Archives

Pines Profile: Bob Levine (b. 1933)
1950's, 1960s, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's, The Invasion, Cherry Grove Virun Rampersad 1950's, 1960s, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's, The Invasion, Cherry Grove Virun Rampersad

Pines Profile: Bob Levine (b. 1933)

Robert “Bob” Levine, known to generations of Fire Islanders as the incomparable Rose Levine, is an indelible part of Fire Island history. For more than seventy years, Bob has been one of the most recognizable, beloved, and enduring figures in the history of both Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines. While he best known as a legendary drag entertainer, Bob has also been a chronicler, a social icon, and a bridge builder between Fire Island’s two LGBTQ+ communities.

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The Lawyer Who Helped Make Fire Island Safe for Gay People
1960's, Gay Culture, Pines Profiles, Pines People Virun Rampersad 1960's, Gay Culture, Pines Profiles, Pines People Virun Rampersad

The Lawyer Who Helped Make Fire Island Safe for Gay People

Many people believe Stonewall was the event that made the Pines and Cherry Grove safe for gays. While the 1969 riots played a major role, one year prior, the Mattachine Society and a straight Long Island lawyer, Benny Vuturo, effectively stopped the shameful police raids and arrests of gay men in the community..

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