Lennie Carter

​About Lennie

 

 

I grew up on a farm in Ohio. By age 13, I was managing a dairy with my father. In 1974, when I was 21, I came out while still studying at Ohio State University. After I graduated in pre-vet science, I moved to Baltimore where I met Ormond, my partner for the next 20 years. Together with his former wife, we raised four children. After our relationship ended, I left Baltimore, including my job at Johns Hopkins University, and moved to Washington DC to take up a job at Georgetown University. I met my current partner, Charlie, on Good Friday 1997. At the ripe age of 46, I signed up for my first marathon - Amsterdam 1998. Since then, I have completed 26 marathons and am now training for my ninth Boston (At this stage of the game, I think I have earned some bragging rights!).   

 

 

 

​Questions

 

From Ohio farm hand to DC city slicker, who is the real Lennie Carter? There are a variety of Lennies. I feel like Morris [the cat] with the nine lives. I’ve gone through several and each time a new person is reinvented.

 

You’ve had two long relationships - with Ormond, and now Charlie. Is this part of your essence? I really like to have a partner, to be part of an extended family. Even if I were single again, I think I’d want to be part of a family structure.

 

You helped raise four kids. How was that? I was 22, and Ormond 40, when we met. For the first couple of years we were banned from going to his ex-wife’s parents’ house. Then one Christmas I invited everyone over to be part of a family. For the next 28 years, we have continued our Christmas parties. There are now five generations at them. Five years ago, Ormond’s ex-wife told everyone she could not have raised her kids without me.

 

As newly-appointed Vice President of Team DC, the umbrella body for LGBT sports groups in DC, what is that body’s purpose? To show young gays that there is a place for them. For example, Team DC gives talks at high schools so gay people can see there is a lifestyle beyond what many people have told them was the stereotype. In the past, the feeling was you couldn’t be gay and be in sports. Now there are whole gay sports teams.

 

Why did DC lose its bid for the 2012 Gay Games? DC did everything right. The reason Cleveland won is because they were given so much money in sponsorship – over a million dollars. But then that sponsorship money very quickly fell apart. At this point, they are not even sure they are going to hold the Games.

 

If Cleveland pulls out, could DC hold it? We could – but the Games are next year so the question is could we pull it together in that short a time.

 

You began running at 46. Why? The Front Runners. I had already met Charlie on a blind date , who was in Front Runners. At first I stayed in the middle of the pack but little by little, I could do more. I was a late bloomer – in my career too. From the age of 46 to 57, I’ve probably been promoted five times. It happened, I think, because I became more self-assured.

 

What is the brightest jewel in the crown of your illustrious running career? Running my first Boston Marathon, in 2000. I was almost in tears from the emotion by mile 5, with all the people cheering and kids running up to give high-fives. I ran 3.17 - my personal record for almost ten years.

 

How has Front Runners changed since you joined 13 years ago? It has gotten bigger and more diverse, especially in the types of runners, from the slow plodder who wants to get better to the Boston marathoners. Before it was a smaller, fast group.

 

What role does the club play in your life? It’s another part of my family. I love when people come up and ask my advice on things like training. They know they can confide in me – like a priest confessor or soccer mom. I feel good that I can be there for them.

 

You are a very active volunteer at Saint Matthew’s Catholic Church. Have you always been out to them? Yes. They all know about Charlie and me. I can’t live my life any other way. Saint Matthews, being in the Dupont Circle area, has a lot of gay parishioners. In their homilies, priests have mentioned gay relationships in a very positive light. I actually converted to Catholicism when I was close to 50. What I find appealing about it is the idea that you should do everything in moderation. As for its views on gays, if you believe in any religion 100%, you become so narrowly defined it can form your whole life.

 

As a lover of all things royal, who is your favorite King or Queen? Queen Elizabeth I. She became queen against all the odds, from being a female, to being daughter of a mother who was executed, to being declared illegitimate, to being put in a tower by her sister for treason. She ruled as a single woman, which was a first. I admire her tremendously - her fire, her strength – and the way she could take down a person with her steely eye.

 

Any tips for William and Kate, embarking on their royal marriage? A relationship is a lot of work. What I’ve always found is that at any one time, one partner carries 60 or 70 percent. But it has to approach 50-50 at times for the marriage to work.

 

Interview by Brian Beary, Design by Marcel Acosta

March 2011