Challenging “The Clones” of Fire Island and Celebrating The Freaks at The Pyramid Club.

As Victor Mandolia grew up gay in NYC in the 1970s, he noticed the gay community was "homogenous" and referred to the type of gay men on Fire Island as "the clones." It wasn't until he set foot in The Pyramid Club that he found a more inclusive, queer community.
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[@Greggory1987]

This video was awesome and it reminds me of how much isolation, rejection and depression continues to exist within the LGBT community.

[@Austin8thGenTexan]

Here in Austin, we had a preppie club called The Boathouse. The music: Abba, Madonna, Annie Lennox, Pet Shop Boys, Kraftwerk. Everyone looked down upon the clones with the stereotypical mustaches and tank tops. Preppy Mexicans were called "prepsicans". Everyone wore the latest color in Ralph Lauren polo shirts or starched button-downs, khakis and Sperry Topsiders. Frat boys would take their girls back home after a date, and then show up to after-hours party with the boys. But that was soon found out by the girls - who would line the railings of the upper gallery and stare down at their closeted boyfriends dancing. How to deal with it? Ban open-toed shoes for admittance - so the girls were not allowed inside (wearing open-toed shoes was considered to be a "safety hazard" on the dance floor!) 🕺 🕺

[@rc5chi539]

Ahhh , the old issue of people being the same but completely different at the same time , neither willing to appreciate or understand the other without the judgement of first impressions .

[@earthworm4255]

This is a refreshing story. I went to SF Pride today. It's become a huge commercial now. The weird, edgy, different people are all hidden away. The BDSM area is behind a wall. It's just sad.

[@NoName-vq3zo]

Exactly! The community sold out and got caught up in being "straight appearing" and "straight acting"! The societal rebellion, self expressions and being freaky selves are looked down upon in attempting to extinguish what was unique and edgy about the community. In the attempt to emulate what is superior and normal to so many in the gay community, i.e. the straight community and straight men/women, they have, in my opinion, removed the edginess and made being gay mundane--it is not a step forward but many steps backwards! I guess to each his own, but the whole idea of gays and children does not agree with me, PERSONALLY, for that reason! In my opinion, if it is argued that being gay is not a choice but nature then it must be accepted, also, that nature then did not mean for gays to procreate and/or emulate their straight counterparts in that regard. I understand my concept is radical and controversial to some but that is my opinion and, damn it, I have a right to it! 😠😁

[@evalynnetorres7802]

@@NoName-vq3zo huh?

[@justynjonn]

Not all of us are freaks. What's wrong with classically handsome?

[@kaycee5129]

Love your story!

[@VIncentSunflowers]

My most fabulous Gay accessory was my mustache! So long ago when we were so very young.

[@monica8833]

Yes!...love being diffrent ☺

[@rustyalcorta3643]

Yes, yes, and yes....

[@Uarehere]

Are there any gay clubs in existance today that celebrate diversity. Or that play good music?

[@garyoz1821]

Get out of my house with all that gay.

[@christopher3386]

Selden, NY is where he grew up- not NYC.