FIVE GAY ACTORS IN MID-CENTURY HOLLYWOOD - WalterFilm

Contents:

• WHAT LIBERACE REVEALS ABOUT THE MARCH OF GAY RIGHTS
• I DON'T UNRSTAND - HOW DID ANYONE EVER THK LIBERACE WAS GAY?
• LATVIA BE 7TH NATN TO BE LED BY AN OPENLY GAY HEAD OF STATE
• RISHI SUNAK APOLOGIS TO LGBT VETERANS FOR PAST ARMED FORC GAY BAN
• 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
• DEBBIE REYNOLDS: WE ALL KNEW LIBERACE WAS GAY
• {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}LIBERACE WAS A FLAMBOYANT PIANIST WHO TWICE HAD HIS OWN TV SHOW AND EQUENTLY PERFORMED LAS {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: MAY 5, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: BETTMANN/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1919-1987){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS LIBERACE?LIBERACE APPEARED AS A SOLOIST WH THE CHIGO SYMPHONY ORCHTRA AT AGE 16. HE LATER BEGAN GIVG NCERTS FLAMBOYANT STUM WH ORNATE PIANOS AND NLABRA, PLAYG PRIMARILY POPULAR MIC. VERY SUCCSFUL, HE HOSTED HIS OWN TV VARIETY SERI, THE LIBERACE SHOW (1952–55, 1969), AND APPEARED FILMS SUCH AS SCERELY YOURS (1955). WH HIS UNIQUE BLEND OF CLASSIL TRAG AND OVER-THE-TOP SHOWMANSHIP, LIBERACE WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMO PERFORMERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY. IN LATER YEARS HE PERFORMED EQUENTLY LAS VEGAS.EARLY LIFELIBERACE WAS BORN WLADZIU VALENTO LIBERACE ON MAY 16, 1919, WT ALLIS, WISNS, HIS MIDDLE NAME WAS TAKEN OM ONE OF HIS MOTHER'S FAVORE FILM STARS—RUDOLPH VALENTO. LTLE DID SHE KNOW THAT HER SON WOULD VELOP A VOTED FOLLOWG OF HIS OWN ONE DAY. BOTH OF LIBERACE'S PARENTS WERE TERTED MIC, AND HE BEGAN PIANO LSONS VERY EARLY ON HIS LIFE. A CHILD PRODIGY, HE BEGAN HIS STUDI AT THE WISNS COLLEGE OF MIC WHEN HE WAS ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD. LIBERACE STARTED PERFORMG WH ORCHTRAS HIS EARLY TEENS.MIL SENSATNTO MAKE A LIVG, LIBERACE PLAYED MOVIE THEATERS AND NIGHT CLUBS. HE EVEN ADOPTED THE STAGE NAME "WALTER BTERKEYS" FOR A TIME. BEFORE LONG LIBERACE FOUND SOME SUCCS MIXG HIS LOVE OF CLASSIL MIC WH MORE NTEMPORARY TUN. HIS REAL REER BREAKTHROUGH, HOWEVER, ME 1951 WH THE PREMIERE OF THE LIBERACE SHOW. THE MIL PROGRAM FIRST AIRED LOLLY LOS ANGEL BEFORE GOG NATNAL A FEW YEARS LATER. VIEWERS—35 LN OF THEM AT THE PROGRAM'S HEIGHT—ULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF LIBERACE'S PIANO PROWS AND HIS CHEBIC CHARMS. WH HIS TRAMARK NLABRA RTG ATOP HIS PIANO, LIBERACE PLAYED WH GREAT EASE AND GLEE. HIS LARGELY FEMALE DIENCE ALSO ADMIRED LIBERACE'S GREAT VOTN TO HIS MOTHER FRANC. HIS BROTHER GEE PLAYED THE VL ON THE PROGRAM AND ACTED AS HIS ORCHTRAL ARRANGER. IN ADDN TO HIS TELEVISN SHOW, LIBERACE SOLD OUT MANY OF HIS LIVE NCERTS AND SOLD LNS OF RERDS. HE EVEN STARRED THE 1955 FILM SCERELY YOURS, WHICH SERVED AS A SHOWSE FOR HIS TALENTS. IN LAS VEGAS, LIBERACE BEME ONE OF THE CY'S MOST POPULAR PERFORMERS AND ONE OF S TOP-PAID STARS. HE BEME EQUALLY FAMO FOR THE GLZ AND GLAMOUR OF HIS SHOWS AND STUM AS HE WAS FOR HIS MIC. IN 1956, LIBERACE WAS JOED ON STAGE BY {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ELVIS PRLEY. AROUND THIS TIME, HOWEVER, LIBERACE'S PERSONAL LIFE WAS TURNED TO A LEGAL DRAMA. HE HAD LONG BEEN RID FOR HIS EFFEMATE WAYS, AND HE END UP SUG A BRISH PUBLITN FOR LIBEL AFTER THE MAGAZE IMPLIED THAT HE WAS GAY. LIBERACE LATER WON ANOTHER URT BATTLE AGAST A BRISH LUMNIST OVER HIS MENTS. WHILE HE WAS LATER REVEALED TO BE GAY, LIBERACE WORKED HARD TO NCEAL THIS FACT TO MATA HIS DOMANTLY FEMALE FOLLOWG. WHILE TERT HIS TELEVISN SHOW EVENTUALLY FAD, LIBERACE REMAED POPULAR WH NCERT-GOERS. HIS SHOWS AND STUM SEEMED TO GET MORE ELABORATE AND OSTENTAT WH THE YEARS. HIS HANDS SHOWSED A NUMBER OF ORNATE, PIANO-SHAPED RGS, AND HE DRAPED HIMSELF LONG, HEAVY FUR P. HE EVEN DROVE TO HIS PIANO ON STAGE ONE OF HIS MANY LUXURY TOMOBIL. IN THE MID-1970S, LIBERACE CID TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A PEEK TO HIS LAVISH LIFTYLE. HE TRANSFORMED HIS HOLLYWOOD HOME TO A MM. HE LATER DISPLAYED HIS LLECTN OF STUM, RS AND OTHER TREASUR AT HIS OWN MM LAS VEGAS.FAL YEARS AND DEATHONCE AGA, LIBERACE FOUND HIMSELF A LEGAL STGGLE. HE WAS SUED BY HIS FORMER BODYGUARD AND CHFFR STT THORSON 1982. THORSON CLAIMED THAT HE HAD BEEN A RELATNSHIP WH LIBERACE AND THAT LIBERACE HAD PROMISED TO TAKE RE OF HIM AND SUPPORT HIM. THE SE WAS LATER SETTLED OUT OF URT. SHORTLY BEFORE HIS ATH, STORI CIRCULATED THAT LIBERACE HAD AIDS. HE AND HIS STAFF, HOWEVER, VEHEMENTLY NIED THAT THE ENTERTAER HAD THE DISEASE. LIBERACE PASSED AWAY ON FEBARY 4, 1987, AT HIS HOME PALM SPRGS, CALIFORNIA. INIALLY, HIS DOCTOR REPORTED THAT THE SHOWMAN DIED OF RDIAC ARRT. LATER, AN TOPSY BY THE RIVERSI COUNTY RONER NCLUD THAT LIBERACE HAD ACTUALLY DIED OF AIDS-RELATED PNMONIA.LEGACY AND MOVIE WHILE SOME CRICS HAVE DISMISSED HIM FOR BEG OVERLY SENTIMENTAL, LIBERACE HAS LEFT A LASTG IMPACT ON THE WORLD OF ENTERTAMENT. HIS ELABORATE AND SOMETIM GARISH STYLE HAS FLUENCED THE LIK OF PRLEY, ELTON JOHN AND DAVID BOWIE TO NAME A FEW. A FILM CELEBRATG LIBERACE'S WAS RELEASED 2013, WH MICHAEL DOUGLAS PLAYG THE LEGENDARY {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

WHAT LIBERACE REVEALS ABOUT THE MARCH OF GAY RIGHTS

How did he mata this fictn, and what do say about Ameri's rapidly changg attu to gay rights?

I DON'T UNRSTAND - HOW DID ANYONE EVER THK LIBERACE WAS GAY?

"His grand entrance at New York's Rad Cy Mic Hall April 1984 was as cheerfully, flamboyantly mp as his fans had e to expect om his 50-year mil until his ath 1987, Liberace sisted he was not gay. Behd The Canlabra, a forthg film starrg Michael Douglas, tells the story of Liberace's long-standg relatnship wh his former chffr, played by Matt morn dienc are faiar wh a diverse range of gay and lbian personali, Liberace rose to promence at a time when mp and homosexualy were monly and erroneoly seen as synonymo.

He grew up a nservative, workg-class, Polish-Italian mid-wtern hoehold, at a time when homosexualy was punishable by up to 10 years prison some US a rult, he had good e to fear that exposure of his private self would almost certaly have meant the end of his reer. "But the gay stuff is only one ntext for unrstandg Liberace.

LATVIA BE 7TH NATN TO BE LED BY AN OPENLY GAY HEAD OF STATE

"He prented himself as a girly boy, not a gay man. The Cassandra article might be nsired too homophobic to be published a natnal newspaper today, and the 1959 trial that followed reveals much about the very different social attus of the time - not least the repeated e of the term "homosexualist" durg the se.

Unr oath, Liberace ttified that he was not gay and had never taken part homosexual activy. "I don't thk the trial eher helped the e of gay rights or hred , " says Revel Barker, thor of Cryg All The Way To The Bank, which tells the story of the se.

RISHI SUNAK APOLOGIS TO LGBT VETERANS FOR PAST ARMED FORC GAY BAN

"People like my parents, who were big fans of Liberace, didn't really thk of him as a homosexual before or after - they jt thought he was a great performer. "But the Cassandra trial, upled wh his repeated nials of his homosexualy, was one reason why sectns of the fledglg gay rights movement creasgly viewed Liberace wh 50 by the time the Stonewall rts kicked off the morn fight for gay and lbian rights the US, he displayed snt sire to mand regnn or equaly for the muny even though as time passed "he was livg a glass closet", acrdg to Kopelson.

"Nothg about him speaks to a morn gay man, " Pyron adds. Likewise, says Kopelson, some morn gay men fd difficult to relate to him - ntrast, he says, wh the actor Rock Hudson, another famo closeted celebry of the era.

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

Still, Liberace's supporters say he n and should be remembered as a gay in, nohels - not one that reprents liberatn, but a none-too-distant era when sexual mori had to munite via d language and he ntu to functn as a marker of the lims of the entertament dtry's the Canlabra's director Steven Sorbergh provoked a fierce bate when he said he had to take the film to the ble statn HBO bee Hollywood's studs believed was "too gay" Showmanship, appears, is still pable of kickg up a storm at the box n follow the Magaze on Twter and on Facebook. Why would anyone thk that my Lee was gay? [quote]How Did Anyone Ever Thk Liberace Was Gay?

DEBBIE REYNOLDS: WE ALL KNEW LIBERACE WAS GAY

Growg up the 70's I thought he was too gay to actially be gay. Like, how uld someone this gay be allowed to be on TV?

Helen Keller om space was aware Liberace was gay!!! No gay man would ever go on a watermelon diet.

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HE LATER BEGAN GIVG NCERTS FLAMBOYANT STUM WH ORNATE PIANOS AND NLABRA, PLAYG PRIMARILY POPULAR MIC. VERY SUCCSFUL, HE HOSTED HIS OWN TV VARIETY SERI, THE LIBERACE SHOW (1952–55, 1969), AND APPEARED FILMS SUCH AS SCERELY YOURS (1955). WH HIS UNIQUE BLEND OF CLASSIL TRAG AND OVER-THE-TOP SHOWMANSHIP, LIBERACE WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMO PERFORMERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY. IN LATER YEARS HE PERFORMED EQUENTLY LAS VEGAS.EARLY LIFELIBERACE WAS BORN WLADZIU VALENTO LIBERACE ON MAY 16, 1919, WT ALLIS, WISNS, HIS MIDDLE NAME WAS TAKEN OM ONE OF HIS MOTHER'S FAVORE FILM STARS—RUDOLPH VALENTO. LTLE DID SHE KNOW THAT HER SON WOULD VELOP A VOTED FOLLOWG OF HIS OWN ONE DAY. BOTH OF LIBERACE'S PARENTS WERE TERTED MIC, AND HE BEGAN PIANO LSONS VERY EARLY ON HIS LIFE. A CHILD PRODIGY, HE BEGAN HIS STUDI AT THE WISNS COLLEGE OF MIC WHEN HE WAS ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD. LIBERACE STARTED PERFORMG WH ORCHTRAS HIS EARLY TEENS.MIL SENSATNTO MAKE A LIVG, LIBERACE PLAYED MOVIE THEATERS AND NIGHT CLUBS. HE EVEN ADOPTED THE STAGE NAME "WALTER BTERKEYS" FOR A TIME. BEFORE LONG LIBERACE FOUND SOME SUCCS MIXG HIS LOVE OF CLASSIL MIC WH MORE NTEMPORARY TUN. HIS REAL REER BREAKTHROUGH, HOWEVER, ME 1951 WH THE PREMIERE OF THE LIBERACE SHOW. THE MIL PROGRAM FIRST AIRED LOLLY LOS ANGEL BEFORE GOG NATNAL A FEW YEARS LATER. VIEWERS—35 LN OF THEM AT THE PROGRAM'S HEIGHT—ULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF LIBERACE'S PIANO PROWS AND HIS CHEBIC CHARMS. WH HIS TRAMARK NLABRA RTG ATOP HIS PIANO, LIBERACE PLAYED WH GREAT EASE AND GLEE. HIS LARGELY FEMALE DIENCE ALSO ADMIRED LIBERACE'S GREAT VOTN TO HIS MOTHER FRANC. HIS BROTHER GEE PLAYED THE VL ON THE PROGRAM AND ACTED AS HIS ORCHTRAL ARRANGER. IN ADDN TO HIS TELEVISN SHOW, LIBERACE SOLD OUT MANY OF HIS LIVE NCERTS AND SOLD LNS OF RERDS. HE EVEN STARRED THE 1955 FILM SCERELY YOURS, WHICH SERVED AS A SHOWSE FOR HIS TALENTS. IN LAS VEGAS, LIBERACE BEME ONE OF THE CY'S MOST POPULAR PERFORMERS AND ONE OF S TOP-PAID STARS. HE BEME EQUALLY FAMO FOR THE GLZ AND GLAMOUR OF HIS SHOWS AND STUM AS HE WAS FOR HIS MIC. IN 1956, LIBERACE WAS JOED ON STAGE BY {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ELVIS PRLEY. AROUND THIS TIME, HOWEVER, LIBERACE'S PERSONAL LIFE WAS TURNED TO A LEGAL DRAMA. HE HAD LONG BEEN RID FOR HIS EFFEMATE WAYS, AND HE END UP SUG A BRISH PUBLITN FOR LIBEL AFTER THE MAGAZE IMPLIED THAT HE WAS GAY. LIBERACE LATER WON ANOTHER URT BATTLE AGAST A BRISH LUMNIST OVER HIS MENTS. WHILE HE WAS LATER REVEALED TO BE GAY, LIBERACE WORKED HARD TO NCEAL THIS FACT TO MATA HIS DOMANTLY FEMALE FOLLOWG. WHILE TERT HIS TELEVISN SHOW EVENTUALLY FAD, LIBERACE REMAED POPULAR WH NCERT-GOERS. HIS SHOWS AND STUM SEEMED TO GET MORE ELABORATE AND OSTENTAT WH THE YEARS. HIS HANDS SHOWSED A NUMBER OF ORNATE, PIANO-SHAPED RGS, AND HE DRAPED HIMSELF LONG, HEAVY FUR P. HE EVEN DROVE TO HIS PIANO ON STAGE ONE OF HIS MANY LUXURY TOMOBIL. IN THE MID-1970S, LIBERACE CID TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A PEEK TO HIS LAVISH LIFTYLE. HE TRANSFORMED HIS HOLLYWOOD HOME TO A MM. HE LATER DISPLAYED HIS LLECTN OF STUM, RS AND OTHER TREASUR AT HIS OWN MM LAS VEGAS.FAL YEARS AND DEATHONCE AGA, LIBERACE FOUND HIMSELF A LEGAL STGGLE. HE WAS SUED BY HIS FORMER BODYGUARD AND CHFFR STT THORSON 1982. THORSON CLAIMED THAT HE HAD BEEN A RELATNSHIP WH LIBERACE AND THAT LIBERACE HAD PROMISED TO TAKE RE OF HIM AND SUPPORT HIM. THE SE WAS LATER SETTLED OUT OF URT. SHORTLY BEFORE HIS ATH, STORI CIRCULATED THAT LIBERACE HAD AIDS. HE AND HIS STAFF, HOWEVER, VEHEMENTLY NIED THAT THE ENTERTAER HAD THE DISEASE. LIBERACE PASSED AWAY ON FEBARY 4, 1987, AT HIS HOME PALM SPRGS, CALIFORNIA. INIALLY, HIS DOCTOR REPORTED THAT THE SHOWMAN DIED OF RDIAC ARRT. LATER, AN TOPSY BY THE RIVERSI COUNTY RONER NCLUD THAT LIBERACE HAD ACTUALLY DIED OF AIDS-RELATED PNMONIA.LEGACY AND MOVIE WHILE SOME CRICS HAVE DISMISSED HIM FOR BEG OVERLY SENTIMENTAL, LIBERACE HAS LEFT A LASTG IMPACT ON THE WORLD OF ENTERTAMENT. HIS ELABORATE AND SOMETIM GARISH STYLE HAS FLUENCED THE LIK OF PRLEY, ELTON JOHN AND DAVID BOWIE TO NAME A FEW. A FILM CELEBRATG LIBERACE'S WAS RELEASED 2013, WH MICHAEL DOUGLAS PLAYG THE LEGENDARY {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

I know he sued someone who claimed he was gay (and won). On a sle of one to ten, who is gayer? How uld anyone have spected that Liberace was gay?

I'm glad no one ever thought I was gay like Anonymoreply 36October 2, 2021 2:50 AM. I thk most people knew he was gay except the old ladi he was always fawng over. When The Suprem and Judy Garland start pyg their stage wardrobe om you and you're Liberace, you're gay!

Sometim I get that vibe om him, but he's black, so he n't be gay, n he? As for the gay factor, he was so gay that he almost seemed to bend back right around the circle to straight aga.