The real tragedy Patti LaBelle outg Luther Vandross as gay after his ath is not the outg self.
Contents:
- MRICE H HAS BEEN SHOWBIZ FOR 70 YEARS. HE'S SPENT NONE OF THEM THE CLOSET.THE BLACK GAY BROADWAY TRIPLE THREAT TAP-DANCED SO THAT ACTORS LIKE BILLY PORTER ULD {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY CARLA HAYNOVEMBER 5, 2019/12:36 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:2594PX;WIDTH:2258PX;}JAM J. KRIEGSMANNGREGORY H (L) AND MRICE H THE 1960S.BY CARLA HAYNOVEMBER 5, 2019 / 12:36 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"MRICE H HAS BEEN SHOWBIZ FOR 70 YEARS. HE'S SPENT NONE OF THEM THE CLOSET.","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-11-05T17:36:04.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-11-05T17:36:04.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"CARLA HAY","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LONG BEFORE BILLY PORTER AND TS BURGS FOUND FAME ON BROADWAY AND ON TV, MULTALENTED ENTERTAER MRICE H JR. HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR FABULO, OPENLY GAY BLACK MEN SHOWBIZ. THE NEW DOCUMENTARY MRICE H: BRG THEM BACK PAYS TRIBUTE TO HIM WHILE OFFERG SOME SURPRISG REVELATNS ABOUT HIS LIFE BEYOND HIS REER AS AN ACPLISHED DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER, THEATER DIRECTOR, AND STAR OF SUCH BROADWAY PRODUCTNS AS EUBIE!, SOPHISTITED LADI, UPTOWN… IT’S HOT!, AND HOT FEET. DIRECTED BY JOHN CARLUCC, THE FILM IS REALLY A STORY ABOUT FAY, RISK-TAKG, AND THE HIGHS AND LOWS THAT E WH ANY JOURNEY TOWARD SELF-ACCEPTANCE AND PERSONAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BRG THEM BACK PATS A PORTRA OF A SASSY, CHARMG, AND BTALLY HONT TRAILBLAZER WHO TAPPED HIS WAY TO THE SPOTLIGHT THE 1950S AND '60S. H, WHO'S BEEN PERFORMG SCE HE WAS 5, IS QUICK TO REMD FOLKS JT HOW CUTE AND SPECIAL HE IS, BUT HE'S ALSO BEEN A LONGTIME PROPONENT OF THE MANTRA “NEVER LET ANYONE FE WHO YOU ARE." AT TIM, HE IS PRICKLY, MANDG, AND PLITED. SCEN OF HIS ROCKY RELATNSHIP WH HIS SUCCSFUL YOUNGER BROTHER GREGORY (WHO DIED OF NCER 2003) PACK SOME OF THE DOC'S BIGGT EMOTNAL PUNCH, AND WHILE HE HAS A LOYAL, LOVG CIRCLE OF FAY AND IENDS—SOME OF HIS ILLTR PALS TERVIEWED CLU DEBBIE ALLEN AND CHA RIVERA—HE HAS ALSO EXHIBED RECLIVE TENNCI AS HE'S ALT WH AGG (HE TURNS 76 NEXT MONTH).JOHN CARLUCCMRICE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MRICE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“HE’S FLASHY, BUT HE’S ALSO SHY ABOUT RECEIVG PRAISE,” SAYS CARLUCC'S WIFE, TRACY E. HOPKS, WHO WROTE THE FILM AND SERVED AS ONE OF S PRODUCERS. (H WILL SEE THE DOCUMENTARY S ENTIRETY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT S WORLD PREMIERE THIS WEEK AT DOC NYC.) CARLUCC ADDS THAT HE WANTED TO AVOID THE BIG GAY MOVIE CLICHé WHICH THE SUBJECT'S SEXUALY ISN’T REVEALED UNTIL NEAR THE END. “I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW RIGHT OFF THE BAT THAT MRICE IS GAY, AND THAT YOU MOVED BEYOND ."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HERE, CARLUCC AND HOPKS DISCS FOUR OTHER THGS VIEWERS WILL LEARN ABOUT H WHILE WATCHG THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE WAS NEVER THE CLOSET, AND HIS SHOWBIZ FAY ALWAYS ACCEPTED HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR MOST OF H’ LIFE, LGBTQ RIGHTS WERE NONEXISTENT, AND BEG AN OPENLY GAY BLACK MAN MEANT THAT HE WAS AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RISK OF BEG FIRED OR ASSLTED. IN THE DOCUMENTARY, HE SAYS HIS MOTHER KNEW HE WAS GAY BEFORE HE TOLD HER, AND THAT HE WOULD SUALLY DISCS HIS LOVE LIFE WH HIS FATHER. HIS STRAIGHT BROTHER GREGORY, ALSO A PERFORMER, ED TO GO TO GAY CLUBS WH MRICE AND HAD NO HANGUPS ABOUT DANCG WH GAY MEN. BASILLY, H' FAY WAS "WOKE" S BEFORE BEG WOKE WAS A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“WE WERE A LTLE SURPRISED HIS FAY WAS SO ACCEPTG,” HOPKS SAYS. “HE’S LIKE, ‘I’M MRICE. I JT HAPPEN TO BE GAY—AND I'M LOVG .’ PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT ABOUT HIM—THAT HE’S OPEN AND SECURE AND NFINT WHO HE IS.”SHAHAR AZRAN/WIREIMAGEMRICE H DURG APOLLO CLUB HARLEM AT THE APOLLO THEATER ON FEBARY 18, 2013 NEW YORK CY. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}H PERFORMG AT APOLLO CLUB HARLEM AT THE APOLLO THEATER ON FEBARY 18, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE ED TO DATE FOOTBALL PLAYERS WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER—AND STILL LIK WELL-BUILT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE DOCUMENTARY, H TAILS HIS TASTE MEN: “I LIKE FOOTBALL PLAYERS THE BT… PECIALLY LEMEN. IF THEY’VE GOT BIG LV, WE’RE GOG TO TALK.” HE ADDS THAT HE’S DATED A LOT OF PRO FOOTBALL PLAYERS THE PAST (HE WON'T NAME NAM), EXPLAG, "THEY JT FELL LOVE WH ME.” THE MOVIE ALSO SHOWS HIM FLIRTG WH A YOUNG, STOCKY BLACK MERAMAN WHO'S PART OF THE CREW. “I’M 75, BABY,” HE SAYS, LGHG AS HE SIZ HIM UP. “I SAY EXACTLY WHAT I NEED.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOWEVER, CARLUCC ASSERTS THAT H PREFERS TO BE DISCREET ABOUT HIS EX-LOVERS. “HE’S STILL A LTLE PROTECTIVE OF HIS PRIVATE LIFE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}H WILL NEVER REVEAL THE REASON HE AND HIS BROTHER WERE TRANGED FOR SEVERAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FAY MEMBERS AND CLOSE IENDS TERVIEWED THE MOVIE ALL NFIRM WHAT H SAYS THE FILM: HE REF TO TELL ANYONE WHY HE AND GREGORY—WHO HAD ON-AGA, OFF-AGA FDS—STOPPED SPEAKG TO EACH OTHER FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS, EVEN WHEN THEY LIVED JT A FEW BLOCKS OM EACH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE LAST TIME THE TWO BROTHERS DANCED TOGETHER PUBLIC WAS DIRECTOR FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’S 1984 FILM THE COTTON CLUB, WHICH WAS MRICE’S FILM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE MOVIE, THEY PLAY TRANGED, TAP-DANCG BROTHERS WHO RENCILE—AND LUCKILY, THE LATE 1990S, MRICE AND GREGORY MEND THEIR REAL-LIFE RELATNSHIP. SAYS CARLUCC, “I HOPE PEOPLE WHO WATCH THE FILM WHO ARE GOG THROUGH SOME KD OF DIFFICULT FAY DYNAMIC N SEE THEMSELV AND MAYBE SEE BOTH SIS.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE HAS AN ADOPTED DGHTER NAMED CHERYL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW HE WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME, H ADOPTED WHEN GAY ADOPTN WASN’T ACCEPTED MOST STAT. HE AND HIS DOMTIC PARTNER SILAS DAVIS, WHO WAS A RELATNSHIP WH H OM 1979 TO 1996, RAISED DAVIS’ DGHTER CHERYL TOGETHER, AND H EVENTUALLY ADOPTED HER AS A -PARENT. CHERYL APPEARS THE MOVIE AND STILL HAS A LOVG RELATNSHIP WH H, EVEN THOUGH HER FATHERS ARE NO LONGER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MRICE H: BRG THEM BACK WILL HAVE S WORLD PREMIERE NOVEMBER 10 AT DOC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MA IMAGE: GREGORY H (L) AND MRICE H PERFORMG THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
- MRICE H MARRIED, GAY, NET WORTH, B
MRICE H HAS BEEN SHOWBIZ FOR 70 YEARS. HE'S SPENT NONE OF THEM THE CLOSET.THE BLACK GAY BROADWAY TRIPLE THREAT TAP-DANCED SO THAT ACTORS LIKE BILLY PORTER ULD {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY CARLA HAYNOVEMBER 5, 2019/12:36 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:2594PX;WIDTH:2258PX;}JAM J. KRIEGSMANNGREGORY H (L) AND MRICE H THE 1960S.BY CARLA HAYNOVEMBER 5, 2019 / 12:36 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"MRICE H HAS BEEN SHOWBIZ FOR 70 YEARS. HE'S SPENT NONE OF THEM THE CLOSET.","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-11-05T17:36:04.