Christopher Park History Lesson

Gay Liberation, Christopher Park
“Gay Liberation”, Christopher Park, Christopher Street

Gay Liberation” is a life-size bronze sculpture by George Segal that depicts two same-sex couples, female and male. In 1991 it was installed in Christopher Park, which is often mistaken for Sheridan Square, a bordering park, because it has a statue of Philip Henry Sheridan in it. Sheridan was a Union calvalry commander and Indian fighter who is best known for saying “The only good Indian is a dead Indian.” Christopher Park is located on Christopher Street, which has the reputation of being the gayest street in New York, dating back to WWII when it provided R&R for gay sailors. You may recognize the Gay Liberation statues from the movie Big Daddy. This is where Adam Sandler teaches the kid to spit. On Sunday the weather was still quite chilly, but it was sunny for a change, so I sat in Christopher Park, people watching and reading.