Some crics dismiss the value of stori about the private liv of Hollywood’s gay stars of yore. But those stori are ccial to unrstandg the tth of who they were.
Contents:
- THE 12 GAYT MEN SHOW BIZ HISTORY, FROM PL LYN TO BILLY PORTERALSO: EVERY SUNDAY, THE BOYS TAKE OFF THE EAST {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;}LIFEBY MICHAEL MTOMAY 27, 2019/10:57 {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:2000PX;WIDTH:3000PX;}SANTIAGO FELIPE/FILMMAGICNEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 12: ACTOR BILLY PORTER ATTENDS THE BLONDS FALL / WTER 2019 NWAY SHOW AT SPRG STUDS ON FEBARY 12, 2019 NEW YORK CY. (PHOTO BY SANTIAGO FELIPE/FILMMAGIC)BY MICHAEL MTOMAY 27, 2019 / 10:57 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"THE 12 GAYT MEN SHOW BIZ HISTORY, FROM PL LYN TO BILLY PORTER","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-05-27T14:57:51.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-05-27T14:57:51.000+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":"MICHAEL MTO","KEYWORDS":"MTO UNFILTERED","ARTICLESECTN":"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;}THE GLTERY, LET’S-PRETEND WORLD OF SHOW BIZ SEEMS TO ATTRACT A LOT OF GAY MEN, WHETHER THEY’RE , OUT, OR HALFWAY THERE. AND MANY OF THEM HAVE BROUGHT JOY THROUGH THE S WH THEIR TEMPTUO TALENT AND IRREPRSIBLE {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 ARE MY PICKS FOR THE DOZEN GAYT OF ALL, PLETE WH SOME WELL-ACCSORIZED NNER-UPS. I’M NOT CLUDG FASHN SIGNERS (TOO EASY) OR NEWSSTERS, JT ENTERTAMENT FIGUR—AND I AM CLUDG SOME MEN WHO WERE SO GAY THEY SCREAMED , EVEN IF THEY DIDN’T ALWAYS SAY {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;}PL LYN (1926-82)ABC PHOTO ARCHIV/ABC VIA GETTY IMAGUNITED STATES - AUGUST 14: THE DATING GAME - 8/14/72, PL LYN ON "THE DATG GAME"., (PHOTO BY ABC PHOTO ARCHIV/ABC VIA GETTY IMAG){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;}WH HIS BARBED LIVERY OF A LE FOLLOWED BY A WICKED LTLE CHUCKLE, PL LYN WAS THE EPOME OF GAY—AN UNSPOKEN SHRE TO HOMOSEXUALY BACK WHEN NO ONE WAS OUT. IT WAS ALL ABOUT HTS AND NUENDOS. LYN WAS A SCREAM AS THE ANGSTY FATHER BYE BYE BIRDIE (SGG THE BTER “KIDS,” THOUGH I NEVER UNRSTOOD HOW HE HAD ANY), THE MPY UNCLE ARTHUR ON THE GAY-IENDLY S BEWCHED, AND THE CIDLY OFF-CENTER CENTER SQUARE ON THE GAME SHOW HOLLYWOOD SQUAR (“WHY DO THE HELL’S ANGELS WEAR LEATHER?” LYN: “BEE CHIFFON WRKL EASILY.”) IN LI OF OUT GAY HERO, WE HAD PL LYN FLAPPG HIS WRISTS AND VIRTUALLY WELG SI HIS CLOSET WHILE SLAMMG THE DOOR OUR {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;}ANOTHER FAB FLAMER WHO SPANNED BOTH THEATER, TV SERI, AND GAME SHOWS WAS THE EXTREMELY FUNNY CHARL NELSON REILLY (1931-2007), WHO SHOOK UP THE MATCH GAME WH HIS GTUR AND POLYTER PRTS. AND THE OTHER NNERS UP ARE JIM NABORS, JIM J. BULLOCK, JIM PARSONS, BCE VILANCH, TAYLOR NEGRON, AND QUEER EYE GUYS PAST AND {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;}RUPL (1960-)CHELSEA GUGLIELMO/GETTY IMAGLOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 30: RUPL SPEAKS ONSTAGE DURG 3RD ANNUAL RUPL'S DRAGCON DAY 2 AT LOS ANGEL CONVENTN CENTER ON APRIL 30, 2017 LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY CHELSEA GUGLIELMO/GETTY IMAG){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;}“YOU BETTER WORK!” “WE’RE ALL BORN NAKED. THE RT IS DRAG.” “IF YOU DON’T LOVE YOURSELF, HOW THE HELL YOU GONNA LOVE SOMEBODY ELSE?” “DON’T LET YOUR MOUTH WRE CHECKS THAT YOUR ASS N’T SH.” “SISSY THAT WALK!" ENOUGH SAID? GAY, GAY, GAY!{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;}OTHER LEGENDARY DRAG SUPERSTARS CLU CHARL LUDLAM, CHARL PIERCE, JIM BAILEY, LORI SHANNON, CHARL BCH, LYPSKA, AND EVERY DRAG RACE NTTANT WHO EVER {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;}GEE TAKEI (1937-)FRERICK M. BROWN/GETTY IMAGPASADENA, CA - JANUARY 21: ACTOR GEE TAKEI SPEAKS ONSTAGE DURG THE 'PNEERS OF TELEVISN, SEASON 4, "ACTG FUNNY", "BREAKG BARRIERS", "DOCTORS AND NURS", AND "STANDUP TO S" ' PANEL DISCSN AT THE PBS PORTN OF THE 2014 WTER TELEVISN CRICS ASSOCIATN TOUR AT LANGHAM HOTEL ON JANUARY 21, 2014 PASANA, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY FRERICK M. BROWN/GETTY IMAG){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;}HAVG SURVIVED EARLY YEARS SPENT A JAPANE-AMERIN TERNMENT MP, TAKEI MIRACULOLY EMERGED NOT ONLY AS A NOTED ACTOR (BT KNOWN AS SULU STAR TREK), BUT AS A VOL GAY WHO ME OUT 2005 AND HAS BEEN BLISSFULLY OUTSPOKEN FAVOR OF THE QUEER E EVER SCE. WH 2.87 LN TWTER FOLLOWERS (AS OF PUBLITN), TAKEI SENDS OUT STGGLY ON-TARGET MSAG, SATIRIL THOUGHTS (“TMP HAS OFFERED TO HAVE MEXI PAY FOR THE REBUILDG OF NOTRE DAME”) AND PICTUR OF HIMSELF AND HIS HBAND WH PETE {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;}ELTON JOHN (1947-)ANDREW H. WALKER/GETTY IMAG FOR DCPNEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 31: ELTON JOHN PERFORMS ON DICK CLARK'S NEW YEAR'S ROCK' EVE WH RYAN SEACRT 2015 ON DECEMBER 31, 2014 NEW YORK CY. (PHOTO BY ANDREW H. WALKER/GETTY IMAG FOR DCP){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’LL FIVE SIR ELTON’S MARRIAGE TO A WOMAN 1984. AFTER ALL, EVEN HE ADMS HE WAS NYG WHO HE REALLY WAS BY ENTERG TO . EXCEPT FOR OCSNAL TOURS LIKE THAT, THE BRISH SGER HAS ALWAYS BEEN FLASHY, TRASHY, AND TE, WH LARGE SUNGLASS AND BOAS TO MATCH THE GRANDSY OF HIS CREDIBLY TCHY H RERDS. WRG THE SRE FOR 1994’S THE LN KG (WHICH LATER BEME A SMASH BROADWAY SHOW AND NOW A CGI REMAKE) GAVE HIM A WHOLE NEW LEGIMACY, AND NOW, WH HIS BPIC ROCKETMAN ABOUT TO BE RELEASED, HE’S PRACTILLY AS REVERED AS THE QUEEN {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;}HONORABLE MENTNS TO FREDDIE MERCURY, THE VILLAGE PEOPLE, BOY GEE, JIMMY SOMERVILLE, ANDY BELL, GEE MICHAEL, JOBRIATH, LANCE BASS, ADAM LAMBERT, SYLVTER, AND RUDOLF {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;}DIVE (1945-88)MONDADORI PORTFOL VIA GETTY IMAGAMERIN ACTOR AND SGER HARRIS GLENN MILSTEAD AS CHARACTER DIVE SG SHOWG A LICE SHAMPOO ON THE SET OF THE FILM PK FLAMGOS. 