In Memoriam – Rainbow round table news

In memoriam: Kay Tobin Lahusen, 1930-2021

June 15, 2021June 15, 2021 by Jim Collins

Kay Tobin Lahusen, photographer and gay rights pioneer (and partner for 46 years of the late Barbara Gittings) passed away late last month at the age of 91. She was known as the first openly gay photojournalist and her work documented some of the movement’s early campaigns and demonstrations during the pre-Stonewall era. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/gay-rights-pioneer-photojournalist-kay-tobin-lahusen-dies-91-n1268913 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/27/us/kay-tobin-lahusen-gay-rights-activist-and-photographer-dies-at-91.html […]

In Memoriam: Tony Murray

April 5, 2021April 5, 2021 by elissa mondschein

Tony Murray, who along with his husband Mark Collins, provided the support for their nephew Jason Collins to come out as an openly gay NBA player, passed away from COVID in late March. Collins and Murray married in 2013. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/24/obituaries/tony-murray-dead-virus.html

“Brooklyn Fragrance Lover” Carlos J. Powell dies at 56

March 20, 2021March 20, 2021 by elissa mondschein

Openly gay Carlos J. Powell sold shoes by day, and by night vlogged about his deepest passion: perfume. Known to his YouTube fans as “Brooklyn Fragrance Lover,” Carlos Powell died last month at the age of 56. This beautiful profile story appeared in the March 18th New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/17/style/perfume-youtube.html You can see the videos […]

Lasorda’s death starts a conversation about his son

January 12, 2021January 12, 2021 by elissa mondschein

The Dodgers manager showed love for Tommy Jr., but publicly denied that he was gay and that he died of AIDS complications. Friends hope to honor the men by discussing their relationship. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/sports/baseball/tommy-lasorda-son.html

Columnist Deb Price dies at 62

December 14, 2020December 14, 2020 by elissa mondschein

Deb Price, who was the nation’s first syndicated lesbian columnist, dies in Hong Kong, where she lived with her wife, Joyce Murdoch. Deb Price was 62. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/10/business/media/deb-price-dead.html https://www.advocate.com/media/2020/11/28/deb-price-pioneering-columnist-lgbtq-issues-dead-62

Pat Patterson, the first openly gay pro wrestling star, has died at 79

December 5, 2020December 4, 2020 by Kathleen Baril

The industry’s first openly gay wrestler, Pat Patterson, died this past week at the age of 79. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pat-patterson-first-openly-gay-pro-wrestling-star-dies-79-n1249701

Jan Morris dies at 94

November 23, 2020November 24, 2020 by Jim Collins

Jan Morris, celebrated writer and transgender pioneer has died at the age of 94. Morris was revered for her journalism, histories, travel writings and her groundbreaking 1974 transition memoir, Conundrum. She herself rejected the term “travel writer” saying her books were “about place, which [is] nothing to do with movement” and in writing about her […]

Update on the obituary of Monica Roberts

October 19, 2020October 19, 2020 by elissa mondschein

As an update on the untimely death of transgender activist Monica Roberts, according to Monica’s mother Mabel, Monica died of natural causes on October 5, 2020. Earlier reports of the activist being struck by a vehicle were false. You can read the New York Times obituary here.

Transgender rights activist and blog writer Monica Roberts killed in accident

October 9, 2020October 9, 2020 by elissa mondschein

Transgender rights activist and blog writer Monica Roberts was killed in a hit and run as she took out her trash. She lived in Houston, TX, and was known for her activism and ground-breaking blog TransGriot. She was 58 years old. https://abc13.com/society/trans-rights-advocate-identified-as-hit-and-run-victim/6873285/ https://www.advocate.com/transgender/2020/10/08/monica-roberts-pioneering-acclaimed-transgriot-blogger-has-died You can read the blog at this link: https://transgriot.blogspot.com/

Author Randall Kenan passes away at 57

September 1, 2020September 1, 2020 by Jim Collins

Award winning writer and professor Randall Kenan has died at the age of 57. Kenan explored Black gay life in the South with story collections (Let the Dead Bury Their Dead) and a novel (A Visitation of Spirits) and also edited a collection of James Baldwin non-fiction (The Cross of Redemption). His most recent collection […]