Asbury Park’s Storied Queer Legacy Lives On As We Look Back
During some recently social media scrolling, I stumbled across a discourse involving several Asbury Park’s fabulous “elder states people” The discussion seemed to center around a NJTV segment from around seven years ago that showcased how Asbury Park’s LGBT community helped usher in a new generation of glory for the “City By The Sea”. Some of Asbury Park’s notables were showcased, offering their own thoughts and reflections on the Asbury that was, along with the Asbury that we are now lucky to reside in. Shep Pettibone was also largely credited with ushering in a new era for the LGBTQ community with the opening of Paradise.
After reading some of the discourse surrounding the piece (which seemed to resurface online after a number of years), I couldn’t help but wonder-if “old” Asbury Park & “new” Asbury Park were dancing to the very same song-just at different beats?
Based on the discourse that I went on to read, some felt that the video was trying to “erase the LGBTQIA history of Asbury Park”, especially leaving out the history prior to the 1990’s. The general vibe seemed to be that it was a “misrepresentation” and that a large part of the LGBTQ community was not being represented, particularly during the lean years prior to Asbury Park becoming the LGBTQ vacation destination and cultural hub that it now is. Reading through the comments was an ongoing thread of defiance, grit, and a demand to be heard and be seen; ironically the same traits that helped the community rise and help lead Asbury Park back.
Unfortunately, there were also backhanded comments leaning into the “kids these days” archetype, many of which I felt were misdirected. (It should be noted, that the theme of the piece was to discuss the comeback for the LGBTQ community in Asbury Park post-1970’s riots; the community prior to that was not mentioned).
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Prior to the riots of the 1970s, there was a vibrant and diverse LGBTQ scene in Asbury Park. Spaces like PJ’s Cabaret, The M&K, The Odyssey, & Down The Street launched the careers of queens and performers when the thought of a television show on a major network giving them their flowers was just wishful thinking. As Asbury Park started to turn around post-riots, queens like Chantel Curtis helped bridge the gap between the “old” and “new” Asbury Park. We also had a notable and close-knit trans community during the leaner times for Asbury Park as well. (Who knows-you may see some of them in upcoming articles in this column)….
Asbury Park of today showcases queens like Cee’Mour Cox, Tastie and Jolina Jasmine with weekly shows in Asbury Park, many of which offer stages to brand new performers. Paradise also has the dubious distinction of having four former Miss Paradise winners take the stage on what is now the largest stage in the world for the art of drag; RuPaul’s Drag Race. Honey Davenport, Sapphira Cristál, Olivia Lux and Crystal Envy have gloriously and proudly represented themselves and Asbury Park on the international stage.
Asbury Park’s queer community of today should be vividly aware of the performers and community members that came before them. These performers don’t need recognition in a news segment; their impact is felt all around our community. Every time a performer hits the stage or a same sex couple walks down Cookman Avenue, the LGBTQ community of Asbury Park’s yesteryear are witnessing the fruits of their labor & can take pride in their impact on our wonderfully diverse community.
Follow Michael Cook (Cookie) on Instagram @cookie74
