All articles tagged with #lgbtq history
Edmund White, a pioneering gay author and influential figure in LGBTQ+ literature and activism, has died at 85. Known for his autobiographical novels, essays, and plays that documented the gay revolution, White was a key voice from the Stonewall era through the AIDS crisis and into the post-gay rights era, receiving a National Book Award for lifetime achievement in 2019.
Steve Ostrow, the founder of New York City's iconic Continental Baths, a pioneering gay bathhouse and performance space that helped launch the careers of Bette Midler and Barry Manilow in the early '70s, has passed away at 91. Ostrow, who was bisexual, transformed the scene from seedy to extravagant, offering live entertainment and DJ nights. The Baths had a significant impact on LGBTQ+ history, and Ostrow continued his advocacy work in Australia.
The finale of the limited series "Fellow Travelers" features a scene set at the National Mall in 1987, where the National AIDS Memorial Quilt is unveiled. Real pieces of the iconic quilt were used, including squares for notable figures like Roy Cohn. Showrunner Ron Nyswander obtained the squares from the NAMES Project Foundation to help keep the memory of the AIDS epidemic alive. Actor Matt Bomer, who plays Hawk Fuller, had an overwhelming experience seeing the real quilt for the first time during filming. The scene serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of AIDS and the countless lives affected.
"Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed" is a documentary that explores the personal life of Rock Hudson, a closeted gay actor in midcentury America, while providing a cursory look at his filmography. The film delves into Hudson's relationship with his agent, his arranged marriage, and his friendships with Elizabeth Taylor and Doris Day. While the documentary has structural issues and relies heavily on editing techniques, it aims to project Hudson's quiet strength and may inspire a new generation to seek out his work.
"The Stroll," a new HBO documentary by Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker, chronicles the history of transgender sex workers who worked on New York City's 14th Street, known as "the stroll," for decades. The film addresses a "50-year gap" in trans history between Stonewall and present day, and highlights major events in the city's history as they applied to this group of women, including the election of Rudy Giuliani, gentrification in the Bloomberg era, and 9/11. The documentary also explores the concept of chosen family and the intergenerational experiences of trans women.
Amelia Possanza's debut book, "Lesbian Love Story: A Memoir in Archives," explores the history of sapphic romances from the turn of the 20th century to the early 1990s. Possanza focuses on women who embraced the word "lesbian" and lived an out life or chose to live a different sort of life than what they were prescribed at the time. She tells their stories through a combination of nonfiction prose, selections from firsthand accounts, and fan-fiction-like recreations of intimate moments. The book's defining romance is between Mary Casal, a writer and entrepreneur from New England, and the woman she fell instantly in love with on a business trip to New York in 1892.
High school and college students across Florida plan to walk out of their classrooms on Friday to protest the state’s rapidly changing education policies. Supporters are calling the demonstration “Walkout 2 Learn,” and said that the latest education policies censor school curricula involving race, sexuality and gender. The end goal of the demonstration is to get the laws changed. Four rallies are also planned, including one Friday night at A. Philip Randolph Heritage Park.
On Transgender Day of Visibility, we celebrate the accomplishments of trans people while acknowledging the violence and discrimination they continue to face. This article highlights 12 trailblazers who have made significant contributions to the transgender community, including Reed Erickson, Christine Jorgensen, Renée Richards, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Rachel Levine, Andrea Jenkins, Stephanie Byers, Elliot Page, Maia Kobabe, and MJ Rodriguez. These individuals have made strides in activism, sports, politics, literature, and entertainment, paving the way for future generations of trans people.