Photograph from James Baldwin Archive, NY Public Library August 2, 1924– James Baldwin: "Hatred, which could destroy so much, never failed to destroy the man who hated, and this was an immutable law." The very first "gay" book I read was James Baldwin's beautiful, … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Early Gay Rights Activist, Barbara Gittings
July 31, 1932– Barbara Gittings: "Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts." When I was 12 years old, I would scour the stacks of books and the bibliographies for information, any … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Photographer, Edgar de Evia
Photo via Wikimedia Commons July 30, 1910 -Edgar de Evia He was born in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. His mother was Pauline Joutard, a French concert pianist who performed under the stage name Miirrha Alhambra. His father was Domingo Fernando Evia y Barbachano, a wealthy … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Writer, George Bernard Shaw
1881 via Wikimedia Commons July 27, 1856 - George Bernard Shaw: "If You Want to Tell People the Truth, Make Them Laugh, Otherwise They'll Kill You." Shaw is one of my favorite figures in history. He was a man of Theatre and Film, a vegetarian, a Socialist, and a rabble … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Vivian Vance (Ethel Mertz!)
Vivian Vance, circa 1930, public domain July 26, 1909 - Vivian Vance: "When I Die, There Will Be People Who Send Ethel Mertz Flowers." Vivian Vance's most famous character, Ethel Mertz, was a less-than-prosperous landlady of an East 68th Street Manhattan brownstone owned … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Artist, Thomas Eakins
Self-Portrait, 1902, National Academy Museum, NY, public domain July 25, 1844– Thomas Cowperthaite Eakins: "I have never discovered that the nude could be studied in any way except the way I have adopted. All the muscles must be pointed out. To do this all the drapery … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: British Writer, E.F. Benson
July 24, 1867 - Edward Frederic Benson: He Deceived Me By Telling The Truth. He was an English writer and archaeologist. Writing as E.F. Benson, he is a literary figure from a forgotten age who still retains a cult following for his charmingly sharp-eyed novels. His books … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Pooped Pope, Julius III
Painter unknown July 23, 1487 - Pope Julius III The Cathedral of Sienna is one of my favorite structures, certainly my favorite House of the Holy. A medieval church, the alternating bands of dark and light marble that make the cathedral's façade are so striking and they … [Read more...]
#QueerQuote: “That Queer, Penetrating Personality Was More Important Than His Shape, Which Could Be Easily Altered.” – James Whale
James Whale (1889 -1957) was a great film director, a true artist, and the subject of one of my favorite films, Bill Condon's Gods And Monsters (1998) featuring Sir Ian McKellen's masterful performance as Whale. Thinking of him, I landed on that moment in the film when McKellen's … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: “America The Beautiful” Writer, Katharine Lee Bates
18887, public domain July 22, 1859 - Katharine Lee Bates When the irrepressible Mormon Tabernacle Choir did their version of America The Beautiful at the mango-hued president's inauguration in 2017, I couldn't stop thinking how the song's lyricist would have been appalled … [Read more...]
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