C.M. BOWRA, English scholar, born (d: 1971); C.M. who you say? Not if you were an English major and a whiz in classics of English Lit., you don’t, for then you’d immediately remember reading any number of books by this renowned English classical scholar and critic. During his long association with Oxford University, he was warden of Wadham College, Professor of Poetry, and vice-chancellor of the university.

His many books include A Book of Russian Verse, The Creative Experiment, Classical Greek and The Oxford Book of Greek Verse. Given his appearances in A.L. Rowse’s Homosexuals in History, the title of Bowra’s most famous book, The Greek Experience, takes on new meaning.

MICHAEL BENNETT musical theater director, choreographer and dancer, born (d: 1987). Born in Buffalo, New York, Bennett, (ne DiFiglia) was most famously the author, or more accurately, the originator of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A Chorus Line, Bennett won seven Tony Awards for his choreography and direction of Broadway shows and was nominated for an additional eleven. Among his shows were Dreamgirls (also director), Promises, Promises, Follies, and Company.

MICHAEL LESHNER, Canadian lawyer and Gay Rights advocate, born; The Michaels” is a public name used to refer to the duo of Michael Stark and Michael Leshner. They were the men who in 2003 entered into the first civil same-sex marriage in Canada, and were consequently named the Canadian Newsmakers of the Year by Time magazine. When Leshner heard of colleagues' plans to try to legalize same-sex marriage, he convinced Stark to seek marriage so the two could start the case. Leshner considered himself to have been in a common law marriage with Stark for 22 years prior. After the ruling by a lower Ontario court, Leshner proposed to Stark in front of reporters.

The marriage then came after the decision Halpern v Canada (Attorney General) by the Ontario Court of Appeals deciding homosexuals should be allowed to marry. The Michaels afterwards became well-known in their city Toronto, and appeared in the 2003 Gay Pride parade.

CLYDE M. HALL, Shoshone Two Spirit and ceremonialist, born; Clyde Hall is authority of Native American culture, dance ritual and folkways and was born and raised in Fort Hall, Idaho He is a Native American of Shoshone/Metis descent and one of the founders of Gay American Indians. A former tribal judge Hall is now the Chairman of the Naraya Cultural Preservation Council. He lives in Pocatello, Idaho and travels extensively to conduct ceremony, in particular the Naraya AKA the Ghost Dance.

VASLAV NIJINSKY, Polish-born ballet dancer died on this date (b. 1890); Nijinsky Nijinsky was one of the most gifted male dancers in history, and he became celebrated for his virtuosity and for the depth and intensity of his characterizations. He could perform en pointe, a rare skill among male dancers at the time and his ability to perform seemingly gravity-defying leaps was legendary.

A turning point for Nijinsky was his meeting with Sergei Diaghilev, a member of the St Petersburg elite and wealthy patron of the arts, promoting Russian visual and musical art abroad, particularly in Paris. Nijinsky and Diaghilev became lovers, and Diaghilev became heavily involved in directing Nijinsky's career. In 1909 Diaghilev took a company to Paris, with Nijinsky and Anna Pavlova as the leads. The show was a great success and increased the reputation of both the leads and Diaghilev throughout the artistic circles of Europe. Diaghilev created Les Ballets Russes in its wake, and with choreographer Michel Fokine, made it one of the most well-known companies of the time.

LAURA NYRO, American singer and composer (b. 1947); an American composer, lyricist, singer and pianist. Her style was a distinctive hybrid of Brill Building-style New York pop, mixed with elements of jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, show tunes and rock.

She was best known, and had the most commercial success, as a composer and lyricist rather than as a performer. Between 1968 and 1970 a number of other singers had significant hits with her songs: the Fifth Dimension with "Blowing Away", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Sweet Blindness", "Save The Country" and "Black Patch"; Blood, Sweat & Tears and Peter Paul & Mary with "And When I Die", Three Dog Night with "Eli's Coming"; and Barbra Streisand with "Stoney End" and "Hands off the Man (Flim Flam Man)". Ironically, Nyro's best-selling single was her recording of Carole King and Gerry Goffin's “Up On The Roof."

Nyro was married, to carpenter David Bianchini in 1971. She was also reportedly uncomfortable with attempts to market her as a celebrity, and she announced her retirement from the music business at the age of 24. By 1976, her marriage had ended, and she returned with an album of new material, Smile. She then embarked on a four-month tour with a full band, which resulted in the 1977 live album Season of Lights. Around this time, she met her subsequent life partner, Brooklyn-born painter Maria Desiderio, who passed in 1999.