#smithonianpride

Photo: Mel Boozer on the floor of the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 13, 1980. (Washington Blade archive photo by Lisa M. Keen)

#OnThisDate in 1945, national LBGTQ rights leader Melvin ‘Mel’ Boozer was born. A D.C. native, Boozer led a brief, but brilliant career as an activist following his 1979 graduation from Yale with a Ph.D. in Sociology. In 1979, Boozer became the first African American President of the now Gay & Lesbian Activist Alliance of Washington, D.C., serving two one-year terms. During his tenure, GLAA lobbied for the temporary passing of the Sexual Assault Reform Act, which eliminated D.C laws that discriminated against LGBTQ communities. This was later repealed by the U.S. Congress. In addition, Boozer led the GLAA to successfully gain the right to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. This act uplifted the service and memory of both LGBTQ and all others who lost their lives in service to the military.

“The priorities of Black gays cannot be fairly evaluated by the standards of a white agenda.”

Taking advantage of a Democratic Party rule, Boozer addressed the 1980 Democratic National Convention in New York as a prospective Vice-Presidential nominee. Using this platform, Boozer gave a moving speech that linked the bigotry against LBGTQ communities to bigotry that threatened the Civil Rights movement. Before dying of an AIDS-related illness, Boozer was honored for his contributions to the LBGTQ community and whole of D.C in 1987 by former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry and the D.C. Council.

“I know what it means to be called a nigger and I know what it means to be called a faggot, and I understand the difference in the marrow of my bones.  And I can sum up that difference in one word: NONE.  Bigotry is bigotry.  Discrimination is discrimination. It hurts just as much.”