Jonathan Ned Katz: Final Speeches from "Coming Out!," June 1972

Final speeches from Jonathan Ned Katz' documentary play Coming Out!, about gay and lesbian life and liberation, produced by the Gay Activists Alliance, New York City, in its rented firehouse, 99 Wooster Street, New York City, June 1972.

Gay-In and March

Female 1:

Today, together,

we have walked with joy

under a blue sky

and a yellow sun.

For too long in the past

in hiding,

we were night creatures,

sons of darkness,

daughters of the shadows,

fearful of the light.

For too long

we were strangers in this land,

queer people,

fugitives,

condemned to solitary,

isolated,

exiled,

outlawed,

mocked,

pitied,

denied,

your bastard children

consigned to oblivion.

Male 1:

For too long,

without protest or resistance,

we accepted it as natural

that your politicians

legislate us criminals,

your police

jail us for our outlawed acts,

your psychiatrists

deny our love legitimacy,

your preachers

condemn us for our sin,

your armies

discharge us with dishonor

(we are not good enough

to main and kill for freedom),

your employers

fire us,

your bullies

beat us,

your gangs

rape us,

your bigots

murder us,

your parents

disown us,

your comedians

mock us,

your liberals

tolerate us.

For too long

we accepted all this

as deserved

and natural.

Female 2:

For too long

we have been your laughing stock.

For too long

we laughed with you

and played the fool.

For so long,

for so many of us

there was something truly unspeakable

about ourselves,

a deep and secret shame.

We wore the mask.

Well, the masks are coming off,

your "freaks" are coming out fighting

to face you

in all our "unnatural" beauty.

Like those proud Blacks,

with their bushy naturals,

we "unnaturals"

are together coming out

to fiercely assert,

and joyfully celebrate

our natures,

openly,

without shame.

Male 2:

Our past shame,

we are at last learning,

did not come out of the blue,

it was your contempt

which we accepted,

internalized,

and made our very own.

When we have finally realized

that the depth of contempt

in whicih we have held ourselves

is a true measure

of the depth of hate

in which you hold us,

our anger will be uncheckable,

our actions against you

will burn with rage.

So,

in the words of a new-found comrade,

"Watch your step, honey".

Female 3:

In the past

we came to you

quietly,

with the proper air of deference,

begging for acceptance,

toleration,

and a little sympathy.

Well, you have missed your chance,

We not longer need your symnpathy,

There'll be no more begging,

no more hat in hand,

the down-and-outs

have had their day.

Male 3:

We who were invisible

now are walking in the streets

hand in hand,

smiling at each other,

openly.

At long last,

in public,

we dare to speak our name.

No, not speak, shout!

We have been silenced

for too long.

Female 4:

Together

we will work and shout and fight

Male 4:

until we have our rights

Female 1:

until all gay people are free

All:

until this society is changed.