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obituaries

Felice Picano and book covers of The Lure and The Joy of Gay Sex

Felice Picano, acclaimed gay author, has died at 81

Picano's works included novels such as The Lure, Onyx, and The Book of Lies, plus memoirs, poetry, nonfiction, and plays.

poet Nikki Giovanni 2023 queer Black icon

Nikki Giovanni, acclaimed poet and queer Black icon, has died at 81

Giovanni was known for poems about civil rights, love, and Black joy, and for her stirring public readings.

Ken Page gay actor Cats Torch Song Trilogy died at 70

Ken Page, gay actor in 'Cats,' 'Torch Song Trilogy,' and more, has died at 70

Page once said he had never been closeted, and he encouraged others to live their truth.

James Inhofe antiLGBTQ former US senator dead

James Inhofe, anti-LGBTQ+ former Republican senator, dead at 89

Inhofe, a Republican from Oklahoma, was a homophobe, transphobe, and denier of climate change.

rainbow stripes american flag military participants LGBTQ pride parade 2022 San Diego california

A veteran came out as gay in his obituary. Now, his family is praising his final 'salute'

The niece of Edward Thomas Ryan, the decorated military veteran who came out as gay in his obituary, is proud her uncle "got to open doors for other people."

Lynn Conway renowned computer scientist trans activist died 86

Lynn Conway, pioneering transgender computer scientist and activist, dies at 86

Conway was fired by IBM in 1968 for transitioning, but she went on to make major advances in her field, such as revolutionizing the chip design process.

Gay journalist Gil Kaan BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Editor Illuminated facades of Broadway theaters Times Square NYC

Gay arts and entertainment journalist Gil Kaan has died at 72

He was a former managing editor of Genre magazine and more recently had worked for BroadwayWorld. Among his accomplishments, he conducted a coming-out interview with Lily Tomlin.

Janis Joplin and her final group, the Full Tilt Boogie Band, perform at the Festival for Peace at Shea Stadium.

Arts & Entertainment

Peggy Caserta, the lesbian creator of bell-bottom jeans and lover of Janis Joplin, has died at age 84

Caserta and Joplin had an intense relationship from 1966 to 1970.

Sir Lady Java 1970 Promotional photographs

Sir Lady Java, drag artist and activist who performed alongside the famous, has died

She appeared with celebrities such as Redd Foxx, Sammy Davis Jr., Richard Pryor, and Don Rickles, and challenged a law against drag performances.

Ed Sedarbaum

Ed Sedarbaum, veteran Queens, N.Y., gay activist, has died at 78

Sedarbaum, the widower of cartoonist Howard Cruse, has been called the grandfather of the Queens LGBTQ+ movement. He worked against hate crimes and for inclusive education.

Earl Holliman

Arts & Entertainment

Gay actor Earl Holliman, star of 'Police Woman,' 'Twilight Zone,' and more, dies at 96

Holliman's death was announced by his spouse, Craig Curtis.

Gavin Creel during the Opening Night Gala for the Encores production curtain call for Into The Woods broadway show at New York City Center

Award-winning gay Broadway actor and activist Gavin Creel dead at 48

Creel, who advocated for marriage equality, won a Tony Award in 2017 for Hello, Dolly! and appeared in many other acclaimed productions.