1972. (PHOTO BY MONDADORI PORTFOL VIA GETTY IMAG){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 A SK-TIGHT RED DRS, WH IMPOSSIBLY RAISED EYEBROWS AND TORTURED YELLOW HAIR, DIVE WAS QUE A SIGHT AS THE PL-SIZED VILLAO VIXEN JOHN WATERS’ PK FLAMGOS (1972). SHE WENT ON TO OTHER BRAZEN HILARY WATERS FILMS LIKE FEMALE TROUBLE, RETURNG FOR A SYMPATHETIC TURN THE MUCH MORE SOCIALLY NSC CLASSIC HAIRSPRAY, WHILE ALSO VENTURG TO TRIBAL DANCE MIC AND OTHER UNEXPECTED TURNS. DIVVY (BORN HARRIS GLENN MILSTEAD BALTIMORE, OF URSE) WAS ABOUT TO PLAY A MALE ROLE ON MARRIED WH CHILDREN WHEN HE DIED, BARELY ABLE TO ABSORB THE NEW PRAISE OM {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;}TMAN CAPOTE (1924-84)KEYSTONE/GETTY IMAGAMERIN WRER TMAN CAPOTE (1924 - 1984), THE THOR OF 'BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S' MILAN NEGOTIATG A NTRACT FOR HIS NEW NONFICTN NOVEL 'IN COLD BLOOD'. (PHOTO BY KEYSTONE/GETTY IMAG){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 NEW ORLEANS-BORN THOR HAD RANGE, VEERG OM THE CLASSIC SOCIAL-CLIMBG NOVELLA BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S TO THE CHILLG NON-FICTN NOVEL IN COLD BLOOD. HE ALSO HAD AN IMABLE STYLE, THAT OF A PRISSY, ELF MAN WH A SQUEAKY VOICE THAT YOU ULDN’T MAKE UP IF YOU TRIED. UNSELFNSCLY APPEARG ON VAR TALK SHOWS, HE BEME A WILDLY POPULAR CULTURAL FIGURE AND AN SPIRATN TO GAYS HOPG TO MAKE WHOUT WATERG DOWN THEIR {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;}SIARLY, REX REED IS A BREEZY WRER WHO MPED UP ON TV’S THE GONG SHOW AND AS MYRON THE 1970 MOVIE OF GORE VIDAL’S TRANS BOOK MYRA BRECKRIDGE. OH, AND VIDAL RANKS HIGH ON THIS LIST, TOO, ALONG WH OSR WIL, NOEL COWARD, AND TENNSEE WILLIAMS, THOUGH NONE OF THE WRERS IS AS GAY AS LTLE OLD ME!{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;}LIBERACE (1919-87)SONIA MOSKOWZ/IMAGES/GETTY IMAGNEW YORK, NY - CIRCA 1984: LIBERACE CIR 1984 NEW YORK CY. (PHOTO BY SONIA MOSKOWZ/IMAGES/GETTY IMAG){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;}LIBERACE DIDN’T SAY HE WAS GAY—EVEN WHEN HIS EX-BOYIEND STT THORSON SUED HIM FOR PALIMONY—AND FACT, HE SUED A MAGAZE THAT DARED TO ASSERT THAT HE WAS ONE OF , AND HE WON! WHAT’S MORE, WHEN LIBERACE ME DOWN WH HIV, HE CLAIMED HE’D SIMPLY LOST WEIGHT AS THE RULT OF A WATERMELON DIET. BUT STILL, THIS WAS THE GAYT MAN EVER SHOW BIZ—MAYBE EVER ON EARTH—GLTERG OM HEAD TO TOE (CLUDG HIS MEGAWATT SE), AS HE TKLED CLASSIL DTI ON THE IVORI FOR AN ADORG DIENCE OF CLUELS {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;}A MAMA’S BOY, WLADZIU VALENTO LIBERACE WAS ALSO A BIG QUEER WHO, WHEN I TERVIEWED HIM 1985, TOLD ME A RNCHY JOKE ABOUT A “TRANSVTE” WH A BIG DICK, A TIDB I FELT HE OFFERED AS A SUBTLE NOD TO OUR SHARED SEXUALY. EVEN WHEN HE WAS SICK, “LEE” KEPT PERFORMG AN ELABORATE FASHN, LUXURIATG JEWELS, SHOWMANSHIP, AND A SHEER LOVE OF 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;}ALLAN CARR (1937-99)FRANK EDWARDS/FOTOS INTERNATNAL/GETTY IMAGAMERIN PRODUCER ALLAN CARR (1937 - 1999), ACTOR AND SGER OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, HER SISTER RONA, AND AMERIN ACTOR JEFF CONAWAY, ATTEND THE PREMIERE PARTY FOR 'AMERIN HOT WAX', DIRECTED BY FLOYD MUTX, MARCH 1978. (PHOTO BY FRANK EDWARDS/FOTOS INTERNATNAL/GETTY IMAG){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;}SWANNG AROUND LORFUL FTANS, CARR (PICTURED ABOVE ON THE LEFT) BEME THE OSTENTAT PRODUCER OF HS LIKE GREASE, THOUGH HIS FLOPS (CAN’T STOP THE MIC, GREASE 2, WHERE THE BOYS ARE ’84) MAY HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE FASCATG. SURROUNDG HIMSELF WH HOT YOUNG GAY MEN AT HOLLYWOOD POOL PARTI, CARR WAS AS LARGER-THAN-LIFE AS HIS BRAND, THOUGH HIS JOB HELMG THE 1989 OSRS—THE ONE WH ROB LOWE AND SNOW WHE WOEFULLY DUETTG ON “PROUD MARY”—BEME LEGENDARY FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. CARR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THAT PROUD A MARY HIMSELF, BUT THE FACT REMAS THAT HE WAS GAYER THAN ALL OF TSELTOWN {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;}BILLY PORTER (1969-)DAN MACMEDAN/GETTY IMAGHOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 24: BILLY PORTER ATTENDS THE 91ST ANNUAL AMY AWARDS AT HOLLYWOOD AND HIGHLAND ON FEBARY 24, 2019 HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY DAN MACMEDAN/GETTY IMAG){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;}A FE SGER-ACTOR, BILLY HAS LONG BEEN OUT, PROUD, AND VOL. HE WON THE TONY FOR KKY BOOTS, AND WHEN I ASKED HIM AT THE TIME WHAT WAS GOG TO BE LIKE TO PLAY THE CHARACTER HARVEY FIERSTE TEND AS STRAIGHT, BILLY GAVE ME AN EARFUL; HE HAD NO TENTN OF PLAYG LOLA STRAIGHT, THANK YOU. ADD HIS WILD SUCCS ON POSE AND HIS GENR NONNFORMG OUTF THAT STOLE THE OSRS, AND BILLY IS THE MAN OF OUR GAY {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;}ALSO: NATHAN LANE AND CHRISTOPHER {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;}ALAN SU (1926-2011)KEV WTER/GETTY IMAGLOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: ACTOR ALAN SU PRENTS THE OUTSTANDG VARIETY, MIC OR COMEDY SERI AWARD ONSTAGE DURG THE 60TH PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS HELD AT NOKIA THEATRE ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY KEV WTER/GETTY IMAG){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;}ON THE TOPIL SKETCH EDY SHOW ROWAN AND MART’S LGH-IN, ALAN SU WAS A RT, PLAYG OUT-THERE CHARACTERS LIKE AN EFFEMATE SPORTSSTER NAMED BIG AL WHO OBSSIVELY RANG HIS LTLE BELL, AND ALSO A DU WHO SWAGGERS TO A WILD WT BAR, ALL BOWLEGGED AND MANLY, ONLY TO MPILY ORR A OZEN DAIQUIRI. SU WAS AS GAY AS IKEA ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, THOUGH HE HID AN OPPOSE-SEX MARRIAGE FOR A WHILE, AND NEVER ME OUT ON THE RERD. BUT BENEATH HIS WONRFUL MANNERISMS, SU WAS NOT ONLY GAY, HE HAD A GAY SOUL. IN FACT, HE REPORTEDLY STARTED FEELG THAT THE MATERIAL HE WAS GIVEN TO DO ON THE SHOW WAS HOMOPHOBIC. IF HE HAD BEEN BORN LATER, HE WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE BEEN WAY MORE OF AN {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;}ALSO: MAR CANTONE, WAYLAND FLOWERS, AND EDWARD EVERETT {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;}LLIE JORDAN (1955-)JASON LAVERIS/FILMMAGICBEVERLY HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 04: ACTOR LLIE JORDAN ATTENDS THE TREVORLIVE LOS ANGEL 2016 FUNDRAISER AT THE BEVERLY HILTON HOTEL ON DECEMBER 4, 2016 BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY JASON LAVERIS/FILMMAGIC){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 CHATTANOOGA-BORN IC PIXIE IS A LONGTIME SCENE-STEALER—OM WILL & GRACE TO AMERIN HORROR STORY: COVEN—AND HE’S ALWAYS BEEN MARVELOLY MOUTHY AS HIMSELF, AS WELL. WHENEVER I CHAT WH LLIE, I KNOW I’LL LGH MYSELF TO THE PROSTRATE POSN, THANKS TO HIS RACILY HILAR REVELATNS. AND HOW MANY EMMY WNERS N SAY THEY ED TO HOST THE HOOKIE AWARDS FOR MALE RTS?{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;}RUNNERS UP: RAMON NOVARRO, WILLIAM HA, VAN JOHNSON, MICHAEL GREER, RODDY MCDOWALL, ANTHONY PERKS, MONTGOMERY CLIFT, ROCK HUDSON, JONATHAN FRID, JONATHAN HARRIS, RUPERT EVERETT, JOHN GIELGUD, QUENT CRISP, SIR IAN MCKELLEN, AND NEIL PATRICK {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;}ANDY COHEN (1968-)CHARL SYK/BRAVO/NBCU PHOTO BANK VIA GETTY IMAGWATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE WITH ANDY COHEN -- PICTURED: ANDY COHEN -- (PHOTO BY: CHARL SYK/BRAVO/NBCU PHOTO BANK VIA GETTY IMAG){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;}DUH. NEED I REALLY EXPLA?