Oral history interview with Bruce Pennington

Bruce Pennington commences this audio file with the back story of when he realized he was gay and how that impacted him in North Dakota at the time. Pennington then discusses the anti-Vietnam War movement. He speaks about his life as a student at the University of North Dakota in 1968 and how he was visited while he was there by Ray Mongal, the co-founder of Liberation Move Service (LMS). Pennington then discusses his move to Washington, D.C. He explains his initial living situation on church street off of the 17th street neighborhood. Pennington then remembers the suicide of Marshall Broom. Penington begins to discuss the pre-stonewall era before he goes into detail about his life of homelessness in D.C. After telling his homelessness experience, Pennington speaks about bars he frequently visited and were popular in the D.C. area: 1832 (owned by Jonny and Kirby), Mr. Henry’s, and Hideaway. He goes into detail about the different environments of the bars at the time and the rules that were implemented. Pennington speaks on his experience in Georgetown - specifically at the Georgetown Grill. After, he goes into detail about the different cruising areas around D.C.; such as Dupont Circle, Iwo Jima memorial, Chicken Hut, Pixies, and other neighborhoods and areas. Pennington recalls his relationship with Margo MacGregor. Pennington then speaks about his relationship with Frank Kameny and the relationship between the gay community and the military. Pennington then shares about the creation of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) - D.C. and explains the living situation with six other members of the GLF. Members that were mentioned: David Aiken, Michael Ferri, Taylor Kirkland, Jose Ramos, Gil Taylor, and Joel Colimody. He mentioned another GLF member, Dr. Tim Kalmosy, who was the GLF Black Panther connection. Pennington then discusses his relationship with Huey Newton - another member of the Black Panther Party. This audio file is then finished with the recolection of the First National Conference of the Gay Liberation Front and the Revolutionary People’s Constitutional Convention. Pennington was still speaking about the Revolutionary People’s Constitutional Convention when the audio file ended.

1968-90s

Early gay male experience, Gay Liberation Front, gay adoption/foster parenting, Friends radio

Yes

Yes, recording available