GAY ACTIVIST ANSWERS QUESTIONS 1972

In 1972, gays answering blunt questions on television was new territory. I was the first homosexual to appear on television, full-faced & undisguised, in NYC on the Les Crane Show in 1965.
I went to Chicago to be on the Kupcinent Show in the 1960s because there was no homosexual willing to appear on TV in Chicago.
I used the first money I made in the hippie-oriented anti-war slogan-button business to buy the first portable Sony CV video system. Using that equipment saved this one Pittsburgh appearance from the trash-bin of history. TV stations didn't save tapes of even nationally broadcast shows, so virtually none of the early appearances by LGBT activists even after Stonewall and into the 1970s have survived.
I consider this my best appearance as an early activist--taking on all callers. I always could talk :-). Even the Hotline host made a joke about that.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• gay
• history
• Randolfe
• Randy
• Wicker
• Hotline
• 1972
• Pittsburgh

[whitenoiz1]

OMG!!! thank you for your ground-breaking work! i cannot believe your aplomb in talking sanely to people in PITTSBURGH in 1972. your answer to the first caller was amazing. and sad to say, we are still answering these same questions.

but thank you for your ground breaking work.

[RandolfeWicker]

@whitenoiz1 Thank you for the appreciation. There is too little encouragement given to all activists in every cause. Please, keep commenting on videos in which you appreciate the work that activists in any cause do.

[beatlestoneful]

Was this the old Les Crane show??Its black & white and les crane had a show at 1am on ABC (wikipedia) in 1965.

[RandolfeWicker]

@beatlestoneful I was the one on that show but we were never able to get a video of it. It was the first time than an LGBT spokesperson faced an audience & took call in questions. That was in 1964 or 1965. I remember a technician who followed me out to the car & with tears streaming down his face told me how much he appreciated what I had done.

During the 1970s & 1980s, people came into my Art Deco shop & always commenced by saying: "You changed my life..." I knew the rest of what they'd say.

[medjfootball]

Randy I'm sure you must be quite proud of this tape. I's brilliant. Both Les & yourself were very relaxed & the whole interview was so free flowing & interesting. You were very handsome then but.... you still got that twinkle in the eye. The Maths. didn't quite add up @ one stage but apart from that the intelligence shone through from start to finish. Thanks a million for your channel.

[RandolfeWicker]

@medjfootball Thanks for the positive comment. Got busy with filmmakers making documentaries on Marsha P. Johnson, Vito Russo & "Don't Ask Don't Tell" so I've only been on the Internet sporadically during the past couple months---there is a real "world/life" out there. I find I either spend too much time on the computer or I just avoid it as much as possible.

[RandolfeWicker]

@Zeppelintroll69 Sorry to disappoint you but I'm HIV Negative, in perfect health & 73 years old. I certainly did enjoy safe sexual adventures while using condoms & avoiding it.

Hope you always use a condom with your sexual partner...not just for your mutual protection but to spare a possibly-LBGT child from having an unloving father like you.

[RandolfeWicker]

@Zeppelintroll69 No, if you're a male in prison having gay sex, you're just another male getting layed any way he can.

[RandolfeWicker]

@beatlestoneful No, this was in Pittsburgh in 1972. However, I was the same person who appeared on the 1965 Les Crane Show which was the first time a homosexual spokesperson appeared on television without a disguise. 

I did equally well on the Les Crane Show.

However, this appearance was more relaxed and a lot more fun.

[beatlestoneful]

Was this the old Les Crane show??

[Zeppelintroll69]

So if I am in prison and I have gay sex does that mean im a pipe smoker?