{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;}{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;}A THONG TO {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;}SOME FUTURE INS PARA THEIR BS AROUND THE BROLQUE REVUE ON SUNDAYS AT THE BEDLAM CLUB ON AVENUE C NEW YORK. I JT UGHT SOME OF THE SHOW, WHICH HAD STUDLY GUYS LIKE RICHARD, PUCK, AND BOBBY WORKG THE ROOM, OM THE TOP OF THE BAR TO THE MOOSE HEAD ON THE WALL AND THEN SOME. SOME OF THE SIGHT L WERE LS THAN IAL, BUT THE GUYS—WHO ALL STARTED OUT SAILOR’S HATS FOR FLEET WEEK—SAILED SMOOTHLY TO WRHG SEMI-NUDY, AS ALAN CUMMG, HIS HBAND GRANT SHAFFER, AND I GENTEELLY APPLD. THE DWORLD UNRWEAR PARTY THAT FOLLOWED WAS NO DOUBT UTTERLY {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;}SPEAKG OF MALE DISROBERS, THE MAGIC MIKE MIL HAS NCELED S BOSTON PREMIERE N, BUT I HEAR THAT THE MICHAEL JACKSON JEBOX SHOW, DON’T STOP ’TIL YOU GET ENOUGH–WHICH SEEMED TO PSE S TRACKS WHILE THE HBO DOC SPUN S DRAMAS—IS G ANYWAY. SORT OF LIKE A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}MTO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
- HOLLYWOOD HAS A SECRET LGBT HISTORY. WE SHOULDN’T DISMISS ITTRUTH TELLERSOME CRICS DISMISS THE VALUE OF STORI ABOUT THE PRIVATE LIV OF HOLLYWOOD’S GAY STARS OF YORE. BUT THOSE STORI ARE CCIAL TO UNRSTANDG THE TTH OF WHO THEY WERE.WILLIAM J. MANNUPDATED JUL. 30, 2018 2:00AM EDT / PUBLISHED JUL. 28, 2018 9:01PM EDT GREENWICH ENTERTAMENTTHE HOLLYWOOD DREAM FACTORY WAS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCSFUL ENTERPRIS AMERIN HISTORY. AT S HEIGHT, THE DTRY OF ILLN CRANKED OUT HUNDREDS OF PUBLICY RELEAS A WEEK, ALL DUTIFULLY REPORTED FAN MAGAZ AND NEWSPAPER LUMNS. AN ARMY OF PUBLICISTS AND “FIXERS” WERE ON HAND TO STAGE-MANAGE DOZENS OF ROMANC, WEDDGS AND HAPPY FAY PHOTO-OPS TO BOOST THE IMAG OF THE STARS THE DTRY HAD CREATED, ALL OF THEM ARCHETYPILLY WHOLOME, UPSTANDG—AND HETEROSEXUAL. THIS WAS THE WAY AMERINS THE 1940S AND 1950S WANTED TO SEE THEIR HERO—AND THEMSELV. THE DREAM MERCHANTS MA SURE THEY DID.SO POTENT WAS THIS EFFORT THAT EVEN TODAY, THOSE ILLNS ENDURE. DPE THE FACT THAT MY BOOK KATE: THE WOMAN WHO WAS HEPBURN ME OUT 2006, THERE ARE STILL THOSE WHO SIST I MA UP THE PARTS ABOUT HOW HEPBURN LOVED WOMEN AS WELL AS MEN, AND HOW SHE TURNED HER LARGELY PLATONIC IENDSHIP WH A SEXUALLY NFLICTED SPENCER TRACY TO A ROMANTIC, HETEROSEXUAL UNN FOR POSTERY. AT THE TIME OF THE BOOK’S PUBLITN, SOME “SPENCE AND KATE” FANS ME UNHGED. TROLLS ON AMAZON KEPT MY EDOR BY FENDG MY FIVE YEARS OF TENSIVE REARCH. MY WIKIPEDIA PAGE WAS HACKED AND I WAS LLED A LIAR. AT ONE BOOK EVENT, THE VENUE RECEIVED A THREATENG PHONE LL BEFORE I WENT ONSTAGE. FOR SOME PEOPLE, TAGGG BELOVED FIGUR AS QUEER WAS A CLARATN OF WAR; THEY ME READY TO FIGHT. NO AMOUNT OF REARCH WAS ENOUGH FOR THEM. FOR THE “NIERS,” AS I LL THEM, THEIR HOLLYWOOD ILLNS ARE BOUGHT, PAID FOR, AND NONRETURNABLE.MATT TYRNER, THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW FILM, STTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD, OPENG TONIGHT LOS ANGEL AND ON AUGT 3 NEW YORK, HAS NOT, AS FAR AS I KNOW, HAD TO AL WH PHONE THREATS OR WIKIPEDIA VANDALISM. BUT HE’S GOTTEN HIS SHARE OF PHBACK OM THE NIERS, TOO. GREENWICH ENTERTAMENT STTY BRGS TO LIFE THE STORY OF STTY BOWERS, THE LEGENDARY “MALE MADAM” OF HOLLYWOOD’S GOLN AGE, WHOSE LIAISONS WH DISCREETLY GAY ACTORS THE 1940S AND 1950S EXPOSE THE REAL WORLD THE DREAM MERCHANTS WERE TENT ON HIDG.THE FILM IS BASED ON BOWERS' OWN BOOK, FULL SERVICE: MY LIFE HOLLYWOOD AND THE SECRET SEX LIV OF THE STARS. (FULL DISCLOSURE: I’M ONE OF THE TALKG HEADS TYRNER'S FILM, AND BOWERS WAS ONE OF MY MA SOURC FOR KATE; BOWERS WAS ALSO A CHIEF SOURCE FOR DAILY BEAST EDOR AND WRER TIM TEEMAN'S BOOK, IN BED WH GORE VIDAL: HTLERS, HOLLYWOOD, AND THE PRIVATE WORLD OF AN AMERIN MASTER.) WHILE THE BROADSIS AGAST TYRNER HAVE BEEN MORE DISCREET, THEY’RE NO LS ROOTED A EP, PERVASIVE ANTI-GAY BIAS. “THERE HAS BEEN ODD, SUBTLE, HOMOPHOBIC MENTARY SURROUNDG THE PROJECT,” TYRNER TOLD ME. “PEOPLE SAY THGS LIKE ‘NOT MY CUP OF TEA,’ WHICH JT HAS THAT CERTA FEELG TO .” A CRIC N’T E RIGHT OUT AND SAY, 2018, “THE IA OF QUEER SEX MAK ME QUEASY.” BUT THEY N SAY THGS SUCH AS WHAT JEANE BASGER, FILM HISTORIAN AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE WLEYAN UNIVERSY CEMA ARCHIV, TOLD THE NEW YORK TIM: “THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE EXPRSN, ‘PEOPLE NEED TO GET A LIFE.’ PERSONALLY, I’M MORE TERTED THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE THAN THEIR POSSIBLE OFF-SCREEN SHENANIGANS.” BASGER’S MENTS IGNED A MI-FIRTORM ON TWTER. BUZZFEED RRPONNT KATE AURTHUR LL BASGER’S REMARK “NSCENDG AND HOMOPHOBIC.” VANY FAIR’S REBEC KEEGAN ASKED, “SERLY, WHAT WAS THE POT OF THAT QUOTE? ANYONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE TERTED THAT ERA OF HOLLYWOOD BUT NOT TERTED THE WAY S BIGGT STARS NAVIGATED SEXUALY IS SO FULL OF .” HEARST OVER HOLLYWOOD THOR LOU PIZZOLA TWEETED, “IT’S TERTG HOW PEOPLE, CLUDG FILM HISTORIANS, WHO NEVER OBJECT TO STORI EXPLORG THE SEXUAL AND ROMANTIC LIV OF ACTORS AS LONG AS THEY ARE PERCEIVED AS STRAIGHT, BEE PURANIL ABOUT DISCSNS ABOUT QUEER LIFE HOLLYWOOD, CLARG THE CUR SHOULD ‘GET A LIFE’ AND FOC ONLY ON ‘THE WORK.’ ”IF ONLY TWTER HAD BEEN AROUND WHEN KATE ME OUT! WHILE THE LN’S SHARE OF MY REVIEWS WERE POSIVE (THE NEW YORK TIM NAMED KATE ONE OF THE NOTABLE BOOKS OF THE YEAR) THERE WERE SOME WHO, MUCH LIKE BASGER TRIED WH STTY, ATTEMPTED TO DISEMPOWER THE WORK BY TRIVIALIZG . THE LATE RICHARD SCHICKEL, HIS REVIEW OF KATE FOR THE LOS ANGEL TIM, DISMISSED MY SOURC AS “STREET HTLERS” (STTY WAS NOTHG OF THE SORT) AND THE BOOK AS “GOSSIP-MONGERG WH HIGH-END ASPIRATNS.” MY DISCSNS OF THE SEXUALY OF HEPBURN’S IENDS (“CLUDG JOHN FORD!”) WERE “TIROME,” SCHICKEL NCLUD. HIS EXCLAMATN POT SAYS ALL. THE 73-YEAR-OLD REVIEWER SIMPLY ULD NOT FATHOM A MAN’S MAN LIKE FORD (DIRECTOR OF JOHN WAYNE WTERNS!) STGGLG WH SEXUALY. WHAT WAS ACTUALLY “TIROME” TO SCHICKEL WAS THE WHOLE DISCSN OF SEXUALY—UNWORTHY OF SER STUDY. “GET A LIFE,” HE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE SAID TO ME.SCHICKEL WAS MORE THAN HAPPY, HOWEVER, TO LEND HIS SUPPORT TO A BGRAPHY OF SPENCER TRACY THAT ME OUT A FEW YEARS LATER, SCE HEWED MORE CLOSELY TO THE OLD STUD LE. THE THOR OF THAT BOOK ED SCHICKEL’S TACTIC GOG AFTER KATE: S REVELATNS WERE LS TO BE REFUTED THAN RID. STTY BOWERS’S STORI, HE SAID, WERE “CHEERFULLY UNVERIFIABLE”—EVEN THOUGH ALL STORI ABOUT SEX ARE UNVERIFIABLE, CHEERFULLY OR OTHERWISE, UNLS BOTH PARTI E FORWARD TO VERIFY. ALTHOUGH THE TRACY BGRAPHER EMBRACED