LGBT Issues & History

Political advisor David Mixner. His new book, Stranger Among Friends, is a memoir of the 1992 Clinton campaign and life inside the Clinton White House. Mixner was pivotal in getting then-Governor Clinton the support of gay voters and was hopeful that the Democratic victory would expand civil rights to gays and lesbians. With Clinton’s watered-down support of gays in the military and recent rejection of gay marriage, Mixner has become disillusioned with the administration, and his book reflects this.

Crowley's works were recently re-published in a book, "3 Plays by Mart Crowley" (Alyson Publications). "The Boys in the Band" (1968), is the classic portrait of a gay artist living in New York and was one of the first plays to break the taboo on the portrayal of homosexuality. A revival of "The Boys in the Band" opened in June and the film version is being featured at the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival this summer.

Author Andrew Holleran. His latest novel, "The Beauty of Men" (William Morrow), is about a gay man in his late forties who is obsessed with the beauty of youth and his own mortality. At the same time, he harbors guilt for mourning the loss of his youth when so many around him are dying young. Holleran, whose real name is not known, has written two other novels under the pseudonym and is a frequent contributor to "Christopher Street" magazine.

Documentary producer, Glenn Holsten who's recent documentary, "Mothers who March" focuses on the lives and commitment of four mothers who've lost children to Aids. It debuts on PBS television nation-wide tonight (Tuesday May 7).

Filmmakers Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Freidman. They've produced a film version of Russo's book, "The Celluloid Closet." The documentary includes film clips and interview with actors, directors, writers and critics.

Film director Joseph Cates. His film "Who Killed Teddy Bear" was made in the mid 1960s. It starred Sal Mineo, Juliet Prowse and Elaine Stritch. The film has recently been re-released. It's been described as a "smorgasbord of Hollywood taboos: voyeurism, pornography, masturbation, incest, child abuse, transvestism, lesbianism." "Who Killed Teddy Bear?" is playing at the Film Forum in New York City, March 8-14.

Felice Picano talks about losing 74 friends to AIDS. He recently came across a list with 75 people who attended his 40th birthday party in 1984. All but one....who is unaccounted for have died from AIDS.

Stand-up comic Suzanne Westenhoefer. She recently appeared on the latest "Comic Relief" special on HBO (November 11).Westenhoefer. is a lesbian, and uses her humor to challenge the stereotypes about gays and lesbians. She also was the first lesbian to have a comedy special on HBO, "Nothing in My Closet but my Clothes." (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Editor of The New Republic Andrew Sullivan. He's the first openly gay editor of a national political magazine. His new book, Virtually Normal: An Argument About Homosexuality, (Knopf), examines how our society deals with homosexuality, and looks at the different viewpoints on it.

Activist Claudia Brenner, one of the prominent voices against anti-gay violence. Her new book Eight Bullets: One Woman's Story of Anti-Gay Violence, (Firebrand) which she co-wrote with Hannah Ashley, is a personal account of her lover's murder and its aftermath: her path to recovery and activism. Brenner is an architect who lives in upstate New York with her lesbian family.