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October 25, 2019 | Volume XVII, Issue 11 4th demonstrations at In- Lived dependence Hall in Phila- large – delphia. In those days be- Bradley REMEMBERING Bradley Grant fore Stonewall, few people Grant had the courage to publicly BY JIM BECKER rived, their focus was not the neighbor’s proclaim their homosexual- Baltimore native and pre-Stonewall gay attempted murder; instead they arrested ity by marching in a demon- activist Bradley Grant died on October Bradley for holding a disorderly party. In stration urging justice for 11th at Gilchrist Hospice in these pre gay-liberation gay people. But Bradley Towson. He was diagnosed days this response by can be seen in photos of with lung cancer in 2016 Bradley Grant, the authorities was com- the event picketing with the and was able to live inde- who died October mon – -arrest the victim other courageous lesbians pendently and with much if that person happened and gay men, placard in his enthusiasm until ten days 11th, was a larger- to be queer. wounded hand wrapped in before his death. than-life figure Bradley was not bandages. Courage indeed! In 1968, Bradley held a about to be a victim – it Bradley was one of Bal- birthday party in his home on Baltimore’s was not in his DNA. He timore’s true characters, ex- in Dundalk with his many used this indignity as tremely outgoing – “larger gay friends, some of whom gay scene – and motivation for action! He than life” his friend Scott Ma- were extravagant, and his its unofficial contacted the Washing- cLeod said – and could easi- next-door neighbor was ton, DC, Mattachine So- ly command a room. Another not pleased. The outraged photographer ciety, met with someone friend, who occasionally took neighbor came over to his in Washington – likely him to his medical appoint- house and shot him. Fortunately, the bul- legendary activist Frank Kameny – and ments, described him enter- let hit his arm, wrist, and hand causing less than two weeks later joined them in ing the large waiting area at no serious damage. When the police ar- their annual Day of Remembrance July —continued on page 4 —continued on page 4 Reynaldo Piniella & Ryan Jamaal Swain in ‘A Beautiful Thoughts of a Colored Man An interview at Center Stage with ‘Thoughts credit: Michael Time to Be Davis in Keenan Scott of a Colored II’s Thoughts Man’ star Ryan Black’ of a Colored Man, Swain has Jamaal Swain BY FRANKIE KUJAWA brought intensi- James Baldwin once said, ty, light, and grace to his work. In Balti- “Fires can’t be made with more Center Stage’s Thoughts of a Col- dead embers, nor can en- ored Man (running through November thusiasm be stirred by 10th), Swain joins an extraordinary en- spiritless men. Enthusiasm semble that showcases the vibrant inner in our daily work lightens life of being Black, proud, and thriving in effort and turns even la- the 21st Century. Swain recently spoke bor into pleasant tasks.” exclusively with Baltimore OUTloud re- It’s evident in the first few garding this must-see production. minutes of meeting actor Frankie Kujawa: What can audi- Ryan Jamaal Swain, that ences expect from Thoughts of a Col- the dynamic performer is ored Man? the sheer embodiment of Ryan Jamaal Swain: I think what au- Baldwin’s words. From his diences learn to love from this piece is powerful performance as that it paints black culture – black men Damon on FX’s “Pose” to and black women – as poly-lith and not his magnetic role as Love —continued on page 12 2 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD october 25, 2019 • BALTIMOREOUTLOUD.COM loCAL NEws Knife-Wielding Man May Be Targeting Transwomen in DC BY LOU CHIBBAro, JR knife and demanded the victim’s proper- Reprinted by permission of the ty and vehicle,” according to an October WASHINGTON BLADE 15th police statement. “The victim com- Washington, DC – DC police are seeking plied and the suspect fled the scene in help from the public in identifying a male the victim’s vehicle,” the statement says. suspect who allegedly met two transgen- The statement says that on Tuesday, der women through a dating app known October 15th, the second victim and the as Tagged and forced one of them to turn suspect arranged through the Tagged over her car at knifepoint and stabbed app to meet at the same location at 4238 and robbed the other victim. Police re- 4th Street SE at approximately 3:32 am. “Once at the listed location, the suspect brandished a knife and assaulted the victim inside of a vehicle,” the statement says. “The suspect then fled the scene with the victim’s property,” it says. “The victim sustained non-life threatening in- juries and