STORI ABOUT HIS SUBJECT’S HETEROSEXUAL PAIRGS WHOUT ANY NEED FOR SOME HIGHER PROOF, HE SISTED THERE WAS NO EVINCE OF “HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVY” TRACY’S PRIVATE PAPERS. “THE TTH IS THAT THIS PART OF HOLLYWOOD’S STORY — ED, THIS PART OF THE STORY OF THE ENTIRE TWENTIETH CENTURY — HAS UALLY ONLY BEEN PRERVED THROUGH ORAL TRADNS, PASSED DOWN BY THOSE ' THE LIFE'” NOW WHAT WOULD SUCH EVINCE LOOK LIKE? EVEN THE PAPERS OF GEE COR AND RODDY MCDOWALL, BOTH OF WHOM LIVED FAIRLY UNDISGUISED GAY LIV, THERE’S LTLE “EVINCE” TO SPEAK OF. APPARENTLY SOME HISTORIANS (THOSE WHO E TERMS LIKE “HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVY” OR SCRIBE SAME-SEX LOVE AS “SHENANIGANS”) N ONLY REGNIZE THE REALY OF LGBT EXPERIENCE WHEN SASHAYS DOWN THE STREET A PRI PARA. THE TTH IS THAT THIS PART OF HOLLYWOOD’S STORY—ED, THIS PART OF THE STORY OF THE ENTIRE TWENTIETH CENTURY—HAS UALLY ONLY BEEN PRERVED THROUGH ORAL TRADNS, PASSED DOWN BY THOSE “ THE LIFE.” MANY OF THE PEOPLE I SPOKE WH FOR KATE—AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE TYRNER TERVIEWED FOR STTY, AND TEEMAN FOR IN BED WH GORE VIDAL—WERE NOT THEMSELV FAMO, BUT THEY SAW FAR MORE, AND UNRSTOOD THE SUATN FAR BETTER, THAN THE MARQUEE NAM AROUND THEM OR EVEN MEMBERS OF TRACY’S AND HEPBURN’S FAI, WHO, AFTER ALL, BELIEVE THEY HAVE A LEGACY TO PROTECT. THE SOURC, WHO SCHICKEL DISMISSED AS MOR, WERE THE REAL FAI OF MY SUBJECTS, SOMETHG MOST QUEER PEOPLE STCTIVELY UNRSTAND—YET THE TRACY BGRAPHER CHOSE NOT TO SPEAK WH ANY OF THEM. THAT KD OF SNOBBERY DON’T ALLOW FOR THE WDOW TO BE OPENED WI ENOUGH FOR THE TTH TO GET . ON SOCIAL MEDIA DISCSN GROUPS, FANS OF CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD ARE DIVID TO TWO: THOSE WHO ARE CUR TO UNRSTAND THE FULL REALY OF THEIR HERO’ LIV AND THOSE WHO HOLD TIGHT TO THE OFFICIAL LE AS HAND OUT BY THE MGM OR PARAMOUNT ONT OFFIC. GREENWICH ENTERTAMENT STTY BOWERS HAS THE LATTER GROUP PANICKED. IT’S ONE THG TO DISMISS FACELS “MOR” SOURC. BUT THEY N’T WISH AWAY STTY, WHO’S UP ON THE SCREEN CHEERFULLY VERIFYG HIS HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVY AND ALL THOSE SAME-SEX "SHENANIGANS" HE PARTICIPATED . I FY ANYONE TO WATCH THE FILM, OR READ TEEMAN'S REVEALG TERVIEWS WH HIM, AND NOT FD STTY SCERE. HE’S EVEN A LTLE NAïVE HIS UNABASHED LOVE OF SEXUAL ADVENTURE AND HIS ABSOLUTE REJECTN OF RIGID MARTNS OF GAY AND STRAIGHT. STTY SEEMS NGENALLY UNABLE TO LIE. TYRNER AND I BOTH TRIED TO FD HOL HIS STORI; THERE ARE NONE. IF HE DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT SOMEONE, HE ADMTED THAT. STTY’S THE REAL AL, AND THAT’S WHAT MAK THE NIERS TREMBLE THEIR SHO. GORE VIDAL HIMSELF SAID OF BOWERS, “I HAVE KNOWN STTY BOWERS FOR THE BETTER PART OF A CENTURY. I’M SO PLEASED THAT HE HAS FALLY CID TO TELL HIS STORY TO THE WORLD… STTY DON’T LIE—THE STARS SOMETIM DO—AND HE KNOWS EVERYBODY.”AT BOWERS’ BOOK LNCH, WHAT WOULD BE HIS LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE, VIDAL TOLD GUTS THAT HE’D NEVER “UGHT BOWERS A LIE” THE MANY YEARS HE HAD KNOWN HIM A TOWN “WHERE YOU N MEET A THOAND LIARS EVERY DAY.”PRUMABLY, THEN, HE WOULD HAVE NCED AS FACT BOWERS’ REVELATNS TO TEEMAN THAT VIDAL NOT ONLY HAD SEX WH HIM, BUT ALSO “MANY” HTLERS BOWERS ARRANGED FOR HIM, AS WELL AS HOLLYWOOD STARS ROCK HUDSON, TYRONE POWER, AND CHARL LGHTON. “GET READY TO BELIEVE,” I TWEETED WHEN THE FILM OF STTY WAS FISHED, BUT WHETHER THE NIERS WILL EVER E AROUND IS AN OPEN QUTN. DREAMS DIE HARD. BUT SHOULDN’T STTY’S STORI—AND THE STORI OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO’VE PULLED BACK THE CURTA ON THE ILLNS—MAKE HEPBURN AND TRACY (AND CARY GRANT AND RANDOLPH STT AND JOHN FORD AND CLTTE COLBERT AND SO MANY OTHERS) EVEN MORE FASCATG TO , KNOWG HOW THEY HAD TO CHART THEIR LIV THROUGH THE MEFIELDS OF HOLLYWOOD PUBLICY? SHOULDN’T WE ADMIRE THEM EVEN MORE, FEEL EVEN MORE PASSN AND RPECT FOR THEM, ROOT FOR THEM WAYS WE HADN’T EVEN NSIRED BEFORE? IF WE DON’T, THEN I SUGGT WE LOOK DOWN EP, BEE THERE MIGHT JT BE SOME HOMOPHOBIA LURKG AT THE HEART OF OUR NIAL. WHY, AFTER ALL, SHOULD BE A BAD THG IF KATE HEPBURN LOVED WOMEN? THOSE WHO NEED TO “GET A LIFE” AREN’T THE HISTORIANS CUR TO FD OUT HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVED, BUT RATHER THOSE WHO REFE TO SEE THE REALY OF QUEER HISTORY, OR DO THEIR BT TO TRIVIALIZE WHEN THEY DO.WILLIAM J. MANN IS THE THOR OF SEVERAL BOOKS ON HOLLYWOOD AND AMERIN HISTORY. HE IS ALSO A PROFSOR OF LGBT HISTORY AND POPULAR CULTURE AT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSY. WILLIAM J. MANN
- HOLLYWOOD GAY: LOS QUE SALIERON L ARMAR Y LOS QUE NUN PUDIERON HACERLO
- GAY HISTORY MONTH – OCTOBER 3: RODDY MCDOWELL, GOP GAY SEX SNDALS A’T NOTHG NEW, AND THE INFAMO BLOOMIE’S TEAROOM
THE 12 GAYT MEN SHOW BIZ HISTORY, FROM PL LYN TO BILLY PORTERALSO: EVERY SUNDAY, THE BOYS TAKE OFF THE EAST {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;}LIFEBY MICHAEL MTOMAY 27, 2019/10:57 {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:2000PX;WIDTH:3000PX;}SANTIAGO FELIPE/FILMMAGICNEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 12: ACTOR BILLY PORTER ATTENDS THE BLONDS FALL / WTER 2019 NWAY SHOW AT SPRG STUDS ON FEBARY 12, 2019 NEW YORK CY. (PHOTO BY SANTIAGO FELIPE/FILMMAGIC)BY MICHAEL MTOMAY 27, 2019 / 10:57 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"THE 12 GAYT MEN SHOW BIZ HISTORY, FROM PL LYN TO BILLY PORTER","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-05-27T14:57:51.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-05-27T14:57:51.000+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":"MICHAEL MTO","KEYWORDS":"MTO UNFILTERED","ARTICLESECTN":"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;}THE GLTERY, LET’S-PRETEND WORLD OF SHOW BIZ SEEMS TO ATTRACT A LOT OF GAY MEN, WHETHER THEY’RE , OUT, OR HALFWAY THERE. AND MANY OF THEM HAVE BROUGHT JOY THROUGH THE S WH THEIR TEMPTUO TALENT AND IRREPRSIBLE {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 ARE MY PICKS FOR THE DOZEN GAYT OF ALL, PLETE WH SOME WELL-ACCSORIZED NNER-UPS. I’M NOT CLUDG FASHN SIGNERS (TOO EASY) OR NEWSSTERS, JT ENTERTAMENT FIGUR—AND I AM CLUDG SOME MEN WHO WERE SO GAY THEY SCREAMED , EVEN IF THEY DIDN’T ALWAYS SAY {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;}PL LYN (1926-82)ABC PHOTO ARCHIV/ABC VIA GETTY IMAGUNITED STATES - AUGUST 14: THE DATING GAME - 8/14/72, PL LYN ON "THE DATG GAME"., (PHOTO BY ABC PHOTO ARCHIV/ABC VIA GETTY IMAG){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;}WH HIS BARBED LIVERY OF A LE FOLLOWED BY A WICKED LTLE CHUCKLE, PL LYN WAS THE EPOME OF GAY—AN UNSPOKEN SHRE TO HOMOSEXUALY BACK WHEN NO ONE WAS OUT. IT WAS ALL ABOUT HTS AND NUENDOS. LYN WAS A SCREAM AS THE ANGSTY