PETER PEARS, English tenor (d. 1986); It used to be said, politely of course, that the English tenor was the “companion” of Benjamin Britten. Since “companion” seems to conjure up an image of two old ladies in shawls, let’s say, no less politely, but more vigorously, that the tenor and the composer were for many years devoted and passionate lovers.

As Francois Poulenc did for Bernac, Britten wrote some of his most wonderful music for Pears, and Pears introduced Britten’s songs and operas throughout the world. Together they worked indefatigably toward the creation of the Aldeburgh Festival, their musical child. It used to be said, politely, of course, that Pears is a “quite unremarkable voice.”

 His voice was controversial, the vocal quality being unusual, described as "dry" and "white". It was said, cruelly, that he had one good note, E-natural a third above middle C, which is why the crucial aria of Peter Grimes, "Now the Great Bear and Pleiades", is mainly written on that note. His voice quality did not record well, but there is no doubt that he had unusually good articulation and vocal agility, of which Britten also took advantage.

Let’s just admit, no less politely, but more directly, that Pear’s voice was pretty unremarkable, although handled with deft musicianship, and that his place in the annals of music history will rest primarily on his association with Britten.

JIMMY SOMERVILLE, Scottish singer born (Bronski Beat, Communards); a Scottish pop singer, born and raised in Glasgow. He had considerable success in the 1980s with the pop groups Bronski Beat and The Communards, and has also had a successful solo career. In 1983, Somerville co-founded the synth pop group Bronski Beat, who proceeded to have a number of hits in the British charts. Their biggest hit, "Smalltown Boy", which reached #3, was considered groundbreaking because of its lyrical content regarding homophobia. Somerville played the song's titular character in the music video, leaving his hostile hometown for the city.

Somerville left Bronski Beat in 1985, and formed The Communards with classically trained pianist Richard Coles. They had a number of hits, including a cover version of Thelma Houston’s "Don’t Leave Me This Way", which spent four weeks at #1 in the UK charts, and became the biggest-selling single of 1986 in that country. He also sang backing vocals on the Fine Young Cannibals' version of "Suspicious Minds", which was a UK Top 10 hit.

The Communards split in 1988 and Somerville launched his solo career. He had several solo hits between 1989 and 1991, also singing on the second Band Aid project at the end of 1989. After releasing his 1989 album Read My Lips (including a hit homage cover of Sylvester’s "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"), along with a singles collection and cover of The Bee Gees’ "To Love Somebody" a year later, Somerville left the limelight and was absent from recording for a number of years.

He returned in 1995 with the album Dare to Love, which included "Heartbeat", a #1 hit on the U.S. dance chart. Another album, entitled Manage The Damage, was released in 1999, and its companion remix album Root Beer came out a year later. More recently, his dance-oriented fourth solo album, Home Again, was released in 2005.

JUDY GARLAND dies barely two weeks after her 47th birthday. The official cause of death was listed as an accidental overdose of sleeping pills. While the Stonewall Riot followed quickly on the ruby red heels of her passing, there was no identifiable connection between the events, folklore notwithstanding.

LEONARD MATLOVICH, a Vietnam War veteran, race relations instructor, and recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, died (b: 1943). Matlovich was the first Gay service member to fight the ban on Gays in the military, and perhaps the best-known Gay man in America in the 1970s next to Harvey Milk. His fight to stay in the U.S. Air Force after coming out became a cause célèbre around which the Gay community rallied. His case resulted in articles in newspapers and magazines throughout the country, numerous television interviews, and a television movie on NBC.

His photograph appeared on the cover of the September 8, 1975, issue of Time magazine, making him a symbol for thousands of Gay and Lesbian service members and Gays generally. In October 2006, Matlovich was honored by LGBT History Month as a leader in the history of the LGBT.

Matlovich died of complications from HIV/AIDS beneath a large photo of Martin Luther King, Jr. His tombstone, meant to be a memorial to all Gay veterans, does not bear his name. It reads, “When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.” As a final irony, Matlovich's tombstone at Congressional Cemetery is on the same row as that of FBI Director and closet-case J. Edgar Hoover.

Heterosexuals Unafraid of Gays (HUG) formed in Wellington, New Zealand.