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January 7, 2018 1920 × 696 passover

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Gay Wisdom – Today in Gay History

Born

1466 -

DESIDERIUS ERASMUS, Dutch humanist and theologian, born (d: 1536); Desiderius Erasmus was a classical scholar who wrote in a "pure" Latin style. Although he remained a Roman Catholic throughout his lifetime, he was critical of what he considered the excesses of the Roman Catholic Church. Imagine that.

Using humanist techniques Erasmus prepared important new Latin and Greek editions of the New Testament that raised questions that would be influential in the Reformation. He also wrote Handbook of a Christian Knight, On Civility in Children, Copia: Foundations of the Abundant Style, and many other works. Known as “the Voltaire of the Renaissance” simply stated, it has been argued that Erasmus “laid the egg and Luther hatched it”…the “egg” being the Reformation. As to what else or who else Erasmus may have laid is anyone’s read-between-the-lines guess. But while at the Augustinian monastery Stein near Gouda around 1487, Erasmus wrote passionate letters of friendship to a fellow monk, Servatius Rogerus, whom he called "half my soul", writing, "I have wooed you both unhappily and relentlessly"; this correspondence contrasts sharply with the generally detached and much more restrained attitude he showed in his later life.

And, in the great archetype of same-sex people as “jester,” “joker” and “contrary,” as well as speakers of truth to power, Erasmus's best-known work was The Praise of Folly (published under the double title Moriae encomium (Greek, latinized) and Laus stultitiae (Latin)), a satirical attack on the traditions of the Catholic Church and popular superstitions, written in 1509, published in 1511 and dedicated to his friend, Sir Thomas More.

Died

1902 -

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, American feminist and suffragette died (b. 1815)

Born

1946 -

HOLLY WOODLAWN, Puerto Rican actress, born (d: 2015); Born Haroldo Santiago Franceschi Rodriguez Danhakl, Woodlawn was a Warhol superstar, who appeared in his movies Trash (1970) and Women in Revolt (1972). Her life was summarized by Lou Reed in his song Walk On The Wild Side:

Holly came from Miami FLA,

hitch-hiked her way across the USA,

plucked her eyebrows on the way,

shaved her legs, and then he was a she...

She met Andy Warhol in the Factory at a screening of Flesh. Through him she met Jackie Curtis, who cast Woodlawn in her play Heaven Grand in Amber Orbit in the autumn of 1969. In October she was assigned a bit role in Trash, but so impressed director Paul Morrissey that she was given a larger role. In 1970 she received word from the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences that George Cukor, supported by others, was petitioning the Academy to nominate her for Trash - but, nothing came of this campaign.

In May 1971, Woodlawn replaced Candy Darling at the La Mama Theatre, New York in a production of Vain Victory written and directed by Jackie Curtis. She was arrested and briefly incarcerated in Puerto Rico after being caught shoplifting.

By 1976 the work had dried up, and Woodlawn moved to San Francisco. She returned to New York later in the year and had a brief revival after appearing on Geraldo Rivera’s talk show before being jailed again in 1977 for not fulfilling a previous probation obligation. She was released on the appeal of politician Ethan Geto, who helped organize a benefit for her.

Woodlawn continued to make cameo appearances in plays and films such as Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss throughout the 1980s and 1990s. After Warhol's death, she was a frequently requested commentator on his life and influence. She lived in West Hollywood. She died from brain and liver cancer and was remembered in the Memoriam segment at the 88^th Academy Awards.

1947 -

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, former First Lady, U.S. Senator from New York from New York, former Secretary of State under President Barack Obama and the first woman to be nominated for President by one of the two major political parties (and who should have actually been President...don't get me started!) born. Happy Birthday Hillary!

1971 -

ANTHONY RAPP, American singer and actor, born; an American film and stage actor best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in the Broadway production of Rent in 1996 and later for reprising the same role in the film version. He also performed the role of Charlie Brown in the 1999 Broadway revival of You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. Rapp, a self-identified "queer," is an advocate in show business for LGBT rights. He was born in Chicago, where he attended high school at Joliet West High School in Joliet and theater camp at the prestigious Michigan Interlochen Arts Academy. Rapp's brother is playwright, novelist, and filmmaker Adam Rapp.