FATHER BYE BYE BIRDIE (SGG THE BTER “KIDS,” THOUGH I NEVER UNRSTOOD HOW HE HAD ANY), THE MPY UNCLE ARTHUR ON THE GAY-IENDLY S BEWCHED, AND THE CIDLY OFF-CENTER CENTER SQUARE ON THE GAME SHOW HOLLYWOOD SQUAR (“WHY DO THE HELL’S ANGELS WEAR LEATHER?” LYN: “BEE CHIFFON WRKL EASILY.”) IN LI OF OUT GAY HERO, WE HAD PL LYN FLAPPG HIS WRISTS AND VIRTUALLY WELG SI HIS CLOSET WHILE SLAMMG THE DOOR OUR {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;}ANOTHER FAB FLAMER WHO SPANNED BOTH THEATER, TV SERI, AND GAME SHOWS WAS THE EXTREMELY FUNNY CHARL NELSON REILLY (1931-2007), WHO SHOOK UP THE MATCH GAME WH HIS GTUR AND POLYTER PRTS. AND THE OTHER NNERS UP ARE JIM NABORS, JIM J. BULLOCK, JIM PARSONS, BCE VILANCH, TAYLOR NEGRON, AND QUEER EYE GUYS PAST AND {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;}RUPL (1960-)CHELSEA GUGLIELMO/GETTY IMAGLOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 30: RUPL SPEAKS ONSTAGE DURG 3RD ANNUAL RUPL'S DRAGCON DAY 2 AT LOS ANGEL CONVENTN CENTER ON APRIL 30, 2017 LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY CHELSEA GUGLIELMO/GETTY IMAG){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;}“YOU BETTER WORK!” “WE’RE ALL BORN NAKED. THE RT IS DRAG.” “IF YOU DON’T LOVE YOURSELF, HOW THE HELL YOU GONNA LOVE SOMEBODY ELSE?” “DON’T LET YOUR MOUTH WRE CHECKS THAT YOUR ASS N’T SH.” “SISSY THAT WALK!" ENOUGH SAID? GAY, GAY, GAY!{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;}OTHER LEGENDARY DRAG SUPERSTARS CLU CHARL LUDLAM, CHARL PIERCE, JIM BAILEY, LORI SHANNON, CHARL BCH, LYPSKA, AND EVERY DRAG RACE NTTANT WHO EVER {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;}GEE TAKEI (1937-)FRERICK M. BROWN/GETTY IMAGPASADENA, CA - JANUARY 21: ACTOR GEE TAKEI SPEAKS ONSTAGE DURG THE 'PNEERS OF TELEVISN, SEASON 4, "ACTG FUNNY", "BREAKG BARRIERS", "DOCTORS AND NURS", AND "STANDUP TO S" ' PANEL DISCSN AT THE PBS PORTN OF THE 2014 WTER TELEVISN CRICS ASSOCIATN TOUR AT LANGHAM HOTEL ON JANUARY 21, 2014 PASANA, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY FRERICK M. BROWN/GETTY IMAG){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;}HAVG SURVIVED EARLY YEARS SPENT A JAPANE-AMERIN TERNMENT MP, TAKEI MIRACULOLY EMERGED NOT ONLY AS A NOTED ACTOR (BT KNOWN AS SULU STAR TREK), BUT AS A VOL GAY WHO ME OUT 2005 AND HAS BEEN BLISSFULLY OUTSPOKEN FAVOR OF THE QUEER E EVER SCE. WH 2.87 LN TWTER FOLLOWERS (AS OF PUBLITN), TAKEI SENDS OUT STGGLY ON-TARGET MSAG, SATIRIL THOUGHTS (“TMP HAS OFFERED TO HAVE MEXI PAY FOR THE REBUILDG OF NOTRE DAME”) AND PICTUR OF HIMSELF AND HIS HBAND WH PETE {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;}ELTON JOHN (1947-)ANDREW H. WALKER/GETTY IMAG FOR DCPNEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 31: ELTON JOHN PERFORMS ON DICK CLARK'S NEW YEAR'S ROCK' EVE WH RYAN SEACRT 2015 ON DECEMBER 31, 2014 NEW YORK CY. (PHOTO BY ANDREW H. WALKER/GETTY IMAG FOR DCP){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’LL FIVE SIR ELTON’S MARRIAGE TO A WOMAN 1984. AFTER ALL, EVEN HE ADMS HE WAS NYG WHO HE REALLY WAS BY ENTERG TO . EXCEPT FOR OCSNAL TOURS LIKE THAT, THE BRISH SGER HAS ALWAYS BEEN FLASHY, TRASHY, AND TE, WH LARGE SUNGLASS AND BOAS TO MATCH THE GRANDSY OF HIS CREDIBLY TCHY H RERDS. WRG THE SRE FOR 1994’S THE LN KG (WHICH LATER BEME A SMASH BROADWAY SHOW AND NOW A CGI REMAKE) GAVE HIM A WHOLE NEW LEGIMACY, AND NOW, WH HIS BPIC ROCKETMAN ABOUT TO BE RELEASED, HE’S PRACTILLY AS REVERED AS THE QUEEN {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;}HONORABLE MENTNS TO FREDDIE MERCURY, THE VILLAGE PEOPLE, BOY GEE, JIMMY SOMERVILLE, ANDY BELL, GEE MICHAEL, JOBRIATH, LANCE BASS, ADAM LAMBERT, SYLVTER, AND RUDOLF {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;}DIVE (1945-88)MONDADORI PORTFOL VIA GETTY IMAGAMERIN ACTOR AND SGER HARRIS GLENN MILSTEAD AS CHARACTER DIVE SG SHOWG A LICE SHAMPOO ON THE SET OF THE FILM PK FLAMGOS. 1972. (PHOTO BY MONDADORI PORTFOL VIA GETTY IMAG){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 A SK-TIGHT RED DRS, WH IMPOSSIBLY RAISED EYEBROWS AND TORTURED YELLOW HAIR, DIVE WAS QUE A SIGHT AS THE PL-SIZED VILLAO VIXEN JOHN WATERS’ PK FLAMGOS (1972). SHE WENT ON TO OTHER BRAZEN HILARY WATERS FILMS LIKE FEMALE TROUBLE, RETURNG FOR A SYMPATHETIC TURN THE MUCH MORE SOCIALLY NSC CLASSIC HAIRSPRAY, WHILE ALSO VENTURG TO TRIBAL DANCE MIC AND OTHER UNEXPECTED TURNS. DIVVY (BORN HARRIS GLENN MILSTEAD BALTIMORE, OF URSE) WAS ABOUT TO PLAY A MALE ROLE ON MARRIED WH CHILDREN WHEN HE DIED, BARELY ABLE TO ABSORB THE NEW PRAISE OM {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;}TMAN CAPOTE (1924-84)KEYSTONE/GETTY IMAGAMERIN WRER TMAN CAPOTE (1924 - 1984), THE THOR OF 'BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S' MILAN NEGOTIATG A NTRACT FOR HIS NEW NONFICTN NOVEL 'IN COLD BLOOD'. (PHOTO BY KEYSTONE/GETTY IMAG){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 NEW ORLEANS-BORN THOR HAD RANGE, VEERG OM THE CLASSIC SOCIAL-CLIMBG NOVELLA BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S TO THE CHILLG NON-FICTN NOVEL IN COLD BLOOD. HE ALSO HAD AN IMABLE STYLE, THAT OF A PRISSY, ELF MAN WH A SQUEAKY VOICE THAT YOU ULDN’T MAKE UP IF YOU TRIED. UNSELFNSCLY APPEARG ON VAR TALK SHOWS, HE BEME A WILDLY POPULAR CULTURAL FIGURE AND AN SPIRATN TO GAYS HOPG TO MAKE WHOUT WATERG DOWN THEIR {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;}SIARLY, REX REED IS A BREEZY WRER WHO MPED UP ON TV’S THE GONG SHOW AND AS MYRON THE 1970 MOVIE OF GORE VIDAL’S TRANS BOOK MYRA BRECKRIDGE. OH, AND VIDAL RANKS HIGH ON THIS LIST, TOO, ALONG WH OSR WIL, NOEL COWARD, AND TENNSEE WILLIAMS, THOUGH NONE OF THE WRERS IS AS GAY AS LTLE OLD ME!{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;}LIBERACE (1919-87)SONIA MOSKOWZ/IMAGES/GETTY IMAGNEW YORK, NY - CIRCA 1984: LIBERACE CIR 1984 NEW YORK CY. (PHOTO BY SONIA MOSKOWZ/IMAGES/GETTY IMAG){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;}LIBERACE DIDN’T SAY HE WAS GAY—EVEN WHEN HIS EX-BOYIEND STT THORSON SUED HIM FOR PALIMONY—AND FACT, HE SUED A MAGAZE THAT DARED TO ASSERT THAT HE WAS ONE OF , AND HE WON! WHAT’S MORE, WHEN LIBERACE ME DOWN WH HIV, HE CLAIMED HE’D SIMPLY LOST WEIGHT AS THE RULT OF A WATERMELON DIET. BUT STILL, THIS WAS THE GAYT MAN EVER SHOW BIZ—MAYBE EVER ON EARTH—GLTERG OM HEAD TO TOE (CLUDG HIS MEGAWATT SE), AS HE TKLED CLASSIL DTI ON THE IVORI FOR AN ADORG DIENCE OF CLUELS {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;}A MAMA’S BOY, WLADZIU VALENTO LIBERACE WAS ALSO A BIG QUEER WHO, WHEN I TERVIEWED HIM 1985, TOLD ME A RNCHY JOKE ABOUT A “TRANSVTE” WH A BIG DICK, A TIDB I FELT HE OFFERED AS A SUBTLE NOD TO OUR SHARED SEXUALY. EVEN WHEN HE WAS SICK, “LEE” KEPT PERFORMG AN ELABORATE FASHN, LUXURIATG