User:Moni3/lahusen
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On October 9, 2007 Kay Tobin Lahusen called me in response to a letter I sent to her. In the letter, I attached the article for Barbara Gittings that I added about 95% of the content to, and asked her to edit it where she saw it was necessary. I also asked her some clarifying questions that she answered. Because her clarifications aren't published, as of October 15, 2007 I am not allowed to post them in the Gittings article. But because I have a notoriously bad memory I took notes throughout our conversation and I wanted to put that information here, hoping that someday it will be published. If you have reached this page in hopes of writing an article about Gittings (you really should) leave a message on my contact page with your email address and I will correspond with you for fact checking issues.
- Regarding the picketing in 1965: Lahusen felt as if "a great weight was lifted off my shoulders" in coming out publicly. They picketed at the White House, the State Department, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia all in 1965. Lahusen said she and Gittings were "apprehensive" about the picketing, but never felt as if they were in danger. Guards were stationed by the White House, and except for the picketing session at the State Department, their picketing sessions were not announced so no one was expecting them to be there. However, passersby and people who witnessed them treated them to "general disdain" and "laughter, derision, and contempt" as stated by Lahusen. One woman told them, "You people should be ashamed of yourselves." She and Gittings, she said, were "thrilled to be doing it (the picketing)." The picketing sessions lasted about an hour to an hour and a half, and after the first one, Lahusen believes they went to the Paramount, a gay restaurant in DC.
- Regarding the reason that Gittings was ousted as the editor of The Ladder, I read two conflicting stories about the reason for this. Manuela Soares, in "The Purloined Ladder" article stated the reason she was ousted was because the issue after the DOB convention was completed late. In the article on afterellen.com, the reason is stated as Gittings removed "For Adults Only" on the front cover of the magazine without consulting with DOB leaders. Lahusen attests the reason Gittings was ousted was because multiple issues were submitted late. Gittings, Lahusen, and a few other women were responsible for editing the issues. They were unpaid and according to Lahusen, it was a full-time job to do it. Plus, being in Philadelphia, where Gittings and Lahusen were living at the time made the deadlines even more difficult. It had to be sent to San Fransisco to the DOB office, then to the typesetter's. In reference to removing the "For Adults Only" on the front cover of The Ladder, Lahusen said Gitting and she consulted an attorney in San Fransisco to make sure they were not breaking obscenity ordinances. Although DOB leaders weren't pleased with the action, the attorney told Gittings and Lahusen that "For Adults Only" wasn't necessary because the content of the magazine was not legally considered obscene at the time. When Gittings was no longer the editor, "For Adults Only" was replaced on the front cover.
If I have further correspondence with Lahusen about Gittings' life, I will post that information here.
