]]> ]]> Contact info@historyproject.org for more information.]]> This upgrade was important for veterans in part because a dishonorable discharge disqualified them from medical benefits from VA Hospitals. If upgraded, benefits were retroactive to the date of application, according to the pamphlet.

This pamphlet was in Charles Shively's possession likely because his partner, Gordon Copeland, had been dishonorably discharged from the Air Force on April 3, 1953, In Charles' papers are also copies of letters written by Gordon to the Air Force asking for a hearing of his undesirable discharge due to "alleged homosexuality," as well as a letter to the Boston V.A. Regional Office requesting information on his VA benefits, both dated July 3, 1979.]]>

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]]> Contact info@historyproject.org for more information.]]>
Digital content made available by The History Project on DOCUMENTED is intended for personal research and educational purposes. Commercial use or distribution of this content is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder. The History Project holds copyright to select content made available in DOCUMENTED. Copyright to other content may be held by authors, artists, or their heirs, or may be in the public domain. Requests to reproduce, distribute, or publish content in The History Project should be sent to info@historyproject.org.]]>

to Gordon Copeland in which Allan shares that he is now going steady with someone, dated August 4, 1974]]>
In this letter, Allan gives his condolences about the death of a mutual friend or family member named Michael, and passes on a message to Judy and (another) Gordon ("I really feel bad and ... I wish them the best of luck"). He asks "How is everyone downtown? Busy?" and adds "Soon as I come home I'll stop in and see you. I really miss not seeing you [sic]." Dated June 28 1973.

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The Prince and the Pretender by Vince Lardo]]> Contact info@historyproject.org for more information.]]> ]]> ]]> ]]> Photo by Angela N. Russo
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]]> ]]> ]]> Contact info@historyproject.org for more information.]]> ]]> ]]> Contact info@historyproject.org for more information.]]>
Digital content made available by The History Project on DOCUMENTED is intended for personal research and educational purposes. Commercial use or distribution of this content is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder. The History Project holds copyright to select content made available in DOCUMENTED. Copyright to other content may be held by authors, artists, or their heirs, or may be in the public domain. Requests to reproduce, distribute, or publish content in The History Project should be sent to info@historyproject.org.]]>

Digital content made available by The History Project on DOCUMENTED is intended for personal research and educational purposes. Commercial use or distribution of this content is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder. The History Project holds copyright to select content made available in DOCUMENTED. Copyright to other content may be held by authors, artists, or their heirs, or may be in the public domain. Requests to reproduce, distribute, or publish content in The History Project should be sent to info@historyproject.org.]]>

Digital content made available by The History Project on DOCUMENTED is intended for personal research and educational purposes. Commercial use or distribution of this content is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder. The History Project holds copyright to select content made available in DOCUMENTED. Copyright to other content may be held by authors, artists, or their heirs, or may be in the public domain. Requests to reproduce, distribute, or publish content in The History Project should be sent to info@historyproject.org.]]>

Digital content made available by The History Project on DOCUMENTED is intended for personal research and educational purposes. Commercial use or distribution of this content is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder. The History Project holds copyright to select content made available in DOCUMENTED. Copyright to other content may be held by authors, artists, or their heirs, or may be in the public domain. Requests to reproduce, distribute, or publish content in The History Project should be sent to info@historyproject.org.]]>
Portrait of Ann Maguire edited for publication, Maguire is wearing a Beantown's Women's Rugby shirt. In the 1970s, Maguire hosted the WBUR radio show Gay Way, managed the Lesbian bar Somewhere, and served as the manager of Elaine Noble's successful 1974 election campaign. Maguire was a lifelong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and health access and served as the Boston Mayor’s Liaison to the LGBT Community from 1984 to 1987. Maguire passed away in 2023.
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Digital content made available by The History Project on DOCUMENTED is intended for personal research and educational purposes. Commercial use or distribution of this content is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder. The History Project holds copyright to select content made available in DOCUMENTED. Copyright to other content may be held by authors, artists, or their heirs, or may be in the public domain. Requests to reproduce, distribute, or publish content in The History Project should be sent to info@historyproject.org.]]>

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"Dear Skip,

This is a letter about you and me – strange that this should be the first letter I have ever written you.

It’s twelve o’clock midnight now and I have just finished washing my hair – I hear the screen door opening downstairs. If only it would be you but I know it won’t. This has become a set pattern that started a long time again – last Xmas.

We have been married a little over a year now but have never really known each other. We have never told each other what we really want out of life or what is deep down inside us. I so wish that our marriage could have been like your parents’ – no secrets, no doubts, sharing everything with each other, fears, dreams, hopes, and happiness.

I have always been jealous of your friends because they have always come first – first with your time and first with your money. I needed you so much while I was pregnant but you were always too preoccupied with your friends and I was hurt so because you could afford to buy liquor, entertain your friends, and gamble but could never afford to buy me a maternity dress. You often wondered why I loved [Pepper?] so – when I felt bad, hurt, or was just plain lonely, she was always there – she was the only comfort I ever had.

The first few months we were married I thought you were the most thoughtful man I had ever met and I was truly surprised how well we got along with each other. But now you seem so cold and aloof.”

The letter cuts off here, but on the back there is a note that reads “This is part of a letter I wrote you the night before I moved to Miller’s.”

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United Fruit Company
Theater Offensive]]>
Copyright L. Belmonte, 1987.
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Cablevision was a media sponsor of the 1992 AIDS Action Committee’s “From All Walks of Life” pledge walk on May 31 in Boston.]]>
]]> ]]> Contact info@historyproject.org for more information.]]> Who made this?

Em Gamber, Black & Pink Boston

Where was it made or acquired?

Photo at Jamaica Plain branch of the USPS

Story

Black & Pink is an abolitionist organization that seeks to build community and liberation of LGBTQ and HIV+ people impacted by the Prison Industrial Complex. We know that our family held within prisons is particularly at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, so we raised over $30,000 to send to our members in prisons across New England. These letters are from those members telling us what they spent that money on (lots of soap!), thanking us for the donation during this crisis, and looking for connections outside prison walls. LGBTQ people know we cannot rely upon the government to help us in times of crisis, we are each others' help and we survive through mutual aid. ]]>
@BlackAndPinkBos (Twitter)]]>

Digital content made available by The History Project on DOCUMENTED is intended for personal research and educational purposes. Commercial use or distribution of this content is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder. The History Project holds copyright to select content made available in DOCUMENTED. Copyright to other content may be held by authors, artists, or their heirs, or may be in the public domain. Requests to reproduce, distribute, or publish content in The History Project should be sent to info@historyproject.org.]]>
]]> ]]> Contact info@historyproject.org for more information.]]>