Poets

Semper (and suffer) Fidel: Artists conflicted about Castro

While visiting in the mid-1960s, gay poet Allen Ginsberg saw gays rounded up and sent to work camps. He quickly, and publicly, became a government critic.

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‘Until We Could,’ a video poem by inaugural poet Richard Blanco

To mark the 10th anniversary since Massachusetts because the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage, advocacy group Freedom to Marry commissioned Richard Blanco, the poet for Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2012, to write a…

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For inaugural poet Richard Blanco, a journey home to America

MIAMI -- The Miami neighborhood where inaugural poet Richard Blanco grew up, in many ways, resembles Cuba his family left behind. Down the street, a man sells avocados from a small table. His favorite bakery, a…

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LGBT History Month profile: Filmaker, poet, activist Marlon Riggs

Marlon Riggs was a filmmaker, educator, poet and gay rights activist. He examined race and sexuality in his documentaries for which he received an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award.

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LGBT History Month profile: Transgender author Patrick Califia

Patrick Califia is a transgender author of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. His writings explore sexuality and gender identity, and have included lesbian erotica and works about BDSM subculture.

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LGBT History Month profile: Cuban author, poet Reinaldo Arenas

Reinaldo Arenas was a Cuban poet, novelist and essayist whose work focused on political and social injustices. He was born into poverty in the Cuban countryside. He wrote his first poems by carving words into tree…

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Watch: Richard Blanco delivers poem ‘One Today’ at Obama’s inauguration

Poet Richard Blanco delivers his an inaugural poem “One Today” on Monday at President Barack Obama’s second term inauguration. In addition to being the youngest ever inaugural poet, Blanco, 44, is the first Hispanic and the…

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Out inaugural poet Richard Blanco pays homage to American experience

WASHINGTON — Poet Richard Blanco has delivered an inaugural poem paying homage to the American experience. Blanco, at age 44 the youngest ever inaugural poet, recited a poem that painted vivid scenes about America and included…

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Openly gay, Latino poet selected to read original poem at Obama’s inauguration

The Presidential Inaugural Committee announced Wednesday that openly gay poet Richard Blanco will be one of five people selected to read an original poem at a President Barack Obama's second-term inauguration. Blanco, 44, will be the…

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LGBT History Month profile: Katharine Lee Bates, songwriter and poet

Katharine Lee Bates was a songwriter, poet and educator. She is best known for writing “America the Beautiful.”

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