Parade Grand Marshall
Rupert “Twink” Starr
Let’s step back in time for a moment. It is 1981 and three young men are sitting in their apartment discussing the news that a local Moral Majority chapter led by the Reverend Jerry Falwell is starting in Columbus, Ohio. As we can all imagine, they were outraged. yet determined to draw attention to the discrimination that was being perpetrated on the GLBT community. These three activists staged a March down High Street. News footage from the event indicates that many of the participants marched in disguise, covering their faces with bags for fear of losing their jobs. After the March the organization now known as Stonewall Columbus was born.
A parade spectator who was hiding in the bushes that day watching the parade was former World War II veteran, Rupert Starr, known by his friends as Twink Starr. Twink, 86, a retired decorated veteran was captured and spent time in a prisoner of war camp during WWII. He has spent much of his retired life fighting against the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy currently in place in the US Military. This June, Twink will visit Europe and will tour the site where he was imprisoned many years ago. The day after he returns to Columbus Stonewall Columbus will honor him as the Grand Marshal of Pride 2009. After all these years, Twink will have the homecoming that he so very much deserves and you are invited to march and celebrate with him
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