By Fausto Fernós on August 28, 2008
Rick Stokes did what almost every gay man in Kansas did back in the 1950s- he got married to a woman. His wife knew that he had a number of gay experiences before they got married but whether it was naivety or wishful thinking, they thought his desire for a gay life would go away.
When his desires wouldn’t abate, his family, his wife and his in-laws convinced him to undergo electro shock therapy to cure him. After many treatments and with no guarantee of success, Rick opted out of this unusual treatment and ended his marriage. But he says later it was the kick in the pants he needed to help him to chase his own rainbow colored dreams.
He moved to Sacramento, CA to find the man who he would eventually spend 35 years with. Along with his partner, Rick formed the Association for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) to provide social interaction and to promote pro-gay action.
They group provided a place for people to feel good about being gay and to accomplish pro gay activities. One such activity was to raise awareness about STDs like gonorrhea or syphilis which were very common but were little understood by gay men or even by their doctors.
The pair eventually moved to San Francisco and became involved in the gay scene. Having acquired a law degree, Rick became well known as the “go to” guy if you got busted by the police for what were punishable offenses back in the day. Often times, people arrested for what was considered lewd behavior pleaded down to a lesser crime in order to reduce the risk of being found out and losing work. Rick convinced people to not “plead out” their cases but to go to trail. Eventually, the court system figured out that they weren’t go to win any of these cases so the police stopped targeting gay men.
Rick later ran against Harvey Milk for Supervisor seat in 1977 and lost. He will be portrayed by in the upcoming film “Milk” by Stephen Spinella, an openly gay actor known for his role in Angels in America and Spring Awakening on Broadway.
Listen as we talk with Rick about the horrors of being electrocuted in attempts to change your sexuality, working for gay rights in America at a time when being gay as illegal and where we are all headed in our fight for sexual diversity.
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By Fausto Fernós on August 27, 2008
Ding dong, somebody’s getting married on today’s Feast of Fools, could it be you? We’ve got a blue light special on gay marriage as we talk to Bill Stewart, K-Mart’s former Chief Marketing Officer who left his job and lucrative salary to campaign full time on his own dime to maintain marriage equality in California.
Stewart […]
By Fausto Fernós on August 26, 2008
We couldn’t stay away from the City By the Bay, so we stayed one more day with Kevin who is fabulous! And gay. So gay he makes a rainbow flag seem modest.
Being in San Francisco and Las Vegas and meeting up with YOU, our listeners in both of these fabulous cities was a real […]
By Fausto Fernós on August 25, 2008
What a night! Trannyshack’s Kiss-Off party came and went without a hitch, marking the end of an era in San Francisco’s drag scene and the start of a new one for all involved.
Over 3,000 delighted fans showed up at the Regency Center on Saturday night to watch some of the country’s best drag queens […]
By Fausto Fernós on August 21, 2008
I love having celebrities in my hotel room. On today’s show we’ve got three delicious stars in our penthouse suite at the Hotel Mark Twain in San Francisco- Peaches Christ, Heklina, and Lady Miss Kier!
The three of them, along with a multitude other fabulous performers will be working the stage on Saturday night at the […]
By Fausto Fernós on August 21, 2008
If you’re looking for gold in San Francisco, you can find it in the hearts and minds of every creative spirit that resides in the city, and in the warm hospitality we’ve found at the Hotel Mark Twain.
Okay, maybe I’ve been huffing the fumes a bit, but we’re just tickled pink by the graciousness […]
By Fausto Fernós on August 20, 2008
We’re in San Francisco! As the cradle of gay culture, the City by the Bay is home to fabulous folks who’ve shaped the way we think of all things rainbow.
Why did it become so gay? Was it the sailors that settled here after World War II? Was it the gold miners shacking up during […]
By Marc Felion on August 18, 2008
Nick Starr feels more comfortable text messaging than he does placing a phone call. Watching him work his iPhone, I see that his text message function gets used a whole lot. As an internet junkie Nick embraced texting early on, before it became many people’s primary form of communication.
He was also one of the […]
By Fausto Fernós on August 18, 2008
We’re in Las Vegas! A city full of bright lights, slot machines, lavish shows and tacky things everywhere. A great place to visit, but being surrounded by so many people gambling the night away on slot machines and roulette wheels makes me panic a little. Like the end of the world is near.
Las Vegas […]
By Fausto Fernós on August 15, 2008
How is the internet affecting us? Recently we held a public form (with LifeLube) on the topic on how online communites, podcasts, forums, blogs and videos are changing not only the way we see ourselves, but how the general public thinks about queer folks.
Let’s face it. There’s a whole lot of crazy on the […]
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Holireifelt | October 12, 2008
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TrickyToro | October 11, 2008
Levi’s openess about sexuality and his philosophy about love are incredibly refreshing. And, its very hot that he hangs out at the Faultline. It was a hoot...
Marc Felion | October 11, 2008
Stalk away Tomaz! 
Thank you so much for the lovely compliments.
Marc Felion | October 11, 2008
Folks, tell your mommas to vote for Obama!
Jon-paul | October 11, 2008
I just love this performance live in your apartment!
Posting tweet...
Gay Fun ShowHolireifelt | October 12, 2008
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TrickyToro | October 11, 2008
Levi’s openess about sexuality and his philosophy about love are incredibly refreshing. And, its very hot that he hangs out at the Faultline. It was a hoot...
Marc Felion | October 11, 2008
Stalk away Tomaz! Thank you so much for the lovely compliments.
Marc Felion | October 11, 2008
Folks, tell your mommas to vote for Obama!
Jon-paul | October 11, 2008
I just love this performance live in your apartment!
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