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-11-05T17:36:04.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"CARLA HAY","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LONG BEFORE BILLY PORTER AND TS BURGS FOUND FAME ON BROADWAY AND ON TV, MULTALENTED ENTERTAER MRICE H JR. HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR FABULO, OPENLY GAY BLACK MEN SHOWBIZ. THE NEW DOCUMENTARY MRICE H: BRG THEM BACK PAYS TRIBUTE TO HIM WHILE OFFERG SOME SURPRISG REVELATNS ABOUT HIS LIFE BEYOND HIS REER AS AN ACPLISHED DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER, THEATER DIRECTOR, AND STAR OF SUCH BROADWAY PRODUCTNS AS EUBIE!, SOPHISTITED LADI, UPTOWN… IT’S HOT!, AND HOT FEET. DIRECTED BY JOHN CARLUCC, THE FILM IS REALLY A STORY ABOUT FAY, RISK-TAKG, AND THE HIGHS AND LOWS THAT E WH ANY JOURNEY TOWARD SELF-ACCEPTANCE AND PERSONAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BRG THEM BACK PATS A PORTRA OF A SASSY, CHARMG, AND BTALLY HONT TRAILBLAZER WHO TAPPED HIS WAY TO THE SPOTLIGHT THE 1950S AND '60S. H, WHO'S BEEN PERFORMG SCE HE WAS 5, IS QUICK TO REMD FOLKS JT HOW CUTE AND SPECIAL HE IS, BUT HE'S ALSO BEEN A LONGTIME PROPONENT OF THE MANTRA “NEVER LET ANYONE FE WHO YOU ARE." AT TIM, HE IS PRICKLY, MANDG, AND PLITED. SCEN OF HIS ROCKY RELATNSHIP WH HIS SUCCSFUL YOUNGER BROTHER GREGORY (WHO DIED OF NCER 2003) PACK SOME OF THE DOC'S BIGGT EMOTNAL PUNCH, AND WHILE HE HAS A LOYAL, LOVG CIRCLE OF FAY AND IENDS—SOME OF HIS ILLTR PALS TERVIEWED CLU DEBBIE ALLEN AND CHA RIVERA—HE HAS ALSO EXHIBED RECLIVE TENNCI AS HE'S ALT WH AGG (HE TURNS 76 NEXT MONTH).JOHN CARLUCCMRICE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MRICE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“HE’S FLASHY, BUT HE’S ALSO SHY ABOUT RECEIVG PRAISE,” SAYS CARLUCC'S WIFE, TRACY E. HOPKS, WHO WROTE THE FILM AND SERVED AS ONE OF S PRODUCERS. (H WILL SEE THE DOCUMENTARY S ENTIRETY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT S WORLD PREMIERE THIS WEEK AT DOC NYC.) CARLUCC ADDS THAT HE WANTED TO AVOID THE BIG GAY MOVIE CLICHé WHICH THE SUBJECT'S SEXUALY ISN’T REVEALED UNTIL NEAR THE END. “I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW RIGHT OFF THE BAT THAT MRICE IS GAY, AND THAT YOU MOVED BEYOND ."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HERE, CARLUCC AND HOPKS DISCS FOUR OTHER THGS VIEWERS WILL LEARN ABOUT H WHILE WATCHG THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE WAS NEVER THE CLOSET, AND HIS SHOWBIZ FAY ALWAYS ACCEPTED HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR MOST OF H’ LIFE, LGBTQ RIGHTS WERE NONEXISTENT, AND BEG AN OPENLY GAY BLACK MAN MEANT THAT HE WAS AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RISK OF BEG FIRED OR ASSLTED. IN THE DOCUMENTARY, HE SAYS HIS MOTHER KNEW HE WAS GAY BEFORE HE TOLD HER, AND THAT HE WOULD SUALLY DISCS HIS LOVE LIFE WH HIS FATHER. HIS STRAIGHT BROTHER GREGORY, ALSO A PERFORMER, ED TO GO TO GAY CLUBS WH MRICE AND HAD NO HANGUPS ABOUT DANCG WH GAY MEN. BASILLY, H' FAY WAS "WOKE" S BEFORE BEG WOKE WAS A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“WE WERE A LTLE SURPRISED HIS FAY WAS SO ACCEPTG,” HOPKS SAYS. “HE’S LIKE, ‘I’M MRICE. I JT HAPPEN TO BE GAY—AND I'M LOVG .’ PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT ABOUT HIM—THAT HE’S OPEN AND SECURE AND NFINT WHO HE IS.”SHAHAR AZRAN/WIREIMAGEMRICE H DURG APOLLO CLUB HARLEM AT THE APOLLO THEATER ON FEBARY 18, 2013 NEW YORK CY. