Ed koch gay

I have no feeling of having failed in my responsibilities. It was quite dangerous. MH: But you seemed to be willing to discuss it through appearances in these films. We did more than any other city. Our exchange went like this:.

There always seem to be people who are interested in my sexual orientation. What other questions do you have? Edward Irving Koch (/ kɒtʃ / KOTCH; [1] December 12, – February 1, ) was an American politician. Next question! Speak up!

Ed Koch the Ambiguously

MH: That would depend on the context. For gay activists—and especially AIDS activists—Koch is now being incinerated in his own special place in hell for not doing enough during the early onslaught of the epidemic. To many, Koch was a colorful politician who often straddled the line between right and left as he forged his own path, pulling New York away from the brink of bankruptcy during his time as mayor —89but taking the city to a place of greater class divisions.

MH: But billions of people know who you are. After asking him about two non-gay issues, I brought up the documentaries and his appearance in them. That some would see this as a major flaw while others only a mere footnote drives home just how differently people see the AIDS crisis to this day.

If you came out it would have tremendous impact. I asked Koch about his support for George W. The AIDS epidemic took a terrible toll in New York City. What was odd about Koch was the way in which his staunch dismissals of any questions surrounding his sexual orientation became as famous as his other foibles.

He served in the United States House of Representatives from to and was mayor of New York City from to The Morning Ed Koch’s Secret He defined the role of a big-city mayor, but his personal secret affected his response to a major crisis. It was made worse because Ed Koch was afraid that it might reveal the truth about himself.

MH: Like about being gay.

The Story of Former

Most mainstream papers were coy about a fact that almost everyone knew—that Koch was gay—while some noted that he had remained a bachelor his whole life and had no children. It was one of the proud moments of my life. Getting the interview proved strangely easy.

Ed Koch: Like what? Yes or no?! I volunteered as one of the lawyers to go down there. Two years ago, I briefly entertained the fantasy that Koch might be willing to let me in on his secret. Within about two hours I heard back from an assistant and we arranged a time for me to meet with him in his swank high-rise office.