JEWELS, SHOWMANSHIP, AND A SHEER LOVE OF 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;}ALLAN CARR (1937-99)FRANK EDWARDS/FOTOS INTERNATNAL/GETTY IMAGAMERIN PRODUCER ALLAN CARR (1937 - 1999), ACTOR AND SGER OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, HER SISTER RONA, AND AMERIN ACTOR JEFF CONAWAY, ATTEND THE PREMIERE PARTY FOR 'AMERIN HOT WAX', DIRECTED BY FLOYD MUTX, MARCH 1978. (PHOTO BY FRANK EDWARDS/FOTOS INTERNATNAL/GETTY IMAG){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;}SWANNG AROUND LORFUL FTANS, CARR (PICTURED ABOVE ON THE LEFT) BEME THE OSTENTAT PRODUCER OF HS LIKE GREASE, THOUGH HIS FLOPS (CAN’T STOP THE MIC, GREASE 2, WHERE THE BOYS ARE ’84) MAY HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE FASCATG. SURROUNDG HIMSELF WH HOT YOUNG GAY MEN AT HOLLYWOOD POOL PARTI, CARR WAS AS LARGER-THAN-LIFE AS HIS BRAND, THOUGH HIS JOB HELMG THE 1989 OSRS—THE ONE WH ROB LOWE AND SNOW WHE WOEFULLY DUETTG ON “PROUD MARY”—BEME LEGENDARY FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. CARR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THAT PROUD A MARY HIMSELF, BUT THE FACT REMAS THAT HE WAS GAYER THAN ALL OF TSELTOWN {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;}BILLY PORTER (1969-)DAN MACMEDAN/GETTY IMAGHOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 24: BILLY PORTER ATTENDS THE 91ST ANNUAL AMY AWARDS AT HOLLYWOOD AND HIGHLAND ON FEBARY 24, 2019 HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY DAN MACMEDAN/GETTY IMAG){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;}A FE SGER-ACTOR, BILLY HAS LONG BEEN OUT, PROUD, AND VOL. HE WON THE TONY FOR KKY BOOTS, AND WHEN I ASKED HIM AT THE TIME WHAT WAS GOG TO BE LIKE TO PLAY THE CHARACTER HARVEY FIERSTE TEND AS STRAIGHT, BILLY GAVE ME AN EARFUL; HE HAD NO TENTN OF PLAYG LOLA STRAIGHT, THANK YOU. ADD HIS WILD SUCCS ON POSE AND HIS GENR NONNFORMG OUTF THAT STOLE THE OSRS, AND BILLY IS THE MAN OF OUR GAY {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;}ALSO: NATHAN LANE AND CHRISTOPHER {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;}ALAN SU (1926-2011)KEV WTER/GETTY IMAGLOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: ACTOR ALAN SU PRENTS THE OUTSTANDG VARIETY, MIC OR COMEDY SERI AWARD ONSTAGE DURG THE 60TH PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS HELD AT NOKIA THEATRE ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY KEV WTER/GETTY IMAG){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;}ON THE TOPIL SKETCH EDY SHOW ROWAN AND MART’S LGH-IN, ALAN SU WAS A RT, PLAYG OUT-THERE CHARACTERS LIKE AN EFFEMATE SPORTSSTER NAMED BIG AL WHO OBSSIVELY RANG HIS LTLE BELL, AND ALSO A DU WHO SWAGGERS TO A WILD WT BAR, ALL BOWLEGGED AND MANLY, ONLY TO MPILY ORR A OZEN DAIQUIRI. SU WAS AS GAY AS IKEA ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, THOUGH HE HID AN OPPOSE-SEX MARRIAGE FOR A WHILE, AND NEVER ME OUT ON THE RERD. BUT BENEATH HIS WONRFUL MANNERISMS, SU WAS NOT ONLY GAY, HE HAD A GAY SOUL. IN FACT, HE REPORTEDLY STARTED FEELG THAT THE MATERIAL HE WAS GIVEN TO DO ON THE SHOW WAS HOMOPHOBIC. IF HE HAD BEEN BORN LATER, HE WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE BEEN WAY MORE OF AN {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;}ALSO: MAR CANTONE, WAYLAND FLOWERS, AND EDWARD EVERETT {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;}LLIE JORDAN (1955-)JASON LAVERIS/FILMMAGICBEVERLY HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 04: ACTOR LLIE JORDAN ATTENDS THE TREVORLIVE LOS ANGEL 2016 FUNDRAISER AT THE BEVERLY HILTON HOTEL ON DECEMBER 4, 2016 BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY JASON LAVERIS/FILMMAGIC){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 CHATTANOOGA-BORN IC PIXIE IS A LONGTIME SCENE-STEALER—OM WILL & GRACE TO AMERIN HORROR STORY: COVEN—AND HE’S ALWAYS BEEN MARVELOLY MOUTHY AS HIMSELF, AS WELL. WHENEVER I CHAT WH LLIE, I KNOW I’LL LGH MYSELF TO THE PROSTRATE POSN, THANKS TO HIS RACILY HILAR REVELATNS. AND HOW MANY EMMY WNERS N SAY THEY ED TO HOST THE HOOKIE AWARDS FOR MALE RTS?{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;}RUNNERS UP: RAMON NOVARRO, WILLIAM HA, VAN JOHNSON, MICHAEL GREER, RODDY MCDOWALL, ANTHONY PERKS, MONTGOMERY CLIFT, ROCK HUDSON, JONATHAN FRID, JONATHAN HARRIS, RUPERT EVERETT, JOHN GIELGUD, QUENT CRISP, SIR IAN MCKELLEN, AND NEIL PATRICK {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;}ANDY COHEN (1968-)CHARL SYK/BRAVO/NBCU PHOTO BANK VIA GETTY IMAGWATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE WITH ANDY COHEN -- PICTURED: ANDY COHEN -- (PHOTO BY: CHARL SYK/BRAVO/NBCU PHOTO BANK VIA GETTY IMAG){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;}DUH. NEED I REALLY EXPLA?{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;}{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;}A THONG TO {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;}SOME FUTURE INS PARA THEIR BS AROUND THE BROLQUE REVUE ON SUNDAYS AT THE BEDLAM CLUB ON AVENUE C NEW YORK. I JT UGHT SOME OF THE SHOW, WHICH HAD STUDLY GUYS LIKE RICHARD, PUCK, AND BOBBY WORKG THE ROOM, OM THE TOP OF THE BAR TO THE MOOSE HEAD ON THE WALL AND THEN SOME. SOME OF THE SIGHT L WERE LS THAN IAL, BUT THE GUYS—WHO ALL STARTED OUT SAILOR’S HATS FOR FLEET WEEK—SAILED SMOOTHLY TO WRHG SEMI-NUDY, AS ALAN CUMMG, HIS HBAND GRANT SHAFFER, AND I GENTEELLY APPLD. THE DWORLD UNRWEAR PARTY THAT FOLLOWED WAS NO DOUBT UTTERLY {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;}SPEAKG OF MALE DISROBERS, THE MAGIC MIKE MIL HAS NCELED S BOSTON PREMIERE N, BUT I HEAR THAT THE MICHAEL JACKSON JEBOX SHOW, DON’T STOP ’TIL YOU GET ENOUGH–WHICH SEEMED TO PSE S TRACKS WHILE THE HBO DOC SPUN S DRAMAS—IS G ANYWAY. SORT OF LIKE A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}MTO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
Our celebratn of post-war gay, bisexual, and straight movie stars wearg next to nothg at all. * is roddy mcdowall gay *
Of urse, radil gayns and all associated fabulons are nothg new for the Bat-verse. Carmel always kept his personal life que private, as he stggled wh mental illns and, acrdg to close iends, was also gay. Gumm as a gay schemer?
Roddy never really hid his sexualy–he was known for his beach parti chock full of gay celebs, along wh gay ins such as Julie Andrews, Judy Garland, and Natalie Wood attendance.
If someone is a gay in and the nstant source of queer romance mors, do she serve a spot here? The gltery, let’s-pretend world of show biz seems to attract a lot of gay men, whether they’re , out, or halfway there. And many of them have brought joy through the s wh their temptuo talent and irreprsible are my picks for the dozen gayt of all, plete wh some well-accsorized nner-ups.
