And Then I Danced: Traveling the Road to LGBT Equality

by Mark Segal

A gay-rights pioneer shares his stories, from Stonewall to dancing with his husband at the White House, in a memoir full of “funny anecdotes and heart” (Publishers Weekly).

On December 11, 1973, Mark Segal disrupted a live broadcast of the CBS Evening News when he sat on the desk directly between the camera and news anchor Walter Cronkite, yelling, “Gays protest CBS prejudice!” He was wrestled to the studio floor by the stagehands on live national television, thus ending LGBT invisibility. But this one victory left many more battles to fight, and creativity was required to find a way to challenge stereotypes. Mark Segal's job, as he saw it, was to show the nation who gay people our sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers.

This is a memoir of one man’s role in modern LGBT history, from being on the scene of the Stonewall riots, to getting kicked off a 1970s TV show for dancing with another man—and then, decades later, dancing with his husband at a White House event for Gay Pride.

“[Segal] vividly describes his firsthand experience as a teenager inside the Stonewall bar during the historic riots, his participation with the Gay Liberation Front, and amusing encounters with Elton John and Patti LaBelle....A jovial yet passionately delivered self-portrait inspiring awareness about LGBT history from one of the movement's true pioneers.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The stories are interesting, unexpected, and witty.”—Library Journal

“Much this book focuses on his work, but the more telling pages are filled with love gained and lost, raising other people’s children, finding himself, and aging in the gay community. A must-read.”—The Advocate

Genres: LGBT, Nonfiction, Queer, History, Memoir, Biography, Biography Memoir

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2015

Reviews

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's an interesting story, but the man REALLY does not know how to tell a story. It might be interesting to note which senators he felt might be closeted- it is not worth noting, in parenthesis, everyone he thought ever had a crush on him.

I was hoping for a book about a movement- I got a book about an ego.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride! Publisher and gay activist Mark Segal brings the past several decades of Philadelphia politics and media to vibrant life in his personal story of coming out, coming of age, and of becoming one of the country's most prominent small press newspaper leaders.

From his family life to the radical activism that included the Stonewall rebellion, Segal shares his accounts of historic moments with a personal style; it's alternately touching, moving and hilarious.

The mostly color photo section offers a glimpse at the famous people and politicians with whom he's interacted - Walter Cronkite, Bill Clinton, Elton John, to name a few.

I also like the quality of the paperback edition itself, with ragged-edge paper, easily bookmarkable attached book cover flaps, and the readable font.

[Book Riot Community]

In 1973, Segal interrupted a live broadcast of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, protesting the nation's LGBT inequality and essentially introducing the subject into homes around the country. This is his story of a life lived as an activist, the people he has known, and the work he has done to further the cause of gay rights.

Tune in to our weekly podcast dedicated to all things new books, All The Books: http://bookriot.com/category/all-the-...

[Bryan Spellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Mark Segal is roughly my age, and we've traveled a somewhat parallel path. He has been much more active in the Gay Rights movement, at least on a larger stage. From Stonewall through the Marriage Equality success, Mark was front and center in many, many actions. His depiction of the onset of the AIDS crisis made me cry, and brought back so many memories. Mark echoed my own feeling that those of us, of a certain age, are survivors of a war. Told with humor, pathos, and a great sense of style, Segal's memoir should be required reading for all gay people, and any others wanting to know where we came from and how we got to where we stand today. I could not recommend this book more highly.

[Tex Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 of 5 stars – A Fascinating Person I'd Like to Get to Know.

There are many early champions of the modern glbtq movement, some with even better "credentials;" but Mark Segal was definitely one of the leaders of the modern movement in the early days and has continued the fight to this day, and his personal account is a fascinating read.

I was duly impressed with his long list of his at times just being involved in, but also helping to create and lead initial efforts of what are now commonplace glbtq activities. This began with the Stonewall uprising, and since, included of note his activism in Gay Youth, the glbtq media, and most recently glbtq seniors. Most significant for me was more of what was achieved (by him and his team who he credits) in his primary lifetime career in the glbtq media, including the honor of the highest journalistic award (not just glbtq) and more honors than any other glbtq media. He also had a mini-business lesson on successful news media and publishing.

