CARSON McCULLERS, American author was born (d. 1967); When she was twenty-three, the gifted novelist and playwright of “the hungry search of people for an escape from individual loneliness, for self-expression and for identification with what each most idealizes in human living.”

Her own hungry search led to marriage to the homosexual Reeves McCullers, who eventually killed himself; a love affair with composer David Diamond, who was simultaneously sleeping with her husband; to infatuations with Greta Garbo, Erica Mann, and other women; and to such works as The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, The Member of the Wedding, and Reflections in a Golden Eye. Because of her sad life, or in spite of it, she remains compulsively readable.

American attorney and activist GERALD GERASH was born. Attorney Gerald Gerash could be appropriately be called one of the founding fathers of Denver’s gay community. Whenever he saw a gap, he tried to fill it. When there was no community center, he made sure they got one. When gay groups were splintered and unorganized in the early 1970s, he brought them together under one roof. When laws were used to discriminate against gays, he helped put an end to it.

Gerash attended the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Colorado. In his own words, he describes the establishment of the LGBT Center in Denver:

“In Denver, apart from the bars and bath houses, there was only one place where Gays could socialize—the Rocky Mt. Motorcycle Club. For Lesbians, life was more diverse. Activated by the women’s liberation movement, some were already involved with groups like NOW, both in leadership and in its Lesbian Task Force and in Big Momma Rag, a feminist newspaper, mostly run by Lesbians, with a national circulation and very supportive of Lesbians and Gay rights. [My lover] Lynn Tamlin told me he found a Lesbian at Metro State, Jane Dundee, who was interested in Gay Liberation. I immediately phoned Terry Mangan. A few days later, we had our first meeting at our apartment. Jane brought her house mate, Mary Sassatelli, and with Lynn, Terry and I, we created the Gay Coalition of Denver. It would, over the next 3 years, change Gay life in Denver forever. The amazing story of how the Gay Coalition of Denver came to grow and flourish is also the story of how and why The Center came about.”

In 1975 he helped form UNITY, the first-ever umbrella organization for Gay groups to share information and work towards common goals. Out of that group sprang the Gay Community Center of Colorado—an organization of which Gerash is credited as being the founder. In 2010, Gerash was honored as a Grand Marshal of Denver’s 35th annual PrideFest.

Gerash writes about his experiences here: http://www.denvergayrevolt.com/origins_of_center.html

ANDRÉ GIDE, French writer, Nobel laureate died (b. 1869); Not unlike Gore Vidal and Truman Capote sniping at one another like Paulette Goddard and Rosalind Russell in The Women, the feud between Gide and Jean Cocteau was a low point in both their careers. The feud, which lasted for more than forty years, all public, stemmed from simple, mortal jealousy between these two cultural gods. Gide was enraged that Cocteau had kept his young lover, Marc Allégret out all night and had, presumably, slept with him. Gide confessed years later that he wanted to kill his rival but decided the word was bloodier than the sword.

DEREK JARMAN, British film director, died (b. 1942); Jarman first became known as a stage designer getting a break into the film industry as production designer for Ken Russell’s The Devils (1970), and later made his debut in "overground" narrative film-making with the groundbreaking Sebastiane (1976), arguably the first British film to feature positive images of gay sexuality, and the first film entirely in Latin. Jarman's work broke new ground in creating and expanding the fledgling form of 'the pop video' in England, and as a forthright and prominent Gay Rights activist.

Several volumes of his diaries have been published. Jarman also directed the 1989 tour by the UK duo Pet Shop Boys. By pop concert standards this was a highly theatrical event with costume and specially shot films accompanying the individual songs.

He is also remembered for his famous shingle cottage-garden, created in the latter years of his life, in the shadow of the Dungeness power station. The house was built in tarred timber. Raised wooden text on the side of the cottage is the first stanza and the last five lines of the last stanza of John Donne's poem, The Sun Rising. The cottage's beach garden was made using local materials and has been the subject of several books. At this time, Jarman also began painting again (see the book: Evil Queen: The Last Paintings, 1994).

In December 1986, 1986 he was diagnosed HIV+, and was notable for later discussing his condition in public. His illness prompted him to move to Prospect Cottage, Dungeness, near to the  nuclear power plant. In 1994 he died of an HIV/AIDS-related illness. Chumbawumba subsequently released Song for Derek Jarman in his honor. Andi Sexgang, another music artist released the CD Last of England as a tribute.

TODAY'S GAY WISDOM

The wisdom of Andre Gide:

 Art is a collaboration between God and the artist and the less the artist does the better - Andre Gide

Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself - and thus make yourself indispensable - Andre Gide

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it. - Andre Gide

Dare to be yourself. - Andre Gide

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. - Andre Gide

It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves, in finding themselves. - Andre Gide

Obtain from yourself all that makes complaining useless, No longer implore from others what you yourself can obtain. - Andre Gide

One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time - Andre Gide

So long as we live among men, let us cherish humanity - Andre Gide