Out with Dr. Bill: Stepping Into Pride

Friends, Community, and Celebration—Teed Up for an Unforgettable Summer!

Our longtime Seattle friend, Rob Rosche, who now commutes between Seattle and Palm Springs, joined us for our holiday weekend. It is always a pleasure to see our beloved island through his eyes.

During the long Memorial Day weekend, Eric and I sampled a selection of red wines with the owners of the Pines Liquor Store, Stephen and Chris Nicosia, whom we consider members of our family. We also enjoyed shots of their new vodka, "The Pines Liquor Shop Boys," and took home a magnum.

We sipped rosé at Mark and Craig's, grilled chicken at John and Marco's – where Todd Sears was stationed at the barbecue – and attended the launch party for Pine Point, a luxury destination conveniently located just east of the harbor.

The crown jewel of the weekend, however, was the Pines Care Center event at Whyte Hall. The event was staffed with volunteers and organized through donations from community leaders and businesses dedicated to enhancing the Pines, making it one of the premier LGBTQ+ beachfront communities on the East Coast and a safe haven for the queer community. The entire community came out for the event. Located only steps from Whyte Hall, it has been a trusted care facility on Fire Island for 39 years.

This welcome-to-the-season party was a fundraiser for the 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides healthcare to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. We all gladly opened our pockets to support and ensure the Pines Care Center continues to grow and improve service quality, making it possible to provide services free of charge to every resident and visitor.

Suffice it to say, the community event attracted many important voices on Fire Island, including LGBTQ+ trailblazer Jim Pepper, who founded the Pride Initiative and led campaigns advancing legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, earning him the Harvey Milk Medal; Robin Byrd, who challenged the Supreme Court to protect her right to air explicit content on cable television, ultimately winning a landmark case that affirmed the First Amendment's protection of adult programming; James Dale, whose case against the Boy Scouts of America challenged the organization's policy of excluding gay members, leading to a landmark Supreme Court decision that upheld the Boy Scouts' right to freedom of association but sparked a national debate on discrimination and inclusion; and Stephen and Chris from the Pines Liquor Store, who took home an award that afternoon from The Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association (FIPPOA) for their dedication to enhancing the quality of life in Fire Island Pines.

Getting Ready for Pride

I look forward to all the exciting events on the Pride calendar. Each gathering is a chance to celebrate our unique identities, honor our history, and support one another. From parades to parties, every moment spent together strengthens our bonds and reaffirms why we love our vibrant, inclusive islands: Manhattan and Fire Island. Here's to a summer of love, joy, and unity on Fire Island Pines. Let's make every day count and create memories that will last a lifetime.