Gays in the river valley—now part of the establishment?

By TOM KANE

SULLIVAN AND WAYNE COUNTIES — In the last few years, gays have quietly moved into communities along the Delaware River Valley and have become a respected group among local residents.

Despite the expected opposition of a few people, same-sex couples and their households are generally being accepted in all communities.

An example of this occurred a few weeks ago, when a celebration of gay music and culture at the Delaware Community Center, called “A Day to Be Gay in the Catskills,” was sponsored by WJFF radio and attended by nearly 400 people.

“Many of them were straight [heterosexual] people – about a third I’d say,” said Kathy Rieser, a lesbian who broadcasts a WJFF program every Friday evening at 10:00 p.m. called “Out Loud and Queer.” The program has been on the air for nearly five years.

Rieser is also the owner/operator of Trash Queen Enterprises, a company that hauls trash and does snowplowing in the winter.

“It was a very positive experience for us in every way,” said Tess McBeath, chairperson of the Delaware Community Center, which is also known as the Callicoon Youth Center.

A few letters of opposition and a few letters of support appeared in the Sullivan County Democrat both before and after the event.

“Some people in the community called us, opposing the event. But that was to be expected,” McBeath said. “The board of the center decided in favor of the event. After the event there was no opposition to speak of.”

The center received a donation of $2,000 from the organizers.

“A Day to Be Gay,” held on Sunday, August 18, featured musical and dancing groups and included an array of local vendors of arts and crafts as well as food vendors. Among the sponsors, besides WJFF, were The River Reporter, The Town Crier, Oasis Animal Sanctuary and Trash Queen Enterprises.

“It came at a very auspicious time, when we were having trouble meeting our summer payroll,” McBeath said. “It was a big help.”

The group also donated $4,000 to WJFF.

A “Catskill Ride for AIDS,” a three-route bicycle ride will be held on September 16. Proceeds will be used to support medical research to alleviate HIV/AIDS.

There are websites linking the gay community. For more information visit outinthecatskills.com.

“We’re all getting along,” McBeath said. “It’s a nice place to live no matter what your ethnicity or sexual orientation. It should make no difference.”