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| Terri J. Van Dyke, a "Native New Yorker" (just like the original Frankie Valli song), was born on November 23, 1948, in Manhattan, New York City, at East Houston Street and Avenue D (as in "Drag" queen). In the summer of 1962 during a heat wave, his abusive, over-the-top, divorced mother threw him "out in the streets" at the very young and vulnerable age of 13. Terri remembered, "A few years later, my favorite girl group, The Shangri-Las, came out with a chilling song called "Out In The Streets". As soon as I heard it, I said: That's me!" Ironically, 30 years later, that song was included in the wonderful Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender ("G.L.B.T.") full-length feature movie "Stonewall" (1996). Terri was at the premiere of the film in Manhattan, NY with his longtime special friend Willson L. Henderson, who was the Stonewall consultant on the movie. They arrived, along with Queen Allyson, Rayette McCaffrey and Leigh McManus, in the historic, metallic blue 1969 open-convertible popularly known as the "Stonewall Car". |
Why did Terri Van Dyke's mother toss him out? Why else?
"I remember well one time when I was about six years old,
my Mother regularly took me to the neighborhood playground. The
cute
boy, Jimmy, from next door was there with his nice mother. We
were playing in the sandbox with a bunch of fun toys. I
kissed the boy! Although it was probably his first time, it
wasn't mine. He liked what I did and I did it again (and
again). His mother didn't care about an innocent gesture from
another child. But, my Mother -- and I recall this vividly --
loudly declared: "It's time for me to get another child".
In less than a year, my troublesome sister Melissa was
born. Fasten
your seat belts! My Mother
lived to regret that wish!" Seven years later, after his
high-anxiety Mother gave him the real "86",
Terri bummed a dime and called one of his "trix", who soon got him his
own walk-up tenement flat on Spring Street on the Lower East Side.
In the meantime, as an under-aged youth, he stayed with another
older male trick. And to give Terri some sense of "family", yet
another trick bought him a miniature collie dog that he gayly
named "Butch". From that time, through the Stonewall Era, until
1974, Terri lived life vivaciously and precariously as a woman!
Terri has uniquely lived every part of "G-L-B-T"!  [Photo courtesy of G.M.H.C. organization] Terri and his longtime friend and fellow Stonewall veteran Jeremiah Newton used to make regular trips from New York City to Atlantic City, New Jersey. These happy excursions were sponsored by the Gay Men's Health Crisis ("GMHC"). |
| Terri J. was elected Treasurer of the STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans Association ("S.V.A.") as of "Stonewall 25" in June of 1994. He has been unanimously re-elected every year as S.V.A. Treasurer for ten years through his demise in late 2003. |
| Pictured above (l-2-r) are: Princess Jenni June, Vice-President of the Imperial QUEENS & Kings of Greater New York, with Terri Van Dyke. The scene is after the "New York City 32nd annual Gay Pride Parade", which the S.V.A. led, on Sunday, June 24, 2001, at the Hudson Corner Cafe for the annual "S.V.A. Stonewall Sunday Brunch". In left background is Greg Lambert (with blue cap), the G.L.B.T. liaison of U.S. Congressmember Carolyn J. Maloney, who also marched in the Gay Parade with the S.V.A. and was present at the always fun S.V.A. brunch. |
| Just five days before the notorious "September 11th, 2001" terrorist attacks in Manhattan, shown above are (l-2-r): Willson L. Henderson, president of S.V.A.; Jenni June Egan, Vice-President of the IQKNY; Ray J. McCaffrey, Financial Secretary of the S.V.A.; and Terri Van Dyke, Treasurer of the S.V.A., at a wonderful, pre-Election Day political party for New York City Council (District 1) candidate Elana W. Posner on Thursday, September 6, 2001 in Manhattan. Ironically, it took place at a beautiful loft apartment in the World Trade Center area. Terri gave a very civic and moving speech at the event about the upcoming New York City Primary Day Election on September 11th. Terri worked part-time for any election day for the N.Y.C. Board of Elections. Unfortunately and sadly, said elections had to be cancelled and postponed for two weeks due to the extremist Islamic terror attacks on the World Trade Center's Twin Towers on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001! Terri was working at a New York City election polling place uptown in Manhattan when the terrorist attacks occurred in the very same town! The election site was then totally closed. Terri and all the other workers were sent home (and to be paid for a full 15-hour shift). The horrendous terrorist attacks experience was extremely disturbing to Terri for a very long time -- forever! |
| Stonewall veterans Rick Rodrigues (left) and Eldon Garrett and the IQKNY's Princess Jenni June Egan surround Terri, waiting in the 1969 "Stonewall Car", at the N.Y.C. 33rd annual Gay Pride Parade line-up on Sunday, June 30, 2002. |
New York Daily News Obituary for Terri J.
Van Dyke
The referred 'Domestic Partner' is another Stonewall Vet!
*
New York Blade News "Letters" remembering Trailblazer Terri Van Dyke
"A Trailblazer is Remembered" published letters from Willson Henderson and Bill Murawski
*
Sympathy Letter for Terri from his favorite Congressmember Carolyn
Maloney
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Letter acknowledging loss of Terri from Assemblymember Jonathan Bing
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Tribute on Terri from NYC Gay Parade organizers Heritage of
Pride
[Excerpts taken from the S.V.A. Website and the New York Blade]
*
=====2020:
51st Anniversary of the Gay Stonewall Rebellion=====
[Friday night, June 27
~through~ Thursday evening, July 3, 1969, Manhattan, New York City]
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