In 1923 Lesbian Elsa Gidlow, born in England, published the first volume of openly lesbian love poetry in the United States, titled “On A Grey Thread.”
On A Grey Thread
First Pro-Gay Film
1919 The film Different from the Others is released. It is the first pro-gay film in the world.
Indigenous Identity and the Significance of the Term “Two-Spirit”
An inside look at the origins of the term “Two-Spirit,” and the centuries of colonial violence and prejudice Two-Spirit people have faced.
The History And Meaning Of The Rainbow Pride Flag
OVER 40 YEARS, THE ICONIC, SIX-STRIPE FLAG HAS GENERATED A MYTHOLOGY OF ITS OWN.
Stroll across any number of cities throughout June, and you’ll find the near-ubiquitous presence of the rainbow pride flag, which has come to represent the LGBTQ community worldwide. This year alone, the iconic, six-stripe pattern has been seen in children’s books, at theme parks and on a seemingly endless series of clothing lines; a revamped version of the design was worn by “Master of None” writer and star Lena Waithe as a “queer superhero” cape at the Met Gala last month in New York.
The original rainbow pride flag dates back to 1978, when it was created by San Francisco-based queer artist Gilbert Baker for a mere $1,000. A self-described “geeky kid from Kansas,” Baker relocated to San Francisco as an Army draftee in 1970. After an honorable discharge from the military, he decided to remain in the City by the Bay to pursue a design career.
Continue reading “The History And Meaning Of The Rainbow Pride Flag”RAINBOW PRIDE The Story of the Rainbow Flag
First World AIDS Day Dec 1st 1988
The 1st World AIDS day was 30 years ago!!!
So much has changed since then. And not enough has changed.
I was living in NYC, when people started “getting sick” and ultimately dying. Even in writing this, it reveals the depth of my collective sadness due to so much unnecessary loss, heartbreak, ignorance and fear.
In every crisis, there is the opportunity for people to reveal the best of themselves.
Crisis can help us dig deep and give with an open heart, to show one’s fierceness in the face of ignorance, ones vulnerability & resiliency in the shelter of community.
AIDS has impacted every corner of the world, there is not one country or group of people who has been left unchallenged by this epidemic.
For years, I had a FT gig as an HIV Prevention Educator in school systems for students, parents & teachers, I spoke to over 20,000 people. There were/are thousands of us around the globe providing facts as pathways to safety & sanity when shame was being heaped on like quicksand.
There were amazing things happening in our larger community, which became integral doors to opening our own minds & hearts to struggles within our own communities and the larger world.
A colorful Inspiration
Did you know how the creator of the Gay Pride Rainbow Flag come up with the idea? Harvey Milk, an openly gay elected politicians challenge Gilbert Baker who worked making clothing. Some say because he was from Kansas, his inspiration came from “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in “The Wizard of Oz” according to Queer Sites: Gay Urban Histories Since 1600