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What have you done in your life that had any significance?

 

That question has stayed with me for fifty years.

 

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Taking the Lead at FSU

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In early January 1975, at the age of 21, I transferred to Florida State University after graduating from Pensacola Junior College. What happened next occurred within my first few weeks on campus. I attended my first meeting of the People’s Coalition for Gay Rights (PCGR), the official gay rights organization at FSU. I quickly noticed that no one was really leading the group. The previous leader had graduated, and no one wanted to step up and become so visible. Many members were still not fully out of the closet. I introduced myself and simply said I would be happy to take over. Just like that, I became the leader.

 

The People’s Coalition for Gay Rights had been officially recognized by Florida State University in 1969 — the same year as the Stonewall Riots in New York City. Decades later, when Google searches became possible, I discovered something surprising: even the two most liberal universities at the time — the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin-Madison — did not have recognized LGBTQ+ student organizations until several years after FSU. FSU was ahead of its time in this regard. I also started attending the Gay Rap Group, a safe space on campus where LGBTQ students could meet and talk openly.

 

The Court Case That Changed Everything

 

A few days after I took over, an older student handed me a copy of a very recent court decision: Gay Students Organization of the University of New Hampshire v. Bonner (First Circuit, December 30, 1974). The key paragraph that jumped out at me read:

 

“Absent the attendance of well-defined circumstances, a university must recognize any bona fide student organization and grant to that organization the rights and privileges which normally flow from such recognition… Moreover, although a university may reasonably regulate the activities of student organizations, once it grants a particular privilege to one or more organizations, the Fourteenth Amendment requires that that privilege be available to all organizations on an equal basis.”

 

This meant that if the university allowed other student groups to hold social functions, it had to allow our group the same rights. In the United States, a Circuit Court decision applies across all states unless overturned by the Supreme Court. This ruling gave me the legal foundation I needed.

 

I decided our group was going to hold a same-sex dance — and it would take place in the largest ballroom on campus. There was some initial pushback from the university administration. I mentioned that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was prepared to get involved if necessary. In the end, the university allowed the event.This dance was very likely the first (and possibly only) same-sex dance held on a major U.S. university campus at that time.

 

March for Equal Rights

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Around the same time, I led our group in a march through the state capitol in Tallahassee in support of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. After the march, I stood on the front lawn of the Florida governor’s mansion talking with actor Alan Alda, who was a grand marshal of the march (along with Marlo Thomas). He commented on how nice Tallahassee looked and how fascinated he was by all the Spanish moss on the trees.

 

The Book

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A friend who had written several books encouraged me to turn the story into a book so this piece of history would not be lost. I worked with a publisher, and the book was released. You can still see the book cover and my old student ID photo (taken about a week before these events) on this site. Unfortunately, the book also brought backlash. Some friends and even family members accused me of lying. They couldn’t believe that a shy, reserved young man could have done these things. But when a person sees injustice, it is possible to rise above your natural personality. The negativity and toxic comments contributed to the stress that eventually led me to leave the United States in 2019 for a fresh start in the Philippines. I later had the book removed from Kindle.

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Looking Back – No Regrets, No Need for Recognition

 

People have sometimes asked: “You must have been the big man on campus for LGBTQ+ students at FSU, right?”Actually, no. I never sought attention or recognition. I simply wanted to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ students in whatever way I could.

 

I’ve always preferred working behind the scenes. I have never considered anyone superior to me — whether a politician, executive, or billionaire — nor have I considered myself superior to anyone else. Equality applies everywhere.

 

Final Thoughts – 50 Years Later

 

1975 was fifty years ago. I created a safe space where a few hundred students could experience something that wasn’t possible at the time. I’ve often wondered how the people who made those cruel comments would answer the same question I started with:

 

What have you done in your life that had any significance? I did what I could, quietly and without seeking the spotlight.

 

And I have no regrets.

