Voices
Phil Donahue, an unsung LGBTQ+ ally, who talked about being gay — and AIDS — when no one else would
![Navy Petty Officer Keith Meinhold admitted homosexuality on TV Donahueshow 1993 military orders reinstated after federal judge LA declared military ban against gays serving unconstitutional Emmy awardwinning talkshow host Phil Donahue](https://www.advocate.com/media-library/navy-petty-officer-keith-meinhold-admitted-homosexuality-on-tv-donahueshow-1993-military-orders-reinstated-after-federal-judge-l.jpg?id=53387007&width=980&quality=85)
Bettmann Contributors via Getty Images;
From left: Navy Petty Officer Keith Meinhold; Phil Donahue
During a time when so many of us felt desperately alone and unaccepted, Donahue made us feel like we were normal and we had a friend in him, writes John Casey.
August 19 2024 4:51 PM EST
August 19 2024 7:31 PM EST