ABSTRACT
On August 14, 1980, at the Democratic National Convention in New York City, Bill Kraus and Virginia Apuzzo formally placed in nomination for the office of vice president of the United States the name of Mel Boozer, head of Washington, DCs Gay Activists Alliance. A petition with over 400 signatures had been submitted on his behalf, and he was awarded the usual fifteen minutes in which to address the assembled delegates. This was the first time that an openly gay person had been nominated for this high office.