was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.” The statement says the suspect in the case from October 7th was captured by a surveillance camera and can be Suspected man in transwoman attacks, according to DC cops seen in photos released by DC police. “The suspect in both cases is described as a black male who is 6 foot to 6 foot 2 ports for the two incidents say the perpe- in height, with medium complexion,” ac- trator, believed to be the same person, cording to the statement. “The Metropol- met the first victim through the Tagged itan Police Department is investigating app and arranged to have her pick him these cases as potentially being relat- up on October 7th at approximately 4:45 ed,” the statement continues. “In each of am in a parking lot at an apartment build- the above cases, transgender individuals ing at 4238 4th Street SE. “Once at the were victimized after utilizing the Tagged listed location, the suspect brandished a online application,” it says, adding that department’s Special Liaison Branch is assisting in the investigation. Lt. Brett Parson, who heads SLB, told the Blade the LGBT Liaison Unit, which is part of the SLB, is participating in the Skip investigation. Anyone who can iden- Peacock tify the suspect shown in the pho- tos released by police should call 202-727-9099 or text their tip to the department’s Text Tip Line at 50411, the statement says. t (The original article may be found at Washing- tonblade.com/2019/10/16/1-trans- woman-stabbed-another-carjacked- after-dating-app-meeting) k Skip Peacock On September 16th, Skip Peacock – aka Tia Chambers – passed away from kidney failure. She was a beloved member of our community and our 1991 and 1992 Queen of Pride. At the time of press no other information was available but have been told by family they are working on his celebration of life. As soon as we get it, we will publish it. RIP Skip – we love you. t —continued on page 4 BALTIMORE OUTLOUD october 25, 2019 • BALTIMOREOUTLOUD.COM t 3 loCAL NEws it to its original Victorian appearance cancer diagnosis, he joined the Edge- – including a parlor ceiling mural, gas wood Senior Center. He became a regu- lighting and tall pocket doors. I painted a lar participant in the Zumba classes and REMEMBERING Bradley Grant mural for Bradley’s exotic garden that he in typical fashion, he stood out with this said he treasured always, even after he group of mostly women of his vintage —continued from page 1 Unfortunately, Brazil would not grant him sold the home. Always unconventional, that embraced him and sent him get-well the Kaiser Medical Center in Woodlawn permanent resident status so he was always ahead of his time.” cards daily. and announcing “All medical treatments confined to six months in brazil and six Bradley was active in neighborhood Bradley is survived by a cousin Bar- are half price until 3 pm!” He brought joy months in Baltimore each year. A snow- affairs in the Eutaw Place community. bara Griffith; goddaughter Christine Ma- and humor to so many people. As long- bird, he made his trips to Brazil to coin- He was very proud that he convinced the ranville; friends including Allen. Bonnie time friend Bill Bixler said, “Bradley was cide with the cold weather in Baltimore. city to repair the gorgeous fountain in the Thomson, Marianne Hill, Andrew Collet- the prince of many universes.” Bradley was born June 23rd, 1945. Druid Hill Park Reservoir. The fountain ta, Michael Carpenter, Scott MacLeod, Bradley was well-known in the Balti- He often said that he was born in the Hol- had been in disrepair for years. As a re- and his new friends from his Zumba more underground gay community of the land Tunnel travelling from New York to sult of his consistent persistence, the city class. 1960s and 70s, and because he had a New Jersey but his birth certificate reads repaired and re-lit the fountain. Sadly, A memorial service will be held but camera, documented many of the events Hoboken, New Jersey, the fountain has been destroyed as part the details had not been finalized at of this outlaw scene. of a major reconfiguring of the reservoir. press time. t His slideshow Shortly after Bradley learned of his of 60s and 70s Baltimore’s secret gay life showed a thriv- ing community of lesbians and gay men living their lives with ‘A Guiding Light’ joy despite the BY SCott MACLEod danger of dis- During the summer of 2017, I had the privilege to be invited to a slideshow retro- covery by the spective of Baltimore’s nascent gay scene in the 1960s and 70s, which had been straight world. painstakingly recovered from decades of photographs taken by Bradley Grant.

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