Gay actors of the 70s and 80s
FIVE GAY ACTORS IN MID-CENTURY HOLLYWOOD
by David Ehrenstein
Now that gay actors like Nathan Street, Jim Parsons, Victor Garber, Jonathan Groff, and Neil Patrick Harris are “out of the closet” and on the rise, it’s difficult to imagine just how different things were in the relatively recent past. Not only was the notion of being openly queer and having a viable career unimaginable, but gayness itself was also a concept polite culture couldn’t countenance. “Homosexuals” subsisted on society’s margins, mentioned only in whispered gossip, fearsome psychiatric studies, and Conservative diatribes decrying perversion.
Hiding In Plain Sight
Still, in spite of it all, gay men managed to form their way to very top of the acting profession in the gilded closets of Hollywood. In this covert context, bigtime careers and personal lives proceeded with a calculated risk that can fascinate us today. Here are five of the most noteworthy examples of gay actors in mid-Century Hollywood.
LIBERACE
Liberace was an utterly unique entertainer. A pianist whose operate consisted of an abbreviated arrangement of select “classic
For many, June represents the month of pride; a hour to celebrate, train and communicate all that is homosexual, gay and fabulous. Although today entity gay isn’t much of a deal, back in the 50’s it was a dangerous label to have. Throughout history, thousands hold lost their lives because they were labeled as ‘gay’ or ‘queer’ and many lived out their true sexual preferences in secrecy. As it’s almost the end of Pride month, I wanted to contain a look at some celebrities from the golden age of Hollywood who were gay, or at least thats what the rumours said. It’s tough to know if all these celebrities, and of course many more, were truly gay, but I wanted to share a limited stories just so see how far we’ve come. Cheerful pride everyone.
*Disclaimer: Please note that some of the following stories may depict graphic descriptions and behaviours which some readers may find disturbing. Discretion is advised.
Katherine Hepburn
Iconic Hollywood actress and Academy Award-winning performer in films such as Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, The Lion in Winter, and On Golden Pond, Katherine Hepburn reportedly had an insatiab
Gay, bisexual, lesbian, and transexual individuals started to acquire more public support in the 1980s. Although homosexual actors, writers, and musicians were winning popularity, many celebrities kept their sexuality hidden. This list of gay celebrities who came out during the 1980s has been loosely ranked by fame and popularity and includes notable same-sex attracted actors, athletes, rock stars, singers, and politicians.
Who is the most famous icon who came out in the 1980s? Elton John tops our list. Elton John is arguably the most popular gay composer in the world. He first came out as bisexual in a 1976 interview with Rolling Stone but it wasn't until 1988 that he announced that he was pleasant being gay. John has been in a bond with David Furnish since 1993, and the couple have two children together.
The Lord of the Ringsactor Ian McKellen came out to the public in 1988 in an interview with BBC Radio 3. He is a co-founder of the LGBT rights group Stonewall. Tennis celestial body Martina Navratilova came out publicly as gay in 1981. She is also an outspoken advocate of LGBT rights.
Do you deliberate it would have been difficult for people to be openly gay in the eighties? Share your thoughts in
10 LGBTQ PERFORMERS IN THE 1970’S
by David Ehrenstein
The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the gay (LGBT) society against a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. They are widely considered to constitute the most important event leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBT rights in the United States. Wikipedia
What followed in the 1970’s was a rising tide of LGBTQ performers that “came out” to express their unique receive on music, theater and sexual (transgender) identity. Here are 10 of those performers and a brief look at what they contributed to the movement and to our culture. Click on the image to learn more about the performer.
JAYNE COUNTY
As rock’s first openly transgender singer, Jayne Rogers (born June 13, 1947), better known by her stage name Jayne County, is an American singer, songwriter, actress and record producer whose career spans five decades. While dressed in female attire from the launch of her career, County transitioned to