I have a couple of minor things to mention. Segal tells his story in mostly chronological order; but it was sometimes hard to track his timeline - since he inserted future events about the same people/topic and then backtracked, and didn't always mention dates to anchor it. But a more major issue for me was that the story mostly went from one anecdote to another. The stories were entertaining, but I began wanting a little more depth in understanding and insight, and not just scratching the surface. If you will, it was more like from a newspaper reporter vs. a magazine or investigative reporter - it was objective but mainly described what happened, not the more in-depth analysis or self-insight, which I particularly would have liked on gay issues and how Segal was personally impacted by and dealt with them. Just as one of many examples, Segal talks about the break-up with his partner of 20 years and how torn up he was, but that was the first time he even mentioned any relationship, much less a partner after 20 years, and this was half way through the book, as part of a chapter that mainly focused on HIV/AIDS.

Overall, it seemed like Segal could hold court and tell great stories, maybe not with as much depth or nuance as I'd personally like, but definitely someone who would be fun to meet and have over for dinner or a party for some engaging conversation.

[WriteKnight · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Then I Danced was an interesting personal account of one person's involvement in the modern glbtq rights movement.

I like memoirs, and this one had some wonderful stories, historical snippets, just the right amount of name-dropping, if you call it that, and some perspective taking of where all this fit into glbtq history. I appreciated Mark Segal's relatively balanced approach of being rightfully proud of all he's done, but it didn't seem to be overly so or bragging about it, and he readily spread the credit to not only those who helped, but also those who even preceded him or initiated key ideas, and he respectfully mentions his opponents and naysayers.

Early on, Segal provides what I thought was a good, lucid explanation of why Stonewall became the defining moment, and not one of the earlier incidents. I had often wondered, and it made sense that part of it was akin to "it's the victors who write history." In this case, it's the people with connections, access and resources who got to write history from their perspective, rather than And in this case, Segal joined the lot, but not without adding a broader view on what really happened, not forgetting some of the forgotten, unsung heroes, mainly the transgenders and hustlers who were primarily the ones involved in the earlier events. In a way, it was a perfect storm.

Segal also depicted nicely the situation of "being gay" in those times: "In the fifties and sixties … if you were found to be homosexual, you were a sinner in religious circles … a criminal in legal situations … insane in the psychiatric community … unemployable by…governments. Pretty much a life of condemnation awaited you." That just about covers everything, doesn't it? Except I would have also wanted a phrase about having to be in the closet or else be fired or shunned in most commercial businesses.

Overall, it was nice to learn from one person's experiences what it was like, and how it evolved through the years. So I would give this 4.5 stars.
[I'm excited to have won this as a Goodreads First Read – so thanks, Susannah!]

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this author certainly knows how to drop a name, and lots of them. There were lists and lists of people he had met, worked with, slept with etc.; unfortunately this took away from what could have been a really interesting story, and made it a bit of a drag.

Why spend an entire chapter describing the Philadelphia Freedom Concert, unless it was to list Elton John's tantrums, and the chapter on building the seniors accommodation (a great achievement) was so boring, an example being, did we need to know who was responsible for security on the project?.

This was a disappointing read.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This August has found me contemplating our gay and lesbian fore-parents - the ones who came before, who fought great fights to get us where we are, the ones who lead the way for us with their vision and visibility, so it was exciting to read Segal's account of being a young man at Stonewall, of starting the Gay Youth support group, chaining himself to various things (including a camera at the CBS Evening News, when he introduced Cronkite to the gay rights movement and garnered his considerable support) to call attention to our cause, the political networking and so much more.

While I was reading it, I met a pair of lovely young women on the bus who were from Philadelphia and asked what I thought of the book, mentioning that they didn't particularly care for Mr. Segal. I could understand that from reading the book - my impression is that he could be a bit of a bulldozer for the cause, more concerned with advancing our visibility and fighting for our rights than being particularly nice to people. Perhaps that is exactly who we needed.

There are many stories to be told from the long history of our struggles for freedom. It was quite cool to read one of them and I look forward to reading others for a more balanced view. Do you know YOUR people's history?

[Steve's Book Stuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Among those who were there at the beginning of the Gay Rights movement was Mark Segal. Since Stonewall and his involvement in the founding of the Gay Liberation Front, Segal has been a lifelong activist for equal rights for LGBT people. This book is his memoir.