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}H PERFORMG AT APOLLO CLUB HARLEM AT THE APOLLO THEATER ON FEBARY 18, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE ED TO DATE FOOTBALL PLAYERS WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER—AND STILL LIK WELL-BUILT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE DOCUMENTARY, H TAILS HIS TASTE MEN: “I LIKE FOOTBALL PLAYERS THE BT… PECIALLY LEMEN. IF THEY’VE GOT BIG LV, WE’RE GOG TO TALK.” HE ADDS THAT HE’S DATED A LOT OF PRO FOOTBALL PLAYERS THE PAST (HE WON'T NAME NAM), EXPLAG, "THEY JT FELL LOVE WH ME.” THE MOVIE ALSO SHOWS HIM FLIRTG WH A YOUNG, STOCKY BLACK MERAMAN WHO'S PART OF THE CREW. “I’M 75, BABY,” HE SAYS, LGHG AS HE SIZ HIM UP. “I SAY EXACTLY WHAT I NEED.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOWEVER, CARLUCC ASSERTS THAT H PREFERS TO BE DISCREET ABOUT HIS EX-LOVERS. “HE’S STILL A LTLE PROTECTIVE OF HIS PRIVATE LIFE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}H WILL NEVER REVEAL THE REASON HE AND HIS BROTHER WERE TRANGED FOR SEVERAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FAY MEMBERS AND CLOSE IENDS TERVIEWED THE MOVIE ALL NFIRM WHAT H SAYS THE FILM: HE REF TO TELL ANYONE WHY HE AND GREGORY—WHO HAD ON-AGA, OFF-AGA FDS—STOPPED SPEAKG TO EACH OTHER FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS, EVEN WHEN THEY LIVED JT A FEW BLOCKS OM EACH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE LAST TIME THE TWO BROTHERS DANCED TOGETHER PUBLIC WAS DIRECTOR FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’S 1984 FILM THE COTTON CLUB, WHICH WAS MRICE’S FILM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE MOVIE, THEY PLAY TRANGED, TAP-DANCG BROTHERS WHO RENCILE—AND LUCKILY, THE LATE 1990S, MRICE AND GREGORY MEND THEIR REAL-LIFE RELATNSHIP. SAYS CARLUCC, “I HOPE PEOPLE WHO WATCH THE FILM WHO ARE GOG THROUGH SOME KD OF DIFFICULT FAY DYNAMIC N SEE THEMSELV AND MAYBE SEE BOTH SIS.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE HAS AN ADOPTED DGHTER NAMED CHERYL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW HE WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME, H ADOPTED WHEN GAY ADOPTN WASN’T ACCEPTED MOST STAT. HE AND HIS DOMTIC PARTNER SILAS DAVIS, WHO WAS A RELATNSHIP WH H OM 1979 TO 1996, RAISED DAVIS’ DGHTER CHERYL TOGETHER, AND H EVENTUALLY ADOPTED HER AS A -PARENT. CHERYL APPEARS THE MOVIE AND STILL HAS A LOVG RELATNSHIP WH H, EVEN THOUGH HER FATHERS ARE NO LONGER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MRICE H: BRG THEM BACK WILL HAVE S WORLD PREMIERE NOVEMBER 10 AT DOC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MA IMAGE: GREGORY H (L) AND MRICE H PERFORMG THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
The black gay Broadway triple threat tap-danced so that actors like Billy Porter uld n. * gregory hines gay *
Hopks, Brg Them Back is an timate portra of a brilliant artist who knows who he is, isn’t aaid to be his tongue, and is fully aware of how beg both Black and gay has been an obstacle for him show bs.
“I feel very ee beg gay, although I don’t like to label anythg.
I jt happen to be gay, and lovg !
MRICE H MARRIED, GAY, NET WORTH, B
* gregory hines gay *
Helped pave the way for fabulo, openly gay black men showbiz. ) Carlucc adds that he wanted to avoid the big gay movie cliché which the subject's sexualy isn’t revealed until near the end.
“I wanted to make sure you knew right off the bat that Mrice is gay, and that you moved beyond . "Here, Carlucc and Hopks discs four other thgs viewers will learn about H while watchg the was never the closet, and his showbiz fay always accepted his most of H’ life, LGBTQ rights were nonexistent, and beg an openly gay black man meant that he was at an extremely high risk of beg fired or asslted.
In the documentary, he says his mother knew he was gay before he told her, and that he would sually discs his love life wh his father. His straight brother Gregory, also a performer, ed to go to gay clubs wh Mrice and had no hangups about dancg wh gay men.