Bernice Abbott  (July 17, 1898 - December 9, 1991)
Berenice Abbott was born in Springford, Ohio, in 1898. After graduating from Ohio State University she moved to New York to study journalism, but eventually decided on sculpture and painting. In 1921 she moved to Paris to study with sculptor Emile Bourdelle. Abbot also worked with the surrealist photographer, Man Ray (1923-25), before opening her own studio in Paris. She photographed the leading artists in France and had her first exhibition at the Au Sacre du Printemps Gallery in 1926. Abbott returned to the United States in 1929 and embarked on a project to photograph New York. In 1935 she managed to obtain funding for this venture from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and its Federal Art Project. In 1936 Abbott joined with Paul Strand to establish the Photo League. Its initial purpose was to provide the radical press with photographs of trade union activities and political protests. Later the group decided to organize local projects where members concentrated on photographing working class communities. Abbott's photographs of New York appeared in the exhibition, Changing New York, at the Museum of the City in 1937. A book, Changing New York, was published in 1939. She is also published a Guide to Better Photography (1941). In the late 1950s Abbott began to take photographs that illustrated the laws of physics. Berenice Abbott died in Monson, Maine, in 1991. Books: Guide to better photography (1941)

Steve Abbott (December 21, 1943 - December 2, 1992)
American bisexual writer, born as Stephen Eugene Abbott in Lincoln, Nebraska. From 1962 to 1966 he studied at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. In 1969 he married Barbara Binder. The couple had a daughter, Alysia, who was born on December 6, 1970. In August 1973 Barbara got killed in a car accident. Abbott died of Aids. Books: Mermaid dreams (1976), Wrecked hearts (1978), Stretching the Agapa Bra (1980), The lives of the poets (1987), Skinny trip to a far place (1988), Holy terror (1989), View Askew (1989), The Lizard Club (1993) Website: http://www.steveabbott.org/

Abraxas (on the right) (September 19, ...)
Dutch DJ in the house-scene, who's real name is Jeff Porter. Together with Jeroen Flamman the popgroups 'Fierce Ruling Diva'(1), 'Party Animals'(2) and 'Flamman & Abraxas'(3). Hits: Have you ever been mellow (2)(1996), Hava Naguila (2)(1996), Good to go (3)(1996), Aquarius (2)(1996), We like to party (2)(1997), Atomic (2)(1997), My way (2)(1997), I'll be your only friend (3)(1997), I need love (3)(1997), Rubb it in (3)(1997)
CD's: Fierce Ruling Diva (1) (1991), Anarchic Adjustments (1)(1992), A great man once said (1)(1993), Revolt of the perverse (1) (1994), Good Vibrations (2)(1996), Enter the dragon (3)(1997), Partyworldaccess.nl (2) (1997), Husanna Superstar (2) (1998)

Roberta Achtenberg (July 20, 1950)
American politician, born in Los Angeles, California.
 

J.R. Ackerly (November 4, 1896 - June 4, 1967)
British writer and playwright, born as Joseph Randolph Ackerly in Herne Hill. He studied law at Cambridge University. Play: The prisoners of war (1925) Books: Hindoo Holiday: An Indian journal (1932), My dog Tulip (1956), We think the world of you (1960), Letters from Japan (1960), My father and myself (1968), Michael Dever & other poems (1972), My sister and myself (1982)

Mercedes de Acosta (March 1, 1893 - 1968)
American scriptwriter and set and costume designer, born in New York City. In her autobiography she mentioned love affairs with a.o. Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo. Book: Here lies the heart (1960)

Nancy Adair
American writer, photographer and artist. She was the sister of Peter Adair (see below). Book: Word is out (1978, written together with her mother Casey)

Peter Adair (1943- June 27, 1996)
American documentary maker; best known for his documentary 'Word is Out' (1977). Peter's lesbian sister Nancy and their mother Casey wrote the book 'Word is out', which contains the text of the interviews in the documentary. He died of Aids. Films: Holy Ghost People (1973), Word is out (1977), Some of these stories are true (1981), Stopping story (1983), The AIDS show (1986), Absolutely positive (1990) Book: Word is out (1978, by Nancy and Casey Adair)

Joop Admiraal (September 26, 1937)
Dutch actor, born in Ophemert. Stage: U bent mijn moeder (1981), Avondrood, Vertraagd afscheid (1999), De Cid (1999-2000), Oidipous (2001), Leger des Heils, een 'musical' (2003), Metamorphosen (2003)
Films: Max Havelaar (1976), Toestanden (1976), Camping (1978), Kort Amerikaans (1979), De smaak van water (1982), U bent mijn moeder (1984), Hersenschimmen (Mind shadows)(1987), Oude Tongen (1994)
TV: Duinzicht boven (1999)

Adrian (March 3, 1903 -September 13, 1959)
American fashion and costume designer, born as Adrian Adolph Greenberg (sometimes credited as Gilbert Adrian) in Naugatuk, Connecticut. He worked for MGM and dressed a.o. Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Greta Garbo and Katherine Hepburn. He studied at the School for Fine and Applied Arts in New York and in Paris. In 1942 he retired from the cinema and opened a shop in Beverly Hills, California. He died in Hollywood of a heart attack.
 

