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Pines Profile - Eric L. Sawyer (b. 1954)
“Eric is a true hero. What he did – and still does -- the sacrifices he makes and what he has accomplished for our community, is simply remarkable.”
- Jim Pepper, Former Board Member GMHC, and Founder of Stonewall Community Foundation.
The Pines Halloween Party (est. circa 1975)
The Pines Halloween Party is not just a costume ball. It is a life-affirming, booty-shaking, sexy, flirty celebration. Fueled by an energizing mix of summer hits and classics, off the chart decorations and a crowd that’s dressed (or some cases, undressed) to slay, it’s the Pines way of saying, “See you next season, darling!”
Gaying the Pines
Today, Fire Island Pines is known as a Gay Mecca. LGBTQ+ people from around the world flock to enjoy its beaches, homes and entertainment in the full knowledge they can safely be their authentic selves here. But it wasn’t always that way. In a previous article Keeping The Gays Out: The Pines in the Late 1950s FIPPOA Board member and long time Pines resident Gary Clinton described the extensive efforts taken by some community members to keep gay people out of the Pines. As he noted, those efforts died down in 1959 after the largely gay population in Cherry Grove flocked to help the Pines fight the Memorial Day fire that destroyed the Botel. In this article, Gary describes when the shift occurred in the Pines and gays came to be in the majority.
Lambda Legal: Where Fire Island History Meets the Fight for Equality
What began as a radical idea around a pool in Fire Island Pines, Lambda Legal is now the nation’s most influential LGBTQ+ legal organization. It continues to have deep roots in the Pines, with its annual fundraiser, Lambda in the Pines, being the country’s longest-running queer fundraiser. It is a shining example of the ingenuity, dedication, persistence and resilience of the Pines Community in support of the rights of LGBTQ+ people across the country.
Fag Hag… An Ode To The Women Formerly Known As 'Fag Hags.'
Gay and straight Women have always been part of Fire Island Pines history. However, the straight girls that had a gay bestie, and who became one of the boys have played a role also. In the 1970’s these girls would be known as a Fag Hag. A name that was used both as affection and ridicule…