HOLLYWOOD HAS A SECRET LGBT HISTORY. WE SHOULDN’T DISMISS ITTRUTH TELLERSOME CRICS DISMISS THE VALUE OF STORI ABOUT THE PRIVATE LIV OF HOLLYWOOD’S GAY STARS OF YORE. BUT THOSE STORI ARE CCIAL TO UNRSTANDG THE TTH OF WHO THEY WERE.WILLIAM J. MANNUPDATED JUL. 30, 2018 2:00AM EDT / PUBLISHED JUL. 28, 2018 9:01PM EDT GREENWICH ENTERTAMENTTHE HOLLYWOOD DREAM FACTORY WAS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCSFUL ENTERPRIS AMERIN HISTORY. AT S HEIGHT, THE DTRY OF ILLN CRANKED OUT HUNDREDS OF PUBLICY RELEAS A WEEK, ALL DUTIFULLY REPORTED FAN MAGAZ AND NEWSPAPER LUMNS. AN ARMY OF PUBLICISTS AND “FIXERS” WERE ON HAND TO STAGE-MANAGE DOZENS OF ROMANC, WEDDGS AND HAPPY FAY PHOTO-OPS TO BOOST THE IMAG OF THE STARS THE DTRY HAD CREATED, ALL OF THEM ARCHETYPILLY WHOLOME, UPSTANDG—AND HETEROSEXUAL. THIS WAS THE WAY AMERINS THE 1940S AND 1950S WANTED TO SEE THEIR HERO—AND THEMSELV. THE DREAM MERCHANTS MA SURE THEY DID.SO POTENT WAS THIS EFFORT THAT EVEN TODAY, THOSE ILLNS ENDURE. DPE THE FACT THAT MY BOOK KATE: THE WOMAN WHO WAS HEPBURN ME OUT 2006, THERE ARE STILL THOSE WHO SIST I MA UP THE PARTS ABOUT HOW HEPBURN LOVED WOMEN AS WELL AS MEN, AND HOW SHE TURNED HER LARGELY PLATONIC IENDSHIP WH A SEXUALLY NFLICTED SPENCER TRACY TO A ROMANTIC, HETEROSEXUAL UNN FOR POSTERY. AT THE TIME OF THE BOOK’S PUBLITN, SOME “SPENCE AND KATE” FANS ME UNHGED. TROLLS ON AMAZON KEPT MY EDOR BY FENDG MY FIVE YEARS OF TENSIVE REARCH. MY WIKIPEDIA PAGE WAS HACKED AND I WAS LLED A LIAR. AT ONE BOOK EVENT, THE VENUE RECEIVED A THREATENG PHONE LL BEFORE I WENT ONSTAGE. FOR SOME PEOPLE, TAGGG BELOVED FIGUR AS QUEER WAS A CLARATN OF WAR; THEY ME READY TO FIGHT. NO AMOUNT OF REARCH WAS ENOUGH FOR THEM. FOR THE “NIERS,” AS I LL THEM, THEIR HOLLYWOOD ILLNS ARE BOUGHT, PAID FOR, AND NONRETURNABLE.MATT TYRNER, THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW FILM, STTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD, OPENG TONIGHT LOS ANGEL AND ON AUGT 3 NEW YORK, HAS NOT, AS FAR AS I KNOW, HAD TO AL WH PHONE THREATS OR WIKIPEDIA VANDALISM. BUT HE’S GOTTEN HIS SHARE OF PHBACK OM THE NIERS, TOO. GREENWICH ENTERTAMENT STTY BRGS TO LIFE THE STORY OF STTY BOWERS, THE LEGENDARY “MALE MADAM” OF HOLLYWOOD’S GOLN AGE, WHOSE LIAISONS WH DISCREETLY GAY ACTORS THE 1940S AND 1950S EXPOSE THE REAL WORLD THE DREAM MERCHANTS WERE TENT ON HIDG.THE FILM IS BASED ON BOWERS' OWN BOOK, FULL SERVICE: MY LIFE HOLLYWOOD AND THE SECRET SEX LIV OF THE STARS. (FULL DISCLOSURE: I’M ONE OF THE TALKG HEADS TYRNER'S FILM, AND BOWERS WAS ONE OF MY MA SOURC FOR KATE; BOWERS WAS ALSO A CHIEF SOURCE FOR DAILY BEAST EDOR AND WRER TIM TEEMAN'S BOOK, IN BED WH GORE VIDAL: HTLERS, HOLLYWOOD, AND THE PRIVATE WORLD OF AN AMERIN MASTER.) WHILE THE BROADSIS AGAST TYRNER HAVE BEEN MORE DISCREET, THEY’RE NO LS ROOTED A EP, PERVASIVE ANTI-GAY BIAS. “THERE HAS BEEN ODD, SUBTLE, HOMOPHOBIC MENTARY SURROUNDG THE PROJECT,” TYRNER TOLD ME. “PEOPLE SAY THGS LIKE ‘NOT MY CUP OF TEA,’ WHICH JT HAS THAT CERTA FEELG TO .” A CRIC N’T E RIGHT OUT AND SAY, 2018, “THE IA OF QUEER SEX MAK ME QUEASY.” BUT THEY N SAY THGS SUCH AS WHAT JEANE BASGER, FILM HISTORIAN AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE WLEYAN UNIVERSY CEMA ARCHIV, TOLD THE NEW YORK TIM: “THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE EXPRSN, ‘PEOPLE NEED TO GET A LIFE.’ PERSONALLY, I’M MORE TERTED THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE THAN THEIR POSSIBLE OFF-SCREEN SHENANIGANS.” BASGER’S MENTS IGNED A MI-FIRTORM ON TWTER. BUZZFEED RRPONNT KATE AURTHUR LL BASGER’S REMARK “NSCENDG AND HOMOPHOBIC.” VANY FAIR’S REBEC KEEGAN ASKED, “SERLY, WHAT WAS THE POT OF THAT QUOTE? ANYONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE TERTED THAT ERA OF HOLLYWOOD BUT NOT TERTED THE WAY S BIGGT STARS NAVIGATED SEXUALY IS SO FULL OF .” HEARST OVER HOLLYWOOD THOR LOU PIZZOLA TWEETED, “IT’S TERTG HOW PEOPLE, CLUDG FILM HISTORIANS, WHO NEVER OBJECT TO STORI EXPLORG THE SEXUAL AND ROMANTIC LIV OF ACTORS AS LONG AS THEY ARE PERCEIVED AS STRAIGHT, BEE PURANIL ABOUT DISCSNS ABOUT QUEER LIFE HOLLYWOOD, CLARG THE CUR SHOULD ‘GET A LIFE’ AND FOC ONLY ON ‘THE WORK.’ ”IF ONLY TWTER HAD BEEN AROUND WHEN KATE ME OUT! WHILE THE LN’S SHARE OF MY REVIEWS WERE POSIVE (THE NEW YORK TIM NAMED KATE ONE OF THE NOTABLE BOOKS OF THE YEAR) THERE WERE SOME WHO, MUCH LIKE BASGER TRIED WH STTY, ATTEMPTED TO DISEMPOWER THE WORK BY TRIVIALIZG . THE LATE RICHARD SCHICKEL, HIS REVIEW OF KATE FOR THE LOS ANGEL TIM, DISMISSED MY SOURC AS “STREET HTLERS” (STTY WAS NOTHG OF THE SORT) AND THE BOOK AS “GOSSIP-MONGERG WH HIGH-END ASPIRATNS.” MY DISCSNS OF THE SEXUALY OF HEPBURN’S IENDS (“CLUDG JOHN FORD!”) WERE “TIROME,” SCHICKEL NCLUD. HIS EXCLAMATN POT SAYS ALL. THE 73-YEAR-OLD REVIEWER SIMPLY ULD NOT FATHOM A MAN’S MAN LIKE FORD (DIRECTOR OF JOHN WAYNE WTERNS!) STGGLG WH SEXUALY. WHAT WAS ACTUALLY “TIROME” TO SCHICKEL WAS THE WHOLE DISCSN OF SEXUALY—UNWORTHY OF SER STUDY. “GET A LIFE,” HE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE SAID TO ME.SCHICKEL WAS MORE THAN HAPPY, HOWEVER, TO LEND HIS SUPPORT TO A BGRAPHY OF SPENCER TRACY THAT ME OUT A FEW YEARS LATER, SCE HEWED MORE CLOSELY TO THE OLD STUD LE. THE THOR OF THAT BOOK ED SCHICKEL’S TACTIC GOG AFTER KATE: S REVELATNS WERE LS TO BE REFUTED THAN RID. STTY BOWERS’S STORI, HE SAID, WERE “CHEERFULLY UNVERIFIABLE”—EVEN THOUGH ALL STORI ABOUT SEX ARE UNVERIFIABLE, CHEERFULLY OR OTHERWISE, UNLS BOTH PARTI E FORWARD TO VERIFY. ALTHOUGH THE TRACY BGRAPHER EMBRACED STORI ABOUT HIS SUBJECT’S HETEROSEXUAL PAIRGS WHOUT ANY NEED FOR SOME HIGHER PROOF, HE SISTED THERE WAS NO EVINCE OF “HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVY” TRACY’S PRIVATE PAPERS. “THE TTH IS THAT THIS PART OF HOLLYWOOD’S STORY — ED, THIS PART OF THE STORY OF THE ENTIRE TWENTIETH CENTURY — HAS UALLY ONLY BEEN PRERVED THROUGH ORAL TRADNS, PASSED DOWN BY THOSE ' THE LIFE'” NOW WHAT WOULD SUCH EVINCE LOOK LIKE? EVEN THE PAPERS OF GEE COR AND RODDY MCDOWALL, BOTH OF WHOM LIVED FAIRLY UNDISGUISED GAY LIV, THERE’S LTLE “EVINCE” TO SPEAK OF. APPARENTLY SOME HISTORIANS (THOSE WHO E TERMS LIKE “HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVY” OR SCRIBE SAME-SEX LOVE AS “SHENANIGANS”) N ONLY REGNIZE THE REALY OF LGBT EXPERIENCE WHEN SASHAYS DOWN THE STREET A PRI PARA. THE TTH IS THAT THIS PART OF HOLLYWOOD’S STORY—ED, THIS PART OF THE STORY OF THE ENTIRE TWENTIETH CENTURY—HAS UALLY ONLY BEEN PRERVED THROUGH ORAL TRADNS, PASSED DOWN BY THOSE “ THE LIFE.” MANY OF THE PEOPLE I SPOKE WH FOR KATE—AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE TYRNER TERVIEWED FOR STTY, AND TEEMAN FOR IN BED WH GORE VIDAL—WERE NOT THEMSELV FAMO, BUT THEY SAW FAR MORE, AND UNRSTOOD THE SUATN FAR BETTER, THAN THE MARQUEE NAM AROUND THEM OR EVEN MEMBERS OF TRACY’S AND HEPBURN’S FAI, WHO, AFTER ALL, BELIEVE THEY HAVE A LEGACY TO PROTECT. THE SOURC, WHO SCHICKEL DISMISSED AS MOR, WERE THE REAL FAI OF MY SUBJECTS, SOMETHG MOST QUEER PEOPLE STCTIVELY UNRSTAND—YET THE TRACY BGRAPHER CHOSE NOT TO SPEAK WH ANY OF THEM. THAT KD OF SNOBBERY DON’T ALLOW FOR THE WDOW TO BE OPENED WI ENOUGH FOR THE TTH TO GET . ON SOCIAL MEDIA DISCSN GROUPS, FANS OF CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD ARE DIVID TO TWO: THOSE WHO ARE CUR TO UNRSTAND THE FULL REALY OF THEIR HERO’ LIV AND THOSE WHO HOLD TIGHT TO THE OFFICIAL LE AS HAND OUT BY THE MGM OR PARAMOUNT ONT OFFIC. GREENWICH ENTERTAMENT STTY BOWERS HAS THE LATTER GROUP PANICKED. IT’S ONE THG TO DISMISS FACELS “MOR” SOURC. BUT THEY N’T WISH AWAY STTY, WHO’S UP ON THE SCREEN CHEERFULLY VERIFYG HIS HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVY AND ALL THOSE SAME-SEX "SHENANIGANS" HE PARTICIPATED . I FY ANYONE TO WATCH THE FILM, OR READ TEEMAN'S REVEALG TERVIEWS WH HIM, AND NOT FD STTY SCERE. HE’S EVEN A LTLE NAïVE HIS UNABASHED LOVE OF SEXUAL ADVENTURE AND HIS ABSOLUTE REJECTN OF RIGID MARTNS OF GAY AND STRAIGHT. STTY SEEMS NGENALLY UNABLE TO LIE. TYRNER AND I BOTH TRIED TO FD HOL HIS STORI; THERE ARE NONE. IF HE DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT SOMEONE, HE ADMTED THAT. STTY’S THE REAL AL, AND THAT’S WHAT MAK THE NIERS TREMBLE THEIR SHO. GORE VIDAL HIMSELF SAID OF BOWERS, “I HAVE KNOWN STTY BOWERS FOR THE BETTER PART OF A CENTURY. I’M SO PLEASED THAT HE HAS FALLY CID TO TELL HIS STORY TO THE WORLD… STTY DON’T LIE—THE STARS SOMETIM DO—AND HE KNOWS EVERYBODY.”AT BOWERS’ BOOK LNCH, WHAT WOULD BE HIS LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE, VIDAL TOLD GUTS THAT HE’D NEVER “UGHT BOWERS A LIE” THE MANY YEARS HE HAD KNOWN HIM A TOWN “WHERE YOU N MEET A THOAND LIARS EVERY DAY.”PRUMABLY, THEN, HE WOULD HAVE NCED AS FACT BOWERS’ REVELATNS TO TEEMAN THAT VIDAL NOT ONLY HAD SEX WH HIM, BUT ALSO “MANY” HTLERS BOWERS ARRANGED FOR HIM, AS WELL AS HOLLYWOOD STARS ROCK HUDSON, TYRONE POWER, AND CHARL LGHTON. “GET READY TO BELIEVE,” I TWEETED WHEN THE FILM OF STTY WAS FISHED, BUT WHETHER THE NIERS WILL EVER E AROUND IS AN OPEN QUTN. DREAMS DIE HARD. BUT SHOULDN’T STTY’S STORI—AND THE STORI OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO’VE PULLED BACK THE CURTA ON THE ILLNS—MAKE HEPBURN AND TRACY (AND CARY GRANT AND RANDOLPH STT AND JOHN FORD AND CLTTE COLBERT AND SO MANY OTHERS) EVEN MORE FASCATG TO , KNOWG HOW THEY HAD TO CHART THEIR LIV THROUGH THE MEFIELDS OF HOLLYWOOD PUBLICY? SHOULDN’T WE ADMIRE THEM EVEN MORE, FEEL EVEN MORE PASSN AND RPECT FOR THEM, ROOT FOR THEM WAYS WE HADN’T EVEN NSIRED BEFORE? IF WE DON’T, THEN I SUGGT WE LOOK DOWN EP, BEE THERE MIGHT JT BE SOME HOMOPHOBIA LURKG AT THE HEART OF OUR NIAL. WHY, AFTER ALL, SHOULD BE A BAD THG IF KATE HEPBURN LOVED WOMEN? THOSE WHO NEED TO “GET A LIFE” AREN’T THE HISTORIANS CUR TO FD OUT HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVED, BUT RATHER THOSE WHO REFE TO SEE THE REALY OF QUEER HISTORY, OR DO THEIR BT TO TRIVIALIZE WHEN THEY DO.WILLIAM J. MANN IS THE THOR OF SEVERAL BOOKS ON HOLLYWOOD AND AMERIN HISTORY. HE IS ALSO A PROFSOR OF LGBT HISTORY AND POPULAR CULTURE AT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSY. WILLIAM J. MANN
* is roddy mcdowall gay *
I’m not cludg fashn signers (too easy) or newssters, jt entertament figur—and I am cludg some men who were so gay they screamed , even if they didn’t always say Lyn (1926-82)Wh his barbed livery of a le followed by a wicked ltle chuckle, Pl Lyn was the epome of gay—an unspoken shre to homosexualy back when no one was out. Lyn was a scream as the angsty father Bye Bye Birdie (sgg the bter “Kids, ” though I never unrstood how he had any), the mpy Uncle Arthur on the gay-iendly s Bewched, and the cidly off-center Center Square on the game show Hollywood Squar (“Why do the Hell’s Angels wear leather? ”) In li of out gay hero, we had Pl Lyn flappg his wrists and virtually welg si his closet while slammg the door our fac.
Gay, gay, gay! Other legendary drag superstars clu Charl Ludlam, Charl Pierce, Jim Bailey, Lori Shannon, Charl Bch, Lypska, and every Drag Race nttant who ever Takei (1937-)Havg survived early years spent a Japane-Amerin ternment mp, Takei miraculoly emerged not only as a noted actor (bt known as Sulu Star Trek), but as a vol gay who me out 2005 and has been blissfully outspoken favor of the queer e ever sce.
HOLLYWOOD GAY: LOS QUE SALIERON L ARMAR Y LOS QUE NUN PUDIERON HACERLO
Unselfnscly appearg on var talk shows, he beme a wildly popular cultural figure and an spiratn to gays hopg to make whout waterg down their inti. Oh, and Vidal ranks high on this list, too, along wh Osr Wil, Noel Coward, and Tennsee Williams, though none of the wrers is as gay as ltle old me!
Liberace (1919-87)Liberace didn’t say he was gay—even when his ex-boyiend Stt Thorson sued him for palimony—and fact, he sued a magaze that dared to assert that he was one of , and he won! But still, this was the gayt man ever show biz—maybe ever on earth—glterg om head to toe (cludg his megawatt se), as he tkled classil dti on the ivori for an adorg dience of cluels women. Surroundg himself wh hot young gay men at Hollywood pool parti, Carr was as larger-than-life as his brand, though his job helmg the 1989 Osrs—the one wh Rob Lowe and Snow Whe woefully duettg on “Proud Mary”—beme legendary for all the wrong reasons.
Carr may not have been that proud a Mary himself, but the fact remas that he was gayer than all of Tseltown Porter (1969-)A fe sger-actor, Billy has long been out, proud, and vol.
GAY HISTORY MONTH – OCTOBER 3: RODDY MCDOWELL, GOP GAY SEX SNDALS A’T NOTHG NEW, AND THE INFAMO BLOOMIE’S TEAROOM
Add his wild succs on Pose and his genr nonnformg outf that stole the Osrs, and Billy is the man of our gay Nathan Lane and Christopher Su (1926-2011)On the topil sketch edy show Rowan and Mart’s Lgh-In, Alan Su was a rt, playg out-there characters like an effemate sportsster named Big Al who obssively rang his ltle bell, and also a du who swaggers to a Wild Wt bar, all bowlegged and manly, only to mpily orr a ozen daiquiri.