Chantal Akerman (June 6, 1950)
Belgian film and TV director, born in Brussels. She was educated at ISAS, the Belgian film school, but didn't complete this school. In 1972 she moved to New York. She now lives in Paris. TV: Le Déménagement (1992), Portrait d'une jeune fille de la fin des Annees 60, a Bruxelles (1993) Films: Saute ma ville (1968), Hotel Monterey (1972), Je tu il elle (1974), Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975), News from home (1976), Les Rendez-vous d'Anna (1978), Toute une nuit (1982), Les Annees 80 (1983), Window shopping (1985), Nuit et jour (1991), D'Est (1993), A couch in New York (1996)

Koos van den Akker
Dutch fashion designer, who moved to New York City in 1968. In 1971 he opened his first shop at Madison Avenue.
 

Edward Albee (March 12, 1928)
American playwright, born in Washington, DC, as Edward Franklin Albee. Plays: The Zoo-story (1959), The American dream (1961), Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf (1961), The ballad of the sad cafe (1963), The play about the baby, Tiny Alice (1964), A delicate balance (1966), All over (1970), Seascape (1975), The man who had two arms (1983), Three tall women (1991), The goat or who is Sylvia (2002)

Robert Alberdingk Thijm
Dutch scriptwriter for television and movies. He is married to director Norbert ter Hall. Robert has done a study of law. TV: In de Vlaamsche pot, Flodder, All Stars, De Daltons, Meneer Rommel, Zeeuws meisje, Buurtsuper, Dunya & Desi (2002) Films: Monte Carlo (2001)

Czar Alexander I (December 23, 1777 - December 1, 1825)
Emperor of Russia from 1801 - 1825. He was born in St. Petersburg. He was crowned on September 15, 1801 in the Dormition Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin.

 

Alexander the Great  (September 20, 365 BC - June 13, 323 BC)
King of Macedonia and conqueror of the world, he overthrew the Persian Empire and extended his rule from Greece to Egypt and all the way to India. Alexander's achievement laid the foundation for the Hellenistic world, the Roman Empire, and even the spread of Christianity: all the New Testament writings were in Greek as a result of Alexander's influence.  Alexander was said to be extremely handsome. Many portraits of him were made in his life and these Roman copies may be pretty accurate. He was an incredibly athletic and loved strenuous exercise -- he would jump off and back on a chariot moving at full speed. His lover Hephaestion was taller and even more handsome.  The Persian Queen bowed to him instead of Alexander when she was presented to them.  Alexander said to the mortified queen "Never mind, Hephaestion is also Alexander". 

2,300 years ago men in Greece had wives, mistresses, and lovers of either gender. Alexander refused to marry and beget an heir when he left Macedon to conquer the world.  Alexander loved his boyhood friend, Hephaestion. Both brilliant boys, they were tutored by Aristotle, with whom Hephaestion kept up a lifelong correspondence. Hephaestion started off as a regular cavalry soldier  and rose through the ranks on merit and carried out the most important military and administrative assignments. Later, Alexander also fell in love with a courtier from the conquered Persian court, scandalous not because the courtier was male, but because he was Persian -- most Greeks thought that other people were barbarians. Alexander married a princess from a faraway mountain kingdom of Asia, but it's unclear if he loved her because their only child was born much later. He also married the defeated Persian king's daughter, a purely political marriage, and Hephaestion married her sister, since he and Alexander wanted their children to be cousins.

After they conquered Asia, Hephaestion died suddenly of typhus. Alexander's grief was monumental. He asked the oracles if Hephaestion was a god (back then people could become gods by achievement) and was told that Hephaestion was indeed a hero, a lesser type of god. Now Alexander, who had no doubt about his own divinity, knew that he would meet his beloved again in the Blessed Realm, where gods and heroes live. He got his first wife pregnant and died himself without waiting for the child to be born, all within eight months of Hephaestion's death. He was 32 years old.

A quote from another source on this topic: The Random House Encyclopedia, New Revised Edition, 1983: A more immediate project was the marriage of Alexander and Hephaestion, his closest friend and lover, to two of the daughters of Darius [the recently conquered Persