Today marks the birthdays of (at least) three openly gay famous people that I wish to mention and the death of another. Each has been an inspiration in their own way to other gay people, just by coming out. We need more gay people in the public eye to have the courage to do this, especially in the fields of sport, where machismo often rules and homophobia is rampant (if not in the players then at least in the supporters, yes I am talking mainly about football). I hope that this will be the start of a series of similar postings, let me know if you are interested, and if you have anyone you want profiling.
Youngest first, we have British former boyband member and now photographer Kevin McDaid, who is also the partner of Mark Feehily of Westlife. McDaid, born in Nigeria in 1984 and raised in Newcastle, England, was one of the members of moderately successful, though short-lived, band V from 2004-2005. Shortly after the group split McDaid announced his relationship with Feehily when the latter came out in a story in the Sun newspaper.
Since then McDaid has launched a photography career, as indicated by his MySpace profile. He has also appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks , in a line-up not as a panel member, and in an interview in Attitude magazine.
Next we have Bulgarian singer Azis, born Vasil Troyanov Boyanov, who is known for performing chalga, which is a form of pop-folk music blending Turkish rhythms with western pop and local folk music. He is celebrating his 30th birthday today.
Azis is also a very flamboyant character with a distinctive appearance, currently sporting an ice-white beard, moustache and hair-do, and often dressing in female attire. This is even more controversial in Bulgaria than in other countries as many of the older citizens were used to Communist rule, resulting in uniformity of dress, values and behaviour. Different isn't necessarily good to a lot of Bulgarians, but Azis seems to be leading the way fearlessly to a more diverse and accepting country while still honouring his roots with his music.
In November of last year the mayor of Sofia decided that billboards showing Azis kissing his (non-legally recognised) husband, Niki Kitaetsa, be dismantled, siting it as being too graphic, though other billboards in Sofia were even more graphic, but not of a gay nature.
He has performed with Mariana Popova in a song for Eurovision that unfortunately did not make it to the final, and has also filmed a video for his song “Nyama” which featured a kiss between him and a Catholic priest in church, so it could be said that he is going the Madonna-route to stardom. In Bulgaria he is a super-star already, they weren't, and still aren't, entirely ready for him, but is the world? 
Thirdly we have Mia Terese Hundvin, from Norway who is one of their most successful Handball players, playing for professional clubs as well as the international side. Mia participated in the teams which won the World Women's Handball Championship in '99, the European Women's Handball Championship in '98 and which won Olympic bronze in 2000. 
Although she is now married to male snowboarder Terje Haakonsen, with whom she has a child, she was in a registered partnership with Danish handball player Camilla Anderson for three years before they “divorced.” and is said to have had a previous relationship with Anja Anderson. Maybe she liked the name? 
Although she is now married to male snowboarder Terje Haakonsen, with whom she has a child, she was in a registered partnership with Danish handball player Camilla Anderson for three years before they “divorced.” and is said to have had a previous relationship with Anja Anderson. Maybe she liked the name? Also today commemorates the 30th anniversary of the death of the legend that is Divine. Born Harris Glenn Milstead, in Maryland, USA, in 1945, the young man became friends with John Waters who lived in the same street.
By the 1970's he was starring as Divine in such off-Broadway hits as Women Behind Bars and The Neon Woman. He later went on to star in many of John Waters' films including Pink Flamingos and the wonderful Hairspray. Hairspray was, for me, the most memorable performance by Divine, appearing as both Edna Turnblad and as Arvin Hodgepile.
During the '80's Divine had a number of memorable hit records including “You Think You're a Man,” which I still have a 12" version of on vinyl, and “Walk Like a Man”, along with 4 albums during his lifetime and 6 others since.
In 1988, just as he had been chosen to play a role in the hit prime-time series Married... With Children he died from complications caused by an enlarged heart.
To my mind, there hasn't been anyone who has compared to the energy shown by Divine since. His image was what inspired the design of Disney villainess Ursula from the Little Mermaid, which I think he probably would have loved.
By the 1970's he was starring as Divine in such off-Broadway hits as Women Behind Bars and The Neon Woman. He later went on to star in many of John Waters' films including Pink Flamingos and the wonderful Hairspray. Hairspray was, for me, the most memorable performance by Divine, appearing as both Edna Turnblad and as Arvin Hodgepile.
During the '80's Divine had a number of memorable hit records including “You Think You're a Man,” which I still have a 12" version of on vinyl, and “Walk Like a Man”, along with 4 albums during his lifetime and 6 others since.In 1988, just as he had been chosen to play a role in the hit prime-time series Married... With Children he died from complications caused by an enlarged heart.
To my mind, there hasn't been anyone who has compared to the energy shown by Divine since. His image was what inspired the design of Disney villainess Ursula from the Little Mermaid, which I think he probably would have loved.
2 comments:
Terje and Mia are not married. They have children but never married. He wont do that.
Apologies if this was incorrect, I took the word of Wikipedia as law (a novice mistake maybe?)
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