I’d promised Roma and the members of the “Bored” I would attend the Sunday afternoon bar-b-q at Marlin Monroe’s. It starts around three and has live music, good food and a lively crowd. Besides, Marlin’s is right on the ocean with great views and lots of girls in bikinis.
But I had guests who made for a very enjoyable afternoon so it wasn’t until six that I hopped on my bicycle and made my way. Walking through the indoor seating to the outdoor deck, Jill Knight was putting her guitar away. I’d missed it. People started calling my name and in no time I was surrounded.
And they are all gay. And we all go way back.
“Remember when we started First City Network,” I was asked. Not that I started it … that was Laurence Marley and others. But I did give them free office space at Union Mission. And their first public recognition was at the grand opening of Phoenix Place, our residential facility for people living with AIDS.
Phoenix Place would have never happened with First City Network. They literally built the place! In fact, they named it. Phoenix rises from the ashes. We’ll beat AIDS!
After a homeless man died from HIV complications living in a closet at Union Mission’s Grace House, we were approached about doing something. Someone mentioned the old “Catholic Worker House” so Joe Daniel, chairman of the Union Mission Board, and I went to look at it. It was late afternoon and entering we interrupted a really great “crack” party. It was Joe’s first.
The house was owned by Joe Fogerty, a very devote Catholic retired in Miami. Calling I said we were interested in his property. He was very excited as it had been vacant since the Catholic Workers went out of business. He asked me what kind of arrangement we were looking at.
“I’d like the same deal that you had with the Catholic Worker House,” I explained.
“What!” he bellowed into the phone. “They had it free!”
“Exactly,” I replied then rushed on to explain what we intended to do.
He was great. After hearing me out he was silent for a long time. Then he said, “I’ll tell you what. If you fix it up and this thing works, you can have it free for two years. After that you have to buy it. I’ll sell it to you at its current value.”
So that’s how it started.
We had no money to renovate the place but … First City Network had been born and they are an incredible group of people. In many ways Phoenix’s birth was like a barn-raising. Gay workers descended upon the place every afternoon and every weekend. We gained control of the house in February. By April it was completely renovated. Talk about miracles! Nobody else would have to die in a closet.
Joe had gotten a member of the Lane family (one of Savannah’s wealthiest!) to give us $30,000 to buy stuff. First City Network did everything else. Well … there was one staff person at the Breakfast Club whose nickname is Bear. Bear showed up to do the design and heavy lifting. He was great!
At the grand opening, Mayor John Rousakis showed up having no idea that Phoenix Place was for people with AIDS as you could easily see on his face when he learned this. Over two hundred people showed up for the opening. Every media outlet was there. City Manager Don Mendosa and I spared with one another and he one up’d me good, as only he could do.
I played a practical joke on Joe by presenting him with a plaque in front of everyone that read “Fag of the Year.” He read it silently to himself in front of everyone, looked at the crowd, said “Thank you” and sat down.
I’d gotten him. Of course, he got me over thirty times after that.
Then it was First City Networks moment. I talked about how Phoenix would have never happened without them. How amazing they are as people. What incredible workers they are. How the entire city of Savannah is a better place because of them. And we had plaques for them.
What I remember most though is as I said these things I watched people who had become my friends listening and they started crying … which of course got me to crying. So this coming out party for Savannah’s gay community was baptized in tears of happiness. There is no baptism so holy.
So fast forward twenty years, and these are the people that I’m standing with beside the ocean on the deck at Marlin Monroe’s. Except for Laurence of course who is the master of coy. Outrageous coy! But coy nevertheless!
It was a wonderful unexpected gift on a Sunday afternoon as the sun set. We hugged and talked and drank. My heart was happy until I asked …
“What happened? You all look old.”
Yeah ...
I should have never said such a thing to such wonderful friends.
