Look &/or listen as my guest, house historian, Brian Hartig shares the story of a simple button that tells a BIG story.

You see Brian had left the Marine Corp in his early 20’s and settled in New Orleans, Louisiana. It’s not that he didn’t know he was gay, but he hadn’t fully accepted, embraced or announced it.

It was the early 1990’s in the deep south & they had sodomy laws on the books, anti-gay marriage legislation & many hate crimes spurned on by laws like the “Justifiable murder of an AIDS carrier”.

Brain & a friend decided to DO something about this and started L.E.G.A.L., a statewide non-profit that became the largest Gay & Lesbian organization in the state to challenge these laws and propose new laws to protect their community. What a BIG & BOLD way to come out!!!

My guest became the 1st statewide full-time lobbyist in Louisiana for gay rights. He spoke with members of the legislature & to the governor. With the support of Governor Edwards, they passed a hate crimes law that kept sexual orientation intact! The 1st one passed in the deep south!

L.E.G.A.L. came on strong and THIS is how Brian came out to himself, his parents, other family members and friends.

The non-profit closed up shop in 1997, after successfully challenging anti-gay laws & passing ones with equal rights ensured.

This button holds his Coming Out in a Big Way story!

Thanks for your service in both the Marine Corp & L.E.G.A.L. Brain!

You can find out more about Brian & his house history business, Brownstone Detectives: HERE

This simple wooden shoe holds a deep affection & perhaps Faith’s ashes someday.

This minisode was clipped from a LIVE virtual Show & Tale: Coming-Out Mementos & Stories for Out Professionals to build connections, community & legacy one story of stuff at a time.  ________________________________________________________________________________________

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