Last updated:
14 February, 1998 by
Chuck
Tarver
Pomo Afro Homos* Theater troupe. Djola Bernard Branner, Brian Freeman, Eric Gupton, New Member: Marvin K. White Theater troupe which presents the black gay male experience. Pieces include: "Fierce Love: Stories From Black Gay Life" and "Dark Fruit." Appeared on the Comedy Channel's Special "Out There." Pomo Afro Homos has now disbanded. [BG, BLK]
Price, Gilbert (1942-1991) Singer. This New York born baritone's voice was always compared with that of Paul Robeson. One of Langston Hughes's proteges, his first acting role was in Fly Blackbird,1962. His first starring role was as Jerico-Jim Crow, 1963. He appeared in Roar of the Greasepaint and on various TV shows inclucing: Ed Sullivan, Red Skelton, and Merv Griffin. Price was nominated for four Tony Awards: Lost in the Stars, 1972; The Night That Made America Famous, 1975; 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, 1976; and Timbuktu, 1978 Other credits can be found in Who's Who Among Black Americans, 1985. [WAS]
Rainey, Ma (1886-1939) Singer. Blues singer popular from 1904 until 1935. Rainey recorded "Prove It On Me Blues" which included the openly lesbian line, "Went out last night with a crowd of my friends. They must've been women, 'cause I don't like no men." [AA]
Rawlins, Clifford (1950-1993) Activist. Founder of Adodi, an Afrocentric support group and system for black gay and bisexual men. The group has chapters in Philadelphia, New York and Chicago. He died of AIDS-related complications. [AD]
Reeves, Kenneth* (1952) Politician Former-Mayor. First African American mayor of the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Nation's first black openly gay mayor. [BLK, CC]
Reynolds, Sean* (1950) Social Worker/Writer/Performance Artist Medical Social Worker in Maternal and Child Health at San Francisco General Hospital. Collaborator w/ Rhodessa Jones on the MEDEA Project: Theater For Incarcerated Women. Author of numerous articles about the health of incarcerated African American women. [P]
Riggs, Marlon (1956-1994) Filmmaker. Produced, directed, and edited the black gay documentary "Tongues Untied", which was aired on PBS. Other films include: the award winning "Ethnic Notions", "Anthem", "Color Adjustment", and "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (No Regrets)." Riggs was one of the youngest people ever tenured at the University of California at Berkeley in arts and humanities. He was working on the film "Black Is...Black Ain't" when he died on April 5, 1994 of AIDS-related complications. [BLK, OC]
Robinson, H. Alexander* Attorney, activist. Legal Representative for the American Civil Liberties Union AIDS and Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights Projects and Co-chair of The Campaign for Fairness. [BGLLF]
Robinson, Colin* (1961) Activist, writer, performance artist, HIV/AIDS Educator. Native of Trinidad & Tobago. Director of HIV Prevention at Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC). New York field producer for Marlon Riggs's Tongues Untied. First paid Executive Director of Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD). His poetry appears in numerous Black gay anthologies, his prose in Gay Community News, and his lips in Marlon Riggs's Anthem. [P]
Robinson, Max (1939-1988) Journalist. First black anchor on a national network news program. He died of AIDS-related complications. The Whitman Walker Clinic in Washington, DC named its AIDS treatment facility in Anacostia (Southeast DC) after him. [BB]
Robinson, Philip* (1951) poet, performance artist, educator, activist. Co-chair of the AIDS Action Committee's Bayard Rustin Breakfast, Student Support Coordinator and AIDS Coordinator at the Grover Cleveland Middle School in Boston and recipient of the 1990 Audre' Lorde Award for poetry. His works include: Secret Passages, A Trilogy of Thought and We Still Leave a Legacy now part of The Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. Other works appear in The Road Before Us 100 Gay Black Poets and In The Life: A Black Gay Anthology. Robinson lives with his life-partner of more than 15 years, Joseph Jackson. [P]
Robinson, Sandra L.* Clergy. President and chief executive officer of Samaritan College, an international, professional school of ministry for the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches. [BGLLF]
RuPaul* Entertainer. RuPaul Andre' Charles, six-foot-five black blonde drag queen who rose to the top of the dance charts as the "Supermodel of the World." [BG, BLK]
Rustin, Bayard (1910-1987) Civil Rights Activist. Rustin was the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. Civil rights leaders, concerned that Rustin's homosexuality and prison term as a conscientious objector during W.W.II might be used to discredit the march, asked A. Philip Randolph to be the march's official head. Randolph kept Rustin on as chief organizer. [AA, OC]
Saint, Assoto (1957-1994) Writer, publisher and activist. Assoto Saint (Yves Lubin) Haitian-born Saint was a pioneering writer, dealing with explicit Black Gay themes long before many others. He established Galiens Press which made a commitment to publishing not only his own work but the work of others, producing "The Road Before Us: 100 Black Gay Poets" and "Here to Dare." Saint was working to complete two anthologies when he died in June of 1994 of AIDS-related complications. [BGLLF]
Seales, Franklyn (1953-1990) Actor. Played the part of Dexter Stuffins on the sitcom "Silver Spoons." He died of AIDS-related complications. [BLK]
Semien, Stephen* Performer. Semien began his career with the Joel Nobel (Katherine Dunham) Dance Company. He has performed in "Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope," "Your Arms Too Short to Box With God," "Ain't Misbehavin," "Sophisticated Ladies," and the film version of "The Wiz." His show "Children of the Night" won the NAACP image award for best choreography. [BGLLF]
Shende, Suzanne* Attorney. Staff attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Director of their Anti-Bias Violence Project. [BGLLF]
Simmons, Ron* Activist, writer. Executive director of Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc. and a certified "trainer of trainers" in AIDS Prevention for African Americans and high risk youth. [BGLLF]
Smith, Barbara* Editor and Publisher. Founder and Publisher Emeritus of Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press. Smith is currently researching and writing a history of Black lesbians and gays in the U.S. The Kitchen Table Collective's best sellers include: "This Bridge Called My Back", and "Home Girls." Additionally Smith co-edited, "Conditions: Five, The Black Women's Issue" and "All the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave: Black Women's Studies." [BLK, BGLLF, HG]
Smith, Bessie (1894-1937) Singer. Smith is regarded by many as the greatest blues singer in history. Her first recording, "Down Home Blues" (1924), sold a surprising 780,000 disks in less than six months. She once held off a Ku Klux Klan gang single-handedly. [AA]
Smith, Nadine* Activist. Executive director of the Human Rights Task Force of Florida and one of four national co-chairs of the 1993 March on Washington for Gay, Lesbian & Bi Equal Rights. Among the gay/lesbian leaders who met with President Clinton in the White House. [BGLLF, WB]
Smith, Vengerflutta Carlita* Educator. Trainer, humorist and inspirational speaker. Member-at-large of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Standing Committee for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Awareness. [BGLLF]
Smith, Willi (1947-1987) Fashion Designer. Smith is best known for his affordable line of comfortable clothes known as "Williwear." He died of AIDS-related complications. [EB]
Sojourner, Sabrina* Activist. Shadow Representative from the District of Columbia. Former legislative aide for California Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Sojourner became the first out African American Lesbian to serve on a Democratic State Committee, when she was elected to the D.C. Democratic State Committee. [BGLLF]
St. Cloud, Tiffani* (1978). Youth Activist. Youngest person inducted into the city of Chicago, Commission on Human Relations Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. Co-chair Smith College's Lesbian Bisexual Alliance's Women of Color Committee. Founder of PRIDE a support group at Whitney M. Young high school in Chicago, for lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning youth. PRIDE is now the 2nd largest student organization at the school, providing a safe space where people can talk about issues of sexual orientation and learn to be more tolerant. [GLBPOC]
St. John, Keith* Politician. Alderman, second ward Albany, NY. First black openly gay elected official in the United States. [BLK]
Strayhorn, Billy (1915-1967) Musician. Wrote "Take the A Train," the tune Duke Ellington used as his theme song. Strayhorn began working with Ellington in 1939 and was his alter ego. Strayhorn wrote and arranged for the band. Other compositions, include: "Lush Life," "Chelsea Bridge" and "Passion Flower." He collaborated with Ellington on a number of extended suites including: "Such Sweet Thunder," "A Drum Is a Woman," and "Perfume Suite." See Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn by David Hajdu [DE]
Sylvester (1948-1988) Entertainer. Sylvester James Hurd put his energy into his performances, not hiding his identity. His "Step II" LP went gold. He was at the height of his popularity during the disco era of the 1970s. He died of AIDS-related complications. [AA, BLK]
Tarver, Charles W. B. IV* (1956) Activist. Formerly with the Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF) where he was the first black male lobbyist with that organization. Facilitates the "Brother to Brother" workshop for black gay men. [BGLLF, BLK]
Taylor, Cecil* (1933) Musician. One of the premier improvisational pianists of our time. Taylor received a Guggheim Fellowship in 1973, and recently received a MacArthur Felloship (a so-called genius award). He has taught at Antioch College and has toured and recorded extensively. [QV]
Taylor, Willa* Cultural Activist. Taylor coordinated the cultural festival for Gay Games IV the largest Gay and Lesbian arts festival in the world which included exhibitions and performances of more than 3,000 artists in theaters, galleries, public spaces and concert halls throughout New York City. Taylor was on loan from the Lincoln Center Theater, where she is the Education Program Coordinator. [BGLLF]
Thais-Williams, Jewel* Businesswoman. Owner of Los Angeles' Catch One Disco and founder of a home for women and children with HIV/AIDS. [BLK]
Thomas, Wynn P.* (1953) Production Designer. Set designer for Spike Lee's film production company. Film credits include: "She's Gotta Have It", "School Daze", "Do The Right Thing", "Mo' Better Blues", "Jungle Fever", "Malcolm X", "The Five Heart Beats", and "A Bronx Tale". [P]
Turner, LaPaula* Clergy. Ordained minister with MCC, Los Angeles. [BGLLF]
Vega* (1954) Publisher. Vega Press published "Men of Color," "A Warm December" and "In Our Own Image." [BLK, ITL]
VelJohnson, Reginald* (1952) Actor. Plays the patriarch Carl Winslow on ABC's "Family Matters." [BLK]
Villarosa, Linda* Journalist. Senior Editor Essence Magazine who along with her mother Clara Villarosa wrote "Coming Out" in May 1991, Essence, an article about her coming out process. The article was read by five million readers and received more letters than any previous article. [BGLLF]
Wagner, Vallerie* Activist. Co-chair of the Los Angeles-based Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum. [BGLLF]
Walker, Alice* (1944) Author. U.S. writer and feminist; born in Eatonton, Ga.; novel `The Color Purple' awarded Pulitzer prize and American Book Award 1983 (`Revolutionary Petunias', `Meridian', `You Can't Keep a Good Woman Down', `In Search of Our Mother's Gardens', `To Hell With Dying', `The Temple of My Familiar', `Possessing the Secret of Joy'). In the February 1996 issue of Essence Magazine Walker states, "I am bisexual. I just live my life. I don't think I have to phone in and tell everybody." [ES]
Walker, Steve* (1967) Activist and educator. Founder of the African-American Lesbian/Gay Alliance of Houston (AALGA). Member of the City of Houston HIV Community planning committee and RFP review board. Also has served as a councilor and educator in HIV prevention. [P]
Washington, Jamie* Activist. Educator active with the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). Served as a panellist on the nationally broadcast teleconference "Understanding and meeting the needs of Gay, Lesbian, and bisexual students" [National Univ. Teleconf. Network, February, 1992]. [BGLLF]
Wasson, Robert P.* Attorney. Professor at Suffolk University Law School in Boston where he teaches Federal Civil Procedure, Federal Courts, Jurisprudence and Sexual Orientation and the Law. [BGLLF]
Waters, Ruth* Activist. Co-founder and past co-chair of the Los Angeles based Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum. [BGLLF]
Watkins, Perry (1947-1996 Watkins was drafted into the Army in 1968 during the Vietnam War, despite having declared his homosexuality. At the time, the Army discharged soldiers for sodomy and other specific acts but not for homosexuality itself. The Army revoked Mr. Watkins' security clearance in 1980. When he sued to prevent his discharge, the Army denied his re-enlistment in 1982. In 1989, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that it was unjust for the Army to enforce its anti-homosexual policy because Mr. Watkins acknowledged being gay when he was drafted. In 1991, the Supreme Court refused to hear the Army's appeal. Mr. Watkins retired from the military with full honors and $135,000 in back pay. Mr. Watkins was featured in the late Randy Shilts' book "Conduct Unbecoming." Watkins died in March of 1996 of AIDS-related complications. [BLK]
White, Evelyn C.* Journalist. San Francisco Chronicle. Editor of the "Black Women's Health Book: Speaking For Ourselves" and co-author of the photography book, "The African Americans." [BGLLF]
Williams, Karen* Comedienne. Affectionately known as the Diva of Comedy and the Queen of Improv. Williams is the creator and facilitator of Humor-At-Large workshop series and founder of the International Institute of Humor and Healing Arts (HAHA) [NBLGLF]
Williams, Reggie* Activist. Former executive director of the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention. [BGLLF]
Wilson, Phill* (1956 ) Activist. Director of Public Policy for AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA). Co-founder and past co-chair of the Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum. Among the gay/lesbian leaders who met with President Clinton in the White House. [AL, BGLLF]
Wolfe, George C.* (1954) Playwright/Director/Producer. Producer of the Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival. Wolfe received the 1996 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk He wrote the play The Colored Museum, and directed the plays Spunk, and on Broadway Angels in American, Jelly's Last Jam, and Anna Deveare Smith's Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992. [AT]
Woods, Donald (1958-1992) Filmmaker. Executive director of AIDSFILMS a production company that involves various communities in the making of HIV/AIDS films. Died of AIDS-related complications. [BGLLF]
Woodson, Jacqueline* Writer. Author of books for young people. "I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This" is a story of two young women dealing with sexual abuse. "From the Notes of the Melanin Sun" deals with a mother coming out to her adolescent son. [GN]
Young, Ivy* Program Director Astraea National Lesbian Action Foundation. Activist in the movement for social justice for more than twenty-five years. Veteran of the black Liberation and black feminist movements of the '60s and '70s. Advocacy journalist, in commercial and community radio in Washington, D.C., and New York City. Activist in the lesbian and gay movement since the '70s working with grassroots and national organizations. Prior to becoming Astraea's Program Director in October 1994, she spent five years on the staff of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, first as Director of the Families Project and subsequently as Director of the Creating Change Conference. [P]