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johnfeldman09@icloud.com

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A New Adventure at 72

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After seven incredible years in the vibrant Philippines, I'm diving into a thrilling new adventure at age 72! My journey is far from over as I explore the wonders of Thailand, sharing the amazing experiences and insights I've gathered from Cebu and Baguio. Let's embark on this exciting chapter together!

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My Career After Graduating from FSU

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I graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Accounting and passed the CPA exam on my first attempt in May 1977 — an accomplishment I’m still proud of, given the exam’s low 15% pass rate.

 

IRS (1977) I was selected for training as an IRS agent and moved to Chicago. Two days before I was supposed to start, the offer was rescinded when the government learned I was gay. With a one-year lease already signed, I stayed and took the first job I could find.

Hostess (Twinkies) – Chicago I worked as an accounting supervisor for the company that made Hostess Twinkies. After a year and a half of harsh winters, I packed my Honda Civic and drove back south.

 

Williams, Cox, Weidner & Cox, CPAs – Tallahassee In early 1978, I joined a regional CPA firm — my dream job. It didn’t last long. At a party, I mentioned where I worked to the wrong person: the mother of one of the partners. I was fired shortly after because the firm didn’t want a gay CPA on staff.

Discouraged by the IRS rejection and this firing, I returned to FSU and earned my Master of Accountancy degree in March 1981.

 

Scientific Atlanta – Atlanta I was recruited into the Internal Audit department at Scientific Atlanta, a major manufacturer of cable TV equipment and satellite antennas. I studied manufacturing processes and earned my Certificate in Production and Inventory Management. I received several promotions and enjoyed working across different divisions.

Unfortunately, I was later transferred to a division led by someone who was openly hostile toward gay people. I was fired the day after starting.

 

Recordex Corporation – Atlanta I joined a small manufacturer whose financial statements turned out to be largely fictional. On my first day, I discovered the president was stealing payroll taxes. The company was insolvent and behind on vendor payments.

I immediately contacted the IRS, negotiated time to catch up on taxes, and worked with vendors to restore credit terms. I also uncovered the president submitting duplicate expense reimbursements. When I confronted him, he quit on the spot. Suddenly, I was acting president.

I later forced out an attempted side deal involving company tooling and stabilized the business. The absentee owner from Chicago flew down, and with his support, I found a buyer and relocated the company to Swainsboro, Georgia. I commuted 222 miles each way for seven months while living in a room at a kind elderly woman’s house. Once the company was healthy again, I returned to Atlanta. My hair turned gray during that intense period — I actually like it now.

 

Alexander-Seewald – Atlanta I was hired as Controller for this $60 million auto parts company. On my very first day — during annual inventory — I discovered a large portion of inventory (called “cores”) was intentionally not being counted, which was being used to understate expenses and taxes.

I raised the issue, and the VP of Finance soon resigned. Within days, I was promoted to Vice President.  I successfully obtained a rare Change in Accounting Method from the IRS to report income correctly going forward.

 

Verizon I started as a contract employee reconciling complex cell site costs. I proposed and helped automate the entire process, eliminating the need for a team of consultants. I was kept on permanently in partnership accounting.

Later, I noticed questionable “plug” entries for inventory obsolescence being made after preliminary results were known — essentially to manage earnings for Wall Street. When I refused to post one of these entries, I was fired the next day.

 

Callaway Partners (Consulting) I spent several years with consulting firms, enjoying the variety of work. My last and longest engagement involved restating five years of fraudulent financial statements for a former NYSE-listed company involved in a $2.9 billion scheme.

I thrived on the challenge and was well respected — at one point becoming the highest-paid consultant on a 300-person team. When a new Director tried to push me out over my salary, I continued delivering results, including stepping in to fix major errors on a complex partnership restatement that others had mishandled.

At age 54, after badly injuring my wrist in a horseback riding accident and with strong disability coverage, I decided to retire. I had also grown tired of firms that prioritized billable hours over ethical client service.