And Then I Danced takes us from Segal's childhood as a poor Jewish kid in the South Philly projects to his presence at the Stonewall riot and in the rise of New York's Gay Liberation Front, and then to his return home to Philidelphia where he has been a primary mover in advancing the LGBT cause, and is the publisher of the Gay Philadelphia News.

Along the way Segal was part of the "Gay Raiders" known for his "zaps" - targeted disruptive political actions designed to garner publicity and help educate the public about gay issues and concerns. The daring and visibility of their zaps increased quickly and gained national attention. Segal zapped The Tonight Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Today Show and finally, The CBS Evening News with Walter Kronkite. The network cut away when Segal ran into the studio while Kronkite was delivering his nightly report. Kronkite was so impressed with Segal's daring that, after the show resumed, he reported on the incident live. He questioned Segal later about why he'd done it, after which Kronkite began regularly including reports on gay issues and concerns on his nightly news broadcast. He and Segal ended up becaming friends.

I got the sense from this audiobook that Mark Segal is an easy guy to like. Though the book covers some serious topics (including AIDS in a segment I thought too short) the tone throughout is conversational, with Segal occasionally displaying a wry sense of humor.

The other impression I came away with is that Segal is an accomplished politician, in the best sense of the word. He had to be in order to have accomplished all that he has in the big city environment of Philadelphia. Much of his later story is one of the struggle for gay rights as a local, political fight with national implications, and his political wins are impressive.

Originally published in 2015, the audiobook version was released yesterday. The audiobook is narrated by Adam Barr whose smooth voice compliments Mark's story well.

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook and would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in understanding more about the struggle for LGBT equality, particularly from the political perspective. I rate Mark Segal's And Then I Danced Four Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐.

NOTE: My Advanced Reviewer's Copy of the audiobook edition of And Then I Danced was provided at no cost through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. The audiobook was published yesterday, August 16, 2021 by OrangeSky Audio.

[Eugene Galt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy of the edition that I reviewed.

This engaging and inspiring memoir, written in an accessible prose style, details the author’s involvement in LGBT activism over more than half a century and in HIV activism from the beginning. Not only is it fascinating to have a first-hand account of his methods and of controversies in the movement, but it is also helpful to have a reminder of how far we have come.

However, he falls into two traps common in works like this. First, he presents a view of LGBT history that is sometimes sanitized. For example, on transgender issues, how many more dispatches do we need from that alternate universe in which the TERF movement is a predominantly gay male thing? Second, he often strays from the topic to tell the reader how awe-inspiring he is. He drops so many names that the second half of the book often comes across as a textual equivalent of a brag wall, particularly in the chapter about Elton John’s concert.

Another thing that leaves me puzzled is that the author sometimes either leaves others’ motives unexplained or does not understand them himself and is not curious. While a memoirist has no duty to read minds, I still expect more on this matter, based on a combination of observation and understanding of human nature. He was there and knew those people; most readers were not and did not.

[Lyndsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating, heartbreaking, and inspiring book about the author, Mark Segal’s journalism career, his LGBTQ+ advocacy, and his life as a queer man in the time of the LGBTQ movement. His writing is engaging and his obvious lived experience seeps from each page. Thank you, Mark for sharing your journey and gift with us

[J Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Then I Danced is a wonderful story of both Mark Segal's experiences and LGBT equality movements history. Told almost matter-of-factly, it reads like a casual biography yet encompasses some of the most important and risky early attempts to make this portion of the population seen and heard.

Like any memoir this represents the writer's presentation of his actions through his own filters. Segal does a commendable job of supporting his recollections with reference to other biographies and histories and does not overly play up his central role.

Aside from the interest to those interested in LGBT studies and history (and hopefully continued activism) this memoir beautifully illustrates how our youthful exuberance for just causes can often lead us to think outside the box (or closet) without fear. Sometimes it takes the young to lead the rest.

A copy was provided by the publisher through Goodreads First Reads.

[Petter Kringberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

While in some places a bit long winded, I find this book a very welcome change to the more "catastrophic" memoirs written by some of the early LGBT advocates. While still describing some of the major setbacks in his life, it is very uplifting to see the focus on achievements of the early LGBT movement, especially as someone who has his own past in the same movement, albeit some 30 years later. All in all, I found it an enjoyable read, that gave me some facts I didn't already have about the early LGBT movement, but the book in itself is a bit to "rambling". I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewer Scheme.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty interesting. I definitely learned things about queer history that I didn't previously know. One thing that really stood out to me was the difference in language used by older LGBTQ+ people and younger ones.

While the author used the term LGBT it was mostly about his experience as a gay man and didn't go in depth into oppression/discrimination that affects other members of the queer community but that's not necessarily a bad thing because why would someone write about something that they personally didn't experience?

It's worth a read.

[Sara Habein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history, pat on the back writing with only surface-level insight. In other words, standard fare for any Open Lens-published memoir. The book also could have done a better job acknowledging bi and trans activists that spurred the early Pride movements, as most go unmentioned here. That said, Mark Segal has certainly accomplished a lot, and one should admire his tenacity.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely amazing memoir from an extraordinary man. I live in the Philadelphia area and remember many of the events and people mentioned but everyone should read this to see what a real activist and hero looks like.

I received this book as part of a Good reads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Abelirapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful memoir about one of the leaders of the LGBT movement. Written with heart and smarts. Just wish that the title of the book was better. Found the title a little to throw away than the true value of the book.

[Diane Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for the audiobook, which does not yet appear as an option on Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for the advance audiobook of this memoir in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I never heard of Mark Segal before. I really have been trying to learn more about LGBTQ+ history. However, after listening to this book, I think my understanding of the struggle for gay rights has doubled. From his experience as a teenager at Stonewall, through the founding of the Gay Liberation Front, from the early days of AIDS to the Philadelphia Freedom concert, with a cast of friends and associates ranging from Frank Kameny to Barack Obama, Segal has seen it all. Perhaps more importantly, as far as this book goes, he has the journalistic skills to write about it in a comprehensive manner, with enough personal and historic details to make it both entertaining and educational.

I don’t know how Segal himself would have done as a narrator, but narration by Adam Barr is excellent—I felt as though I was listening to someone tell his own story, at a really long cocktail party. Even some bits that might have been a bit dry were told in a voice that made them feel interesting and important. I had a tear in my eye more than once.

My only regret, after reading other reviews, is that by listening to the audiobook, I missed the photographs that appear in the print version!

[Ingrid Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Seal is a giant figure of change and human rights here in Philadelphia. I remember some of the things he talks about since they were happening as I was a young girl in north Philly struggling with the realization that I was gay.
It was the late 70's, early 80's. The Aids epidemic was just becoming front-page news; the gay cancer! I was terrified that I would get it, mainly because we had no idea how it was passed, and in my area of the city, no one claimed to be gay out loud.
I found the Philadelphia Gay News, which Mr. Segal was then the editor, and found not only was I not alone someone was working got make this life easier. I found d my tribe, and with Mr.Segal's unknown help, I found d my pride.
Gay or straight, history is important. We can never forget where we came from or those who gave their lives, their blood, and sweat to make life more equal for those who always felt disenfranchised.
The stories here are real, as are the people and the pain. But so are the triumphs and the challenges won.
Well read, engaging, and entertaining. Highly recommended.
Thanks to @netgalley and Orange sky Audio for the chance to listen in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important book illustrating one man's presence and influences in the long fight for gay rights in America. So I can understand why some people have commented on 'ego' and 'name-dropping', but I'm in awe that Mark Segal was physically present as both eyewitness and crusader during so many key events in the historic fight for gay rights and equality.

I'm glad so much detail was included. For me, that signified that Segal's purpose was to record historic moments in time, and not just tout his own brush with infamy. There are so many crucial details included that we all should be aware of and not forget.

Segal's memoir is so much more. As the history unfolds, it also gives a bit of insight into was people were feeling, how it was experienced and how it actually affected individuals while it unfolded. Many of the historical events, shared here, are available through many other sources. Important facts we need to be aware of and never forget. But here we have them shared in a more human perspective, personally lived and forever remembered.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelas · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an LGBT person who grew up in a very conservative setting, I had no idea where to start when it came to reading about the history of our movement. I didn't really know the roots all that well, or how we grew. Yeah, I'd heard of the Stonewall Riots, I'd heard a little about Harvey Milk, I know a name here or there, but I didn't have context or anyone to go to for help filling in the gaps.

