Category: Giving Them Their Roses

  • In Celebration of Amber Ruffin

    In Celebration of Amber Ruffin

    ride started with a protest. Pride Month is a declaration of the fight for freedom for all LGBTQ+ people. It is a way to honor our history, resilience, and collective resistance. For those of us who have the privilege, one act of resistance can be coming out publicly as a…

  • “River Memory (A Melvin Dixon Poem)” By aAliy A. Muhammad

    “River Memory (A Melvin Dixon Poem)” By aAliy A. Muhammad

    A song about the end. Ain’t it funny?I always thought “End of the road” was a funeral song, as it blasted on radios in 1992. “Although we’ve come to the end of the road, still I can’t let go.” STILL I CAN’T LET GO.STILLI CAN’T LET GO.It was about the…

  • HYDEIA BROADBENT

    HYDEIA BROADBENT

    Today, we honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Hydeia Broadbent, a beacon of hope, courage, and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Hydeia was a warrior whose spirit and determination transformed the landscape of awareness and compassion for those of us living with HIV/AIDS. From a very…

  • for Cecilia Gentili

    for Cecilia Gentili

    Cecilia Gentili was a trans activist. Cecilia Gentili was a mother. Cecilia Gentili was a friend. Celicia Gentili was an icon. Celicia Gentili was here. Cecilia navigated an often unkind world with a disarming and empowering grace. Her journey from Argentina to the heart of New York City was not…

  • RAY NAVARRO

    RAY NAVARRO

    On December 10, 1989, a significant event in New York City would set the stage for Ray’s remarkable journey. Thousands of activists, many living with AIDS themselves, gathered for the “Stop The Church” demonstration outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Their target: Cardinal John O’Connor, an influential Catholic authority whose statements on…

  • DIONNE WARWICK

    DIONNE WARWICK

    2025 will mark the 40th anniversary of Dionne Warwick’s cultural milestone single, “That’s What Friends Are For.” The one-off single, featuring the equally iconic Gladys Knight, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder, “That’s What Friends Are For,” was released as a charity single in October 1985 to support AIDS research. The…

  • JESÚS OCIEL BAENA SAUCEDO

    JESÚS OCIEL BAENA SAUCEDO

    Jesús Ociel Baena Saucedo was a significant figure in Mexican LGBTQ+ politics, known for their pioneering role and activism in the community. Born on December 9, 1984, Baena Saucedo’s life and career were characterized by groundbreaking achievements and a dedication to advocating for non-binary and LGBTQ+ rights. Baena Saucedo made…

  • RUDY GALINDO

    RUDY GALINDO

    As a young queer femboy, I always felt as if I was walking on thin ice; always fearing that my queerness would be too heavy and somehow send me splashing in freezing cold waters. No one explicitly told me to be “careful;” it was just something I learned by the…

  • IRIS CHACÓN

    IRIS CHACÓN

    camp challenges conventional notions of what is “tasteful” and “beautiful.” some proclaim that camp celebrates the “tacky” by subverting social norms. and yes, that’s why we live for it! i think camp requires an unabashed courage to be theatrical and humorous in an approach to fashion, art, and culture. and…

  • BRENDA K. STARR

    BRENDA K. STARR

    the 1980s marked a pivotal era in the rise of latino english-speaking recording pop artists who achieved mainstream success. this period witnessed the emergence of gloria estefan, menudo, and lisa lisa & the cult jam broke down barriers by blending dance-pop, soul, and electro music with latin rhythms. this captivating…

  • QUEEN PEN & ME’SHELL NDEGEOCELLO

    QUEEN PEN & ME’SHELL NDEGEOCELLO

    The history of Hip-Hop collaborations is a tale of unity, innovation, and the creation of musical magic that transcends genres, pushes artistic boundaries and amplifies diverse voices. The late ’80s and early ’90s marked the golden era of Hip-Hop, that is when collaborations began to flourish. During this period, artists…

  • DIANA ROSS

    DIANA ROSS

    on july 21, 1983, diana ross staged one of the highly significant concert events of the decade. organized by the city and the parks department, with support from ross herself, the benefit concert was a free, open-air performance held at the great lawn in central park, new york city to…