He Won a Varsity Letter at 16. He Finally Got It When He Was 79.
Carol Pogash, New York Times
Feb. 28, 2021
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Tom Ammiano at his home in San Francisco, Feb. 21, 2021. Ammiano, an early openly gay comedian and a prominent California elected official, believes his effeminate mannerisms led his New Jersey high school to deny him his letter in track. At the age of 79, he’s finally getting it. (Christie Hemm Klok/The New York Times)Christie Hemm Klok/NYT
He was a skinny high school student who had asthma, a high-pitched voice and effeminate mannerisms. He kept his distance from football players, who he said bullied him, but when his Catholic school in New Jersey formed a track team, Tom Ammiano decided to join.