Tag Archives: LGBT History

The decision comes at the 3:30 mark. Grab a Kleenex.

Last night’s gay wedding on Brother’s & Sisters is considered by some to be the first on-air marriage of major characters in television history. However, I’d always thought that Pedro Zemora and Sean Sasser’s 1994 commitment ceremony on MTV’s Real World was the first. But I can see the argument made that MTV wasn’t/isn’t a “major” network or that Pedro …

“All revolutions start with a word, and the word is no. No to injustice, no to discrimination, no to oppression, no to slavery, no to violence, no to lives dictated by fear. Yes to love. The defiant colors in our flag have unfurled that idea for thirty years. “The Rainbow Flag lives because it represents us all in our diversity …

Proud Heritage, a UK-based online gay museum, launched today. Site features include an archive of gay publications and Walking Proud, a Google-based walking guide to London’s gay history and current hotspots. Nick Poole, Director of the Collections Trust, which is responsible for setting the standards in British museums, welcomed the online museum. “We applaud Proud Heritage on the work achieved …

Here’s a few more pics from Matt Foreman’s going away party on Saturday, where slideshows projected onto two walls depicted Foreman’s decades of LGBT activism in New York. The photos ranged from his days as a founder of Heritage of Pride, his six years as head of the NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, his six years as Executive Director …

Beloved South Florida gay bar owner and AIDS activist Michael Brown, 50, was found murdered in his West Palm Beach home on Friday. Brown’s presumed killer, Brant Hines, 27, stayed in Brown’s home for two days after the murder before hanging himself on a bedroom door. Brown and Hines had had a turbulent off and on relationship for several years. …

A lesbian couple in Irvine, California are the proud mamas of quadruplets. Four times the diapers. Four times the formula. Four times the crying, and four times the laundry. Those were just some of the thoughts that raced through the minds of Cristine Gaiennie and her partner, Patsy Lovell, when they discovered they were expecting quadruplets – two boys and …

Beloved Manhattan landmark diner Florent finally has a closing date. When his lease on 69 Gansevoort St. expires on March 31, rent will increase from $6,000 a month to approximately $50,000, and it’s unlikely a deal will be struck. Florent is currently battling his landlord in court over tax increases and is withholding rent as a result. The litigation also …

Mayoral incumbent Betrand Delanoe will easily win relection in Paris next week and now his party appears to be grooming him to run for president of France. Since becoming mayor Delanoe has been hugely popular, particularly with the poor and middle classes. Public opinion polls put him well ahead of the opposition going into the municipal elections on March 9 …

Denise Simmons became the first openly lesbian black woman to be mayor of an American city yesterday after her election by the city council of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Simmons was backed by the Victory Fund, which works to elect LGBT candidates nationwide. The outgoing mayor of Cambridge is an openly gay black man.

This just in from New York State Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell’s office: December , 17 2007 – Under the leadership of Assembly Member O’Donnell, openly lesbian, gay, and bisexual state legislators (O’Donnell, Assembly Member Deborah Glick, State Senator Thomas Duane, Assembly Member Matthew Titone, and Assembly Member Micah Kellner) have secured a commitment from the New York State Museum to include …

(Photo credit: Rex Wockner.) Noted gay author and historian Allan Berube has died due to ulcer complications at age 61. Author Wayne Hoffman, Berube’s longtime friend, has written an obituary: Gay historian Allan Berube, award-winning author of “Coming Out Under Fire,” died on December 11, 2007. He was 61. His death was due to sudden complications following the discovery of …

Hillary Clinton’s campaign has announced an LGBT steering committee comprised of an impressive roster of 65 prominent queers who will help her reach out to gay voters, a list the likes of which we’ve likely never seen before. Among those on the committee: NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, former HRC head Elizabeth Birch, former U.S. Assistant Attorney General Eldie Acheson. …

Openly gay Dallas mayoral candidate Ed Oakley lost today in that city’s runoff election, defeated by retired businessman Tom Leppert. Surprising poll workers, today’s runoff seems to have had higher turnout than last month’s general election. Oakley, who is CFO of a company that owns several Dallas gay bars, called Leppert late today to concede and congratulate him on his …

Dallas’ openly gay mayoral candidate Ed Oakley is in the final stretch of his campaign as the city prepares for next week’s runoff election. Will Oakley become the first openly gay mayor of a major American city? Current polls show the candidates in a dead heat. The Victory Fund, which supports LGBT candidates nationwide, has issued a letter thanking Oakley …

A photographic retrospective of the work of Chuck Stollard covering the 20 years of ACT-UP’s Los Angeles chapter will run June 16th -July 21st at LA’s Drkrm Gallery: Drkrm. Gallery proudly announces the opening of SILENCE=DEATH: Los Angeles AIDS Activism 1987 – 2007, slated for a June 16th opening and running through July 21st. Commemorating the 20th anniversary of ACT …

On Tuesday, openly bisexual Micah Kellner won his special election to the New York State Assembly, defeating Republican, yet gay-friendly and progressive, Gregory Camp. Kellner is the first openly bisexual person ever elected to the state Assembly and joins as the fifth openly LGBT person presently serving in the state legislature. The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund released a statement: …

Gentle readers, with the author’s permission, I am posting a late comment to last month’s post regarding the NY Times article about the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Gert McMullin is the “Handmaiden Of The Quilt”, the person directly responsible for its maintenance, repair, and upkeep. Here’s her beautiful and touching message: Joe, the following is in response to some of your …