The Schoolteacher Comes Out
Robert Chesley was a school-teacher in upstate New York before he became a successful playwright. In “The Schoolteacher Steps Out”, a newspaper article from 1976, Chesley recounts what it was like coming out as queer to the students and staff at the ultra-conservative Dutchess County Day School.
Above: a newspaper clipping from a Poughkeepsie newspaper, 1976. Source: NYPL.
“Early last March, Bob Chesley came out to his headmaster at a private school in Millbrook, New York. Before his headmaster could say a word, Bob said: “I will not be coming back this September.” He had been a teacher at the school for nine years, but according to Bob; “Teaching was a dead end. I felt exploited and under-appreciated. I wanted to come out of the closet and work for the movement.”
Although his school did not greet his newly found freedom with open arms, there were no reported lynchings in Millbrook, New York. His headmaster, perhaps glad that he would soon leave the school, was not initially overly disturbed about the new discovery. He said: “Well, congratulations. You are very brave. You are braver than I am, or braver than I would be if, uh, that were the case with me.”
“Thank you,” Bob replied, “Now I’d like you to know what’s going to happen around here when I come out. I’d like to do it this coming spring. I don’t want to cause the school any special trouble, but at the same time I’d like to be visible. I think it is important. You should know that I’m pretty much out anyway, everywhere but in town and that’s likely to change pretty soon because I’m trying to get something started in this area for gay people.”
Excerpts from Chesley’s conversation with his headteacher. Source: NYPL.
His headmaster seemed to accept his decision. Shortly thereafter Bob left his heterosexual past, separated from his wife, and began to organise a LGBTQ+ group in nearby Poughkeepsie. Bob then drew up a proposal for a Gay Community Center. He had 250 copies printed and began posting and distributing them. He also obtained a list of 90 local members of the American Psychiatric Association and sent them copies of the proposals. Bob received two responses from the mailing. Both were positive. One person simply wanted to be kept informed while the other, the Director of Mental Health for Duchess County, wanted to meet with Bob.
He and an associate working on the project, Steve Barnum, went to speak to the director of Mental Health. He was extremely cordial and went over the proposal point by point.
The points read:
- Regularly scheduled open discussion groups.
- Counselling, befriending and responsible referral service in cooperation with area lawyers, doctors, clinics, social service workers, psychologists or psychiatrists, and churches of temples.
- A telephone counselling service or “hotline”
- A lending library of enlightened literature on the subject; perhaps the dissemination of gay publications.
- The sponsoring of speakers and events open to the public; the sending out of speakers to interested groups in the area.
- Social events as an alternative to the bars, which many people find oppressive.
Excerpt courtesy of NYPL, 1976.