In Memoriam

Thirty-one years ago, on June 5, in 1981, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta published a report of five cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) among previously healthy young men in Los Angeles. All of the men were described as “homosexuals” — two had died. This was the first official mention of a disease that had no name, no known means of transmission, no treatment and no cure. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- The White House on Tuesday marked the 14th annual observance of Transgender Day of Remembrance, an international day of remembrance of the people lost to anti-transgender fear, discrimination, and violence. [ Read more → ]

Today is the 14th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, a solemn tribute to those who have lost their lives to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice, and a day to raise awareness of the constant threat of brutality faced by the transgender community. [ Read more → ]

Arlen Specter, an independent-minded moderate who spent 30 years in the U.S. Senate but was spurned by Pennsylvania voters after switching in 2009 from Republican to Democrat, died on Sunday of cancer at the age of 82. [ Read more → ]

Today marks 14 years since the day we lost Matt Shepard. I know from the conversations I’ve had with many of you that those terrible days in October 1998 echo in your memories: where you were, how it felt, the fears, the outrage and the questions you were left with. [ Read more → ]

In 1998, Matthew Shepard spent five days in a coma while the world held vigil. And on this day, at 12:53 a.m., 14 years ago, Matthew died. For many, Matthew's death revealed the dangers of being gay in America, and for many LGBTQ people, it reaffirmed the risk they live with every day. [ Read more → ]

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Donna R. Johnson of the North Carolina Army National Guard was among 14 people killed Monday when a Taliban suicide bomber rammed a motorcycle packed with explosives into a joint U.S.-Afghan patrol in Afghanistan. [ Read more → ]

LOS ANGELES – Sahara Davenport, who made a name for herself on the second season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and who recently released a single “Go Off,” has died. She was 27. [ Read more → ]

Elinor Lewallen, a longtime champion of equal rights for LGBT people, and President of PFLAG National in the late 1980s, has died, the organization announced Friday. She was 93. [ Read more → ]

Two years ago today, Billy (William) Lucas, a 15-year-old from Greensburg, Ind., was was found dead in a barn at his grandmother’s home — he had hanged himself. While Billy never self-identified as gay, friends said he was tormented for years because other kids thought he was gay. [ Read more → ]

Ron Palillo, the actor who played Arnold Horshack on the 1970's sitcome "Welcome Back, Kotter," died Tuesday morning at his home in Palm Beach, Fla., from an apparent heart attack. He was 63. [ Read more → ]

After a seven-day battle with respiratory problems, the legendary openly lesbian singer Chavela Vargas passed away Sundau, August 5, in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The world-renowned Costa Rican-born Mexican singer came out as a lesbian at the age of 81. [ Read more → ]

A true literary giant in every sense of the word, Gore Vidal died Tuesday at his home in the Hollywood Hills from complications of pneumonia, according to a statement from his nephew Burr Steers. [ Read more → ]

ATLANTA -- Don Perry, the chief spokesman and Vice-President of Public Relations for fast-food chain Chick-fil-A, died Firday morning of an apparent heart attack. [ Read more → ]

Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, died Monday at the age of 61, following a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. [ Read more → ]

Just over a year ago, my partner, Tom Bridegroom, accidentally fell off a roof while taking photographs of our best friend. He died a few hours later. He was just 29 years old. ... Because we weren't able to marry and because, young and feeling invincible, we hadn't had papers drawn up that would've protected us if one of us died, I lost all claim to Tom after he fell ... For those out there who do not think they know someone who's been deeply hurt by laws that prevent people from marrying the ones they love, well, now you do. My name is Shane Bitney Crone... [ Read more → ]

BERLIN -- Gad Beck, a pioneering gay rights activist and educator in a severely anti-homosexual, repressive post-World War II German culture, has died, just six days before his 89th birthday. Beck was believed to be the last known gay Jewish survivor of the Holocaust. [ Read more → ]

Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of Alan Turing, a brilliant British mathematician and computer scientist who was highly influential in the creating what would become the modern computer, and is most famous for his work on breaking the German Enigma codes during World War II. [ Read more → ]

Ultimately, Dad raised exactly what he valued, a man who steps up and asks stupid questions and knows that to soar you must risk the occasional, spectacular crash. On my best days I live happily as the man my father built, writing and living as an HIV positive queer for all to see and never afraid to take a risk... [ Read more → ]

While all Americans have a right to serve openly in the military, without regard to sexual orientation, thanks to the repeal of the ‘Don’t ask don’t tell’ law, LGBT servicemembers still suffer rampant discrimination with regard to marriage equality, green card sponsorship of binational partners or spouses and a host of other missing benefits caused by lack of equality under the civil law of the U.S.A. [ Read more → ]