Just fifty miles east of Manhattan, Fire Island has been considered a gay village since the 1950s, with the stretch of land between Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove—known as the Meat Rack—being a safe haven for repressed gay men to fully express and experience their sexuality.
In this episode, we’re diving into the island's rich history, tracing its evolution from a secluded getaway for artists and bohemians to a thriving vacation destination for the queer community, and discussing the growing threat it faces from the impacts of climate change.
Additional Resources:
- 24. Gay Villages: Won't You Be My Gaybor?
- Fire Island Facts
- Origin of "Fire Island"
- A History of Early Sayville by Clarissa Edwards
- The Seal Island Legend by Robert H. Spencer
- The History of Fire Island
- Once Upon a Time There Was a Place Called Fire Island
- The Very Gay History of Fire Island
- The Meat Rack on Fire Island Est. 1950’s
- The Botel History Est. 1960
- 1968: After Dozens Of Acquittals, Police Forced To End Raids On Gay Haven
- Before Stonewall, Cherry Grove: How a Beach Town Became a Gay 'Safe Haven'
- 19. The Queer History of Disco
- Hidden in a Fire Island House, the Soundtrack of Loss and Love
- The GMHC Morning Party 1983-1990
- Fire Island's LGBTQ Heritage
- Fire Island National Seashore Action Plan