Monday Meme: Shocking

Sandra Bernhard. For TV.

Still sassy, still shocking and still Sandra! Happy birthday to actress, singer comedian and world-renowned smack-talker Sandra Bernhard. Although first thrust into the spotlight thanks to a knockout performance in Martin Scorsese’s King of Comedy and later becoming tabloid fodder because of a dramatic relationship with Madonna, Bernhard has persevered because of her no-nonsense style and biting humor. Through a series of now-legendary one woman shows, Sandra Bernhard single-handedly invented a stream of consciousness stand up style now copied by performers everywhere. Never one to shy away from honest discussion, Bernhard has been in a relationship with Sara Switzer for years but refuses to define herself as a lesbian or bisexual. Bernhard can still be seen on talk shows speaking her mind on everything from Caitlyn Jenner to Lady Gaga and beyond. Bernhard is currently committed to raising awareness for LGBTQ teen suicide. “Kids, straight gay and otherwise now, are more susceptible than ever to suicide, because of social media and peer pressure and the ability for people in the far reaches of society to bully people and troll people,” she recently told IndyStar.com.” We’ve all been victims of that. It’s a terrible byproduct of social media. It’s easier and easier for kids to fall into that isolation and desolation.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday Meme: Memorial Meme Madness!

cullen meme

So many LGBTQ folks with May birthdays, so little meme time. This month is so jam-packed with pioneers, icons and trailblazers we hardly know where to begin in our Monday Meme endeavors!  But to start we’re honoring poet Countee Cullen who was born on May 30, 1903. Although overshadowed by some of his contemporaries like Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes, Cullen is still a major player in Harlem Renaissance story and considered a member of that era’s “gay elite.” Cullen’s impressive catalog of poems chronicles everything from race to politics to religion to relationships, like in “Song In Spite of Myself”
used in today’s meme.

Laverne Cox Meme

Next, we give a Monday Meme shout out to trans-activist and award-nominated actress Laverne Cox! Cox turned 32 yesterday and at a young age she has already changed the way Hollywood thinks about and casts trans performers. Cox recently became the first trans actor to be cast in a leading role in a network television show, this fall’s Doubt on CBS, and will also be seen in a much-buzzed about reboot of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

melissa meme

Lastly, we celebrate Melissa Etheridge! The songwriter and singer turned 55 yesterday. Etheridge’s activism for the LGBT community, marriage equality and cancer survivors is almost as rich as her near 30 year legacy in the music industry. A dynamic performer, an outspoken advocate and a passionate mother Melissa Etheridge is truly deserving of icon status!

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Monday Meme: Harvey Milk

milk meme

Had he lived, politician and gay rights activist Harvey Milk would have been 86 on May 22nd. We celebrate Harvey and his trailblazing efforts for the LGBT community with a Monday Meme! But it seems we’re not alone in celebrating this incredible man. As we told you last week, Salt Lake City has renamed a city street after him while The Human Rights Campaign, The Advocate, Queerty and SF Gate, respectively, put together amazing birthday tributes to Harvey Milk. Plus Levi’s annual gay pride collection pays homage to Milk and gay life in the 70’s.  A portion of the proceeds from the Levi’s collection benefits the Harvey Milk Foundation and is available online. havery-milk-pride

So happy belated birthday, Harvey and thank you.

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Monday Meme: Sparkle

liberace meme

Who doesn’t need a little sparkle and razzle dazzle on a Monday morning? And nobody did sparkle better than Liberace, born today in 1919. Liberace, or Lee as his friends called him, was one of the earliest and most flamboyant gay presences in media in the 1950’s. To protect his career however, Liberace denied his sexuality and hid his relationships from the press until his death in 1987. Liberace and his over the top image inspired other musicians like Elton John and Lady Gaga. Liberace may be remembered for the furs, jewel encrusted cars and piano shaped swimming pools but he was also a classically trained musician and an individual dedicated to helping other people. According to Wikipedia, “Worth over $110 million at the time of his death, Liberace bequeathed the bulk of his estate to his scholarship foundation.” And his sparkle continues to live on. In 2013, Liberace was portrayed by Michael Douglas in the acclaimed HBO movie Behind the Candelabra and the Liberace Garage, which houses some of the stars over the top vehicles as well as some costumes, opened last month.

