyond sex. He touched my heart and soul. I will never forget dancing in the wee hours of the morning at New York's Saint exhausted from the tribal dance when the music turned to "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" (which we did) and he whispered into my ear "I don't want to die." We cried together on the dance floor, our arms wrapped around each other, exhausted and grimy with sweat from the dance. He died several months later.

Bill died at the age of 28 on July 7. He was very active in the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club. He fought passionately about and for gay rights and I remember many a meeting where we would debate this or that DC council member.

Brandon died on August 13 at the age of 25. This is one of those people who it is hard to write in a few short words what you think and remember of him. I remember his wonderful friendship with Ed Adams. I remember his apartment in Southeast Washington on the waterfront. I remember several of us all going to New York to party when he went into convulsions getting into a cab and he had to be checked into Cabrini Hospital. He begged us all to go to the White Party at the Saint-at-Large. We did and in the wee hours of the next morning, he was there to join us sitting on the side lines. It was a celebration of life as coy as that sounds, but we were very much aware of the moment.

David died at the age of 34 on October 31. I remember our trips to Philadelphia and the way he talked and talked and talked (and still does). I remember some of those morning parties and I remember how we kept showing up at the same parties and homes.