Invasion of the Pines
By Pepper Beaumont
8 Jul 2009
Off the coast of Long Island, New York there is a small island called Fire Island. There you will find a small community called the Pines. There are no streets, only boardwalks. To carry your groceries from the store to your home you will find toy wagons to be quite useful. With picturesque forests and pristine beaches it truly is a paradise.
One sultry summer afternoon on July 4, 1976, a gentleman by the name of Terry Warren was denied entry into a restaurant located in the Pines because he was dressed in drag. Not to be outdone, he returned to the neighboring community, Cherry Grove, and told his friends of the intolerance. It was then decided that they would all don their gayest apparel and invade the Pines via water taxi. Like any good drag queen, they had a voice that needed to be heard. Surprisingly, during their invasion of prejudiced land they were greeted with a warm welcome and because of this, the Invasion of The Pines has become a yearly pilgrimage every 4th of July.
With brightly colored wigs, feathers and sequins the red carpet is now literally rolled out for this photographer's paradise. A large boat brings over a bevy of beauties that seems to multiple every year. With flashes going off every where one might think they were in the company of Madonna, Marilyn or Mariah and if you look around carefully you'll see that you actually are. Everyone is friendly, welcoming and tolerant. Everyone stops and poses for a snapshot here and there with lipsticked smiles and large hearts. Some stuff their bras and others tuck their. . .well, you know what but, all stand for the same thing: equality.
The festivities start around noon and last through the wee hours. The memories, however, will last a lifetime. This is a pictorial of The Invasion of The Pines some 33 years later.
2 responses
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Suzie Burt gave props (9 Jul 2009):
Great story!!
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Kim Pac gave props (10 Jul 2009):
I have been here.. you have captured the energy perfectly!!! Great story!