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Monday Meme: Keith Haring

haring meme

During the 1980’s and 90’s the world lost dozens of talented artists to AIDS.  Keith Haring who would have been 58 on May 4 was one of them. We celebrate Haring and his art with a Monday Meme. Much of Haring’s work documented his struggle with AIDS and the nation’s prejudices and homophobia of the times. Before his diagnosis, Haring was knew he was in danger of contracting the disease and felt a push to have his art reflect what was happening in the world around him. “The odds are very great and, in fact, the symptoms already exist,” he wrote in 1987. “I know in my heart that is only divine intervention that has kept me alive this long. I don’t know if I have five months or five years, but I know my days are numbered. This is why my activities and projects are so important now. To do as much as possible as quickly as possible.” Haring’s “Silence = Death” show inspired the logo still associated with the battle against AIDS. Haring passed away on February 16, 1990 due to AIDS complications. Today, Haring’s art illustrates the struggle and courage of those living with AIDS as well as the fight for equality for LGBT.

Monday Meme: Colors

hart gif

Born on this day in 1895, lyricist Lorenz Hart is responsible for some of the world’s most loved songs. “Blue Moon,” “The Lady Is a Tramp,” “Manhattan,” “Where or When,” “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered,” “My Funny Valentine,” “I Could Write a Book”, “This Can’t Be Love”  “It Never Entered My Mind”, and “Isn’t It Romantic?” are just a few of the songs Hart provided lyrics for in his brief but brilliant career. Hart’s own life was as haunting and sad as some of his best known songs. As a closeted gay man and alcoholic, Hart struggled to fit in the homophobic times of the 1930’s and 40’s and died at the age of 48. Nevertheless, today he is remembered as one of the world’s top lyricists and a man who shaped popular music. Recordings by singers like Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett are still enjoyed today and insure that Hart’s incredible work will never be forgotten.

 

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Monday Meme: Moonlight

ginsburg moonlight

An LGBT icon, a literary powerhouse and a vital part of the Beat poet movement, Allen Ginsburg was an American original. His legacy of bold thoughts and wonderful words make him a natural pick for today’s Monday Meme. Most famous for his epic poem “Howl”, he also wrote articles, short stories and songs. Ginsburg was out and proud way before it was considered fashionable and he lived with his partner Peter Orlovsky from 1954 until his death.  The poet is once again making headlines as a reissued recording of his spoken words is set to be released this May. The album, The Last Word on First Blues, recorded in the 1980’s, features all-star talent like Bob Dylan.  According to Omnivore recordings, the label releasing the album, “The release includes a full color 28-page booklet of rare photos, writings and drawings from Ginsberg’s archives and an essay from set producer Pat Thomas featuring interviews with original participants. Longtime Ginsberg-music aficionado Thomas was given full access to the poet’s tape archive at Stanford University and spent several years pouring over hundreds of hours of recordings.” So here’s to Ginsburg, a godfather of gay rights and champion of self-expression. Now get out there and make Monday howl!

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Monday Meme: Whatever

maria meme

Happy birthday Maria Bello! The actress/writer/activist  turns 49 today. Bello made headlines in 2013 when she wrote about her long-term relationship with a woman for a piece in the New York Times but that wasn’t the whole story. Bello doesn’t identify strictly as a lesbian and instead wrote a bestseller questioning labels and championing sexual fluidity. Bello is a voice of a recent movement focused on love and not who we love. Hooray for that! Bello is an award-winning actress best known for her roles in films like A History of Violence, The Company Men and Coyote Ugly. 

 

Monday Meme: Cracks

allison meme

Happy birthday Dorothy Allison! This literary powerhouse turns 67 today! Author of the award-winning novel Bastard Out Of Carolina, Allison is an open lesbian, a proud advocate of independent authors and small presses and a winner of several Lambda Literary Awards. Allison writes openly about her own physical and sexual abuse as a child as well as tackling the topics of gender, feminism and poverty. Hugely influential, Bastard Out of Carolina continues to be a much-discussed and beloved novel for both book clubs and literature students around the globe.

Monday Meme: Rainbow

maya meme

Had she lived, Maya Angelou would be 88 years old today! Angelou was a poet, writer and civil rights activist. She also turned the contemporary autobiography on its head with the release of I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings in 1969. She’s also remembered for reading her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. Around these parts, however, we love Maya Angelou for providing a treasure trove of quotes like the one in today’s Monday Meme!

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