Thursday, November 12th 2009

By unknown

It may come as some surprise to you, but many significant artists, writers, actors and musicians are gay or bisexual. For some, this sexuality is woven into their work, and helps define them as creative forces. Others view their work as a separate entity from their sexual orientation, recognizing it as a significant part of their life obviously, but no more significant than any of their other traits or experiences. Regardless, in the spirit of pride let us recognize the some of these creators and their accomplishments, both in the gay and art communities respectively.

Notable artists include Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519), whose contributions to the worlds of art and science are virtually unmatched, Louise Abbéma (1853-1927), Leonor Fini (1908-1996), Andy Warhol (1928-1987) and Caravaggio, (1571-1610) whose paintings were laden with homoerotic subtext. Gay or bisexual writers include a poet whom our future University President is an expert on, W. H. Auden (1907-1973), Lord Byron (1788-1824), Tennessee Williams (1911-1983), Stephen Sondheim (1930-), Truman Capote (1943-1984), Douglas Coupland (1961-), and Chuck Palahniuk (1962-), author of Fight Club.

The written word can have great influence on society, as can the writer, two traits exemplified through Gore Vidal (1925-) and Oscar Wilde (1854-1900). In 1948, Vidal attracted incredible criticism from mainstream critics as he released The City and the Pillar, one of the first American novels to feature unabashed homosexuality, and Wilde, a fantastic writer of plays such as The Importance of Being Earnest, was one of the first to fight for homosexual rights in Britain as a member of the Order of Chaeronea, a secret society whose goal was to end homosexual oppression.

Queer actors have also traditionally been on the forefront of improving gay rights. Marlon Brando (1924-2004) was one of the first openly bisexual actors in Hollywood and his casual approach to sexuality paved the way for many mainstream actors to come out after him. Rock Hudson (1925-1985) also disrupted mainstream views of queers when his homosexuality was revealed in death.

Concealing his homosexuality for his entire life to preserve his image as a wholesome manly-man in the acting world, Hudson died of AIDS in 1985, one of the first major celebrities to succumb to the illness. Hudson’s death helped to give HIV the mainstream attention it required. Ian McKellen (1939-) is another notable actor whose pursuit of equal rights for homosexuals is commendable. Commander of the Order of the British Empire since ’79 and a knight since ‘91, Gandalf’s credentials speak for themselves. In 1988, Magneto came out of the closet and helped found Stonewall, one of United Kingdom’s most prominent LGBT rights groups.

Other notable gay or bisexual actors include Joan Crawford (1905-1977), George Takei (1937-), Jane Lynch (1960-) Rosie O’Donnell (1962-), Andy Dick (1965-), Drew Barrymore (1975-), Angelina Jolie (1975-) and Neil Patrick Harris (1973-), whose recent coming out in 2006 has in no way affected his ability to play a very convincing and sleazy womanizer in How I Met Your Mother.

Many great musicians of note were gay or bisexual as well, including well known and celebrated Romantic composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893). It was revealed through his correspondence posthumously that Tchaikovksy was quite comfortable with his homosexuality, but recognizing the negative impacts it could have on his work and his family kept it a secret. Other musicians of note include, but are not limited to, Joan Baez (1941-), Janis Joplin (1943-1970), Klaus Nomi (1944-1983), Lesley Gore (1946-), Sinead O’Connor (1966-), Ani DiFranco (1970-), Billie Joe Armstrong (1972-), Rufus Wainwright (1973-), Clay Aiken (1978-), Lance Bass (1979-), Owen Pallett (1979-), Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta a.k.a. Lady Gaga, (1986-) and Tegan and Sarah Quinn (1980-). Being twin homosexual sisters in a band together gets Tegan and Sarah a little extra attention, but they dislike that their sexuality receives so much attention in relation to their music, not seeing it as so significant. An attitude that is now shared in part by someone who was once one of the most notable representatives of the LBGT community in music is David Bowie (1947-).

Once stating that he was “trysexual,” that is to say that he would try anything once, Bowie has since distanced himself with his bisexuality, claiming that for him it was just a product of the glam rock era and experimental, and that he was really a closeted heterosexual. Regardless, Bowie`s gender bending outfits, and openly bisexual relationship with his wife of the 70’s Angie, and outstanding music of all sorts have made him a significantly influential figure in both the LGBT community and the music industry.

Bowie’s superstardom allowed for many to be more comfortable with their own sexuality, a comfortability that has allowed other queer musicians to fight for causes. In 1976 Elton John (1947-) announced his bisexuality, and in 1984 he announced his homosexuality. Since 1986, Elton has used his music and his influence to help raise money and awareness for the fight against AIDS. His conviction in this fight is not in small part inspired by the deaths of his friends from AIDS, including Freddie Mercury (1946-1991).

While open about his sexuality since 1974, critics seemed to overlook this, and since Freddie was never one to detail his personal life, his flamboyance was seen mostly as just for show until his death in 1991 in AIDS. While his death was sad to say the least, it marks an important event in the fight against AIDS, as after his death his band mates in Queen organized the Mercury Phoenix Trust as well as a tribute concert for Freddie, all in the name of fighting HIV and AIDS.

•Harrison Cruikshank