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Today& #39;s #LGBTQHistoryMonth 
https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> spotlight is a guest post from @FredSargeant, & these are Fred& #39;s words about his associate, Jim Owles: "Jim Owles was a central figure & one of creators of the gay liberation movement that arose from the aftermath of the Stonewall riots. 1/9 #LGBHistory
spotlight is a guest post from @FredSargeant, & these are Fred& #39;s words about his associate, Jim Owles: "Jim Owles was a central figure & one of creators of the gay liberation movement that arose from the aftermath of the Stonewall riots. 1/9 #LGBHistory" title="Today& #39;s #LGBTQHistoryMonth https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> spotlight is a guest post from @FredSargeant, & these are Fred& #39;s words about his associate, Jim Owles: "Jim Owles was a central figure & one of creators of the gay liberation movement that arose from the aftermath of the Stonewall riots. 1/9 #LGBHistory" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
Jim had been discharged from the Air Force due to his opposition to the Vietnam War and had just arrived in New York City when the Stonewall riots occurred. #LGBHistoryMonth #LGBHistory #LGBTQHistoryMonth https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> 2/9
2/9" title="Jim had been discharged from the Air Force due to his opposition to the Vietnam War and had just arrived in New York City when the Stonewall riots occurred. #LGBHistoryMonth #LGBHistory #LGBTQHistoryMonth https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> 2/9" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
He immediately joined the Mattachine Action Committee which quickly morphed into what became the Gay Liberation Front where he was a part of the leadership. 3/9 #LGBHistoryMonth #LGBHistory #LGBTQHistoryMonth https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
" title="He immediately joined the Mattachine Action Committee which quickly morphed into what became the Gay Liberation Front where he was a part of the leadership. 3/9 #LGBHistoryMonth #LGBHistory #LGBTQHistoryMonth https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
Jim worked in GLF thru summer & fall of & #39;69 but became disillusioned w/ the erratic focus of the group & its tendency to ally w/ other non-gay radical political elements, alienating less radical people in the gay community who wanted gay militancy to focus solely on gay issues. 4
In December, 1969 Jim helped to found the Gay Activists Alliance and began a years long political and laser focused gay militancy movement that has continued to influence New York Democratic politics to this day. 5/9 #LGBHistoryMonth #LGBHistory #LGBTQHistoryMonth https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
" title="In December, 1969 Jim helped to found the Gay Activists Alliance and began a years long political and laser focused gay militancy movement that has continued to influence New York Democratic politics to this day. 5/9 #LGBHistoryMonth #LGBHistory #LGBTQHistoryMonth https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
It wasn& #39;t easy. Gay Activists Alliance created & #39;zaps& #39; of politicians that was later used by groups like ACT-UP and Jim paid the price by being repeatedly arrested and beaten. (& #39;Zaps& #39; are when you go to political functions and seize the mic or charge the stage.) #LGBHistory 6/9
In 1971, Jim wrote to the New York Legislature, "We do not ask for any respectability or sympathy from straight people. Others& #39; opinions are of no interest to us except to the extent that these private bigotries are allowed to become public policy." 7/9 #LGBTQHistoryMonth https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
" title="In 1971, Jim wrote to the New York Legislature, "We do not ask for any respectability or sympathy from straight people. Others& #39; opinions are of no interest to us except to the extent that these private bigotries are allowed to become public policy." 7/9 #LGBTQHistoryMonth https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
Jim didn& #39;t seek validation, he sought fairness. In 1973, Jim ran for Greenwich Village City Councilman as New York& #39;s first openly gay candidate. In 1974, he was a founder of the NYC Gay & Lesbian Independent Democrats club, the first such political organization. 8/9 #LGBHistory
In 1985, Jim was one of seven founders of Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The LGB community owes so much to Jim Owles for his focus and foresight." -- @FredSargeant, Oct. 2020. We& #39;re thankful for Jim& #39;s work, & your tribute, Fred. /end #LGBHistory #LGBTQHistoryMonth https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
" title="In 1985, Jim was one of seven founders of Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The LGB community owes so much to Jim Owles for his focus and foresight." -- @FredSargeant, Oct. 2020. We& #39;re thankful for Jim& #39;s work, & your tribute, Fred. /end #LGBHistory #LGBTQHistoryMonth https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
What a shame that GLAAD has fallen so far now, and has since 2015 been telling us that the term & #39;homosexual& #39; is offensive. Sadly Jim Owles died very young in 1993, but perhaps he& #39;s lucky he never saw this hijacking of his activism and hard work. https://archive.is/9V1lH ">https://archive.is/9V1lH&quo...
