Jim Collins

An LGBTQ classical music playlist for Pride

June 9, 2021June 9, 2021 by Jim Collins

Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo teamed up with New York classical music station WQXR to curate a playlist of LGBTQ composers and artists. “Music is pure, music is universal, and above all, music is expression. Listening to the diverse and personal expressions on this playlist, I take great pride in all that our community has been […]

New book examines the history of marriage equality

June 4, 2021June 30, 2021 by Jim Collins

Sasha Issenberg’s The Engagement: America’s Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage was published this week. Issenberg discusses his book in an interview with Time: https://time.com/6053136/the-unlikely-coalition-that-forced-marriage-equality/

Lambda Literary announces 2021 winners

June 2, 2021June 2, 2021 by Jim Collins

The 33rd Annual Lambda Literary Awards were announced on June 1. The list of the Lammy Award winners, selected by “over 60 literary professionals from more than 1,000 book submissions from over 300 publishers” is here: https://www.lambdaliterary.org/awards/2021-winners/

New photographic exhibit “Safe/Haven” explores gay life in Cherry Grove

May 18, 2021May 18, 2021 by Jim Collins

A new outdoor exhibit at the New-York Historical Society explores the gay community of Cherry Grove on Fire Island during the pre-Stonewall era. Through over 70 photographs and other ephemera Safe/Haven: Gay Life in 1950s Cherry Grove also includes recorded accounts by many residents. The Cherry Grove Archives Collection is the source of these unique […]

New Netflix series depicts the life of fashion designer Halston

May 13, 2021May 13, 2021 by Jim Collins

The fashion designer Halston (played by Ewan McGregor) is the subject of a new series debuting on Netflix this month. The series depicts Halston’s life from the 60’s to the 80’s and producers Christine Vachon and Daniel Minahan discuss the project’s creation here: https://www.advocate.com/television/2021/5/03/why-halstons-fascinating-queer-life-story-took-20-years-make

New ACT UP history “Let the Record Show”

May 3, 2021May 3, 2021 by Jim Collins

Author and activist Sarah Schulman’s new book Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993 is published this month. The book is based on over 200 interviews with ACT UP members and was 20 years in the making. https://www.thebody.com/article/sarah-schulman-let-record-show-political-history-act-up-ny

LGBTQ books in 2021

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021 by Jim Collins

Publishers Weekly has a piece on new LGBTQ books and “about bringing a wide range of queer experiences to the fore.” https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/86044-from-the-sidelines-to-the-spotlight-lgbtq-books-2021.html

New PBS documentary on Oliver Sacks

April 14, 2021April 14, 2021 by Jim Collins

The new PBS documentary by Ric Burns, Oliver Sacks: His Own Life, explores the life and career of the renowned neurologist and author as well as his struggles with his own sexuality. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/neurologist-oliver-sacks-legacy-final-days-explored-his-own-life-n1263640 PHOTO CREDIT: BILL HAYES

Book and interactive project explore history of queer social spaces in New York

March 10, 2021March 10, 2021 by Jim Collins

Geography professor Jen Jack Gieseking’s book A Queer New York and its accompanying digital project of interactive maps, An Everyday Queer New York, explore the history of queer social spaces in New York City over the past 25 years. Gieseking asks :”Who gets to tell or record their queer history, and who gets to access […]

Rainbow Book List announced!

February 10, 2021February 10, 2021 by Jim Collins

The Rainbow Book List Committee of ALA’s Rainbow Roundtable has released the 2021 Rainbow Book List. The annual annotated bibliography includes 129 titles in this year’s list. For the first time the committee created two Top 10 lists: “The Rainbow Book List Committee is ecstatic to provide these Top 10 lists: one intended for preschool through […]