This book does an amazing job of giving a personal account, with a great deal of context, to some of the bigger points in our struggle for equality. Not only do I feel like I've learned a lot, I feel like I really understand how it fits into the bigger picture. I found the narrative to be an easily navigable history, and the fact that it's a memoir made it more relatable.

I very much recommend this book to anyone who would like to know more about how this movement started getting moving and anyone who would like some motivation for continuing the fight forward.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm embarrassed to say, I didn't know who Mark Segal was, but Walter Cronkite, and a generation who watched him, does. A gay activist almost all his life, he was involved in Stonewall and the Marriage Equality Act and so much more. It was overly detailed on some things, like his passion project for gay senior housing project in Philly. Being involved in so many political events, there is understandably a lot of name dropping. For many of us, I think this book will generate the need to dig into some of these stories through other accounts.

This is an important accounting of the history of the gay rights movement, but I was hoping for a little more depth on the memoir side. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Adam Barr and he did a great job. I would love to see the physical version of this book as I understand there are photos and it would probably be easier to follow all those names.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a digital review copy of the audiobook (9 hours, 48 minutes). Publish date August 16, 2021.

[Maggie Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark Segal is a legend in the US fight for equality for the LGBT movement. His autobiography covers the start of his journey as a young gay man in New York City to his activism in his home city of Philadelphia and covers his work from the 70's right up to the present day. As someone who is lucky enough to live in a country where same sex couples are given the same rights under the law as their straight counterparts, its easy to forget just how much work has been done by people like Mark to get us to this point. We really are standing on the shoulders of giants. Mark's book is an important social history but also a lesson in how to advocate in a way that will get people to pay attention. I salute you Mr Segal and thank you for the amazing work you and your peers have done.

[Chris Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

And Then I Danced is an interesting story of one man’s role in the gay rights struggle in America. It was a great read in two ways. I learned something about the movement itself, its milestones, its turning points, the tactics that a burgeoning group of activists used to chip away at the discrimination LGBT people faced in their lives. But author Mark Segal also provides a personal account of his home life, his inner fears and reflections, and the relationships he formed in his life.

The earlier chapters that recount Segal’s activism are by far the strongest. Unfortunately the last two chapters, especially his overlong telling of the Elton John concert, are, well, boring and a bit self absorbed, even for a memoir.

Nevertheless, this is an informative account of a significant period in our history, and an interesting memoir of a man who has made important contributions to civil rights in America. A worthwhile read.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Then I Danced is a memoir by LGBT activist Mark Segal, from his days at Stonewall through the present. He was not afraid to jump into any area he saw in need of help and met many influential people through the years as a result. This was an interesting and entertaining memoir. Adam Barr did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

[Louann Cormier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a museum and was eager to learned more about the road the LGBT community has had in the past 50 years.

The book did share that story and I learned about organizations and challenges I wasn’t aware of (for that the book is a win), but I got lost with all the names of politicians along the way. While they are obviously important to the history, I would have like to have gone deeper into the topics at hand rather than the who.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars. This gave me interesting insights into the work that went into gay rights activism from the 70s until today. I liked reading about the strategies that were used and the effect each strategy had. I did think the stories went into too much detail. I did not really care which local politician said what at what point and who exactly was responsible for which little thing. This slowed down the story a lot. Still, I have a lot of respect for all the work Mark Segal did and continues to do!

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an honor to meet Mark Segal in 2016. I admire his strength, enthusiasm, and storytelling ability that has been integral in telling the LGBTQ story--subsequently changing laws. This sat on my "Currently Reading" shelf for over a year because I return to it any time I feel hopeless. I'm finally moving it over, but I won't stop returning to it.

[jules revel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my typical read, but it was quite interesting. This book is a memoir and as such it is deeply personal while also reflecting on important historical events in the LGBT fight for equality. I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by the author. I felt like this added a little something extra to the experience.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful, honest recounting of a man's integral involvement in the foundations of Pride and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Segal has a very distinct, vibrant voice and personality that leap off the page and make you want to listen to him tell his stories forever. It's a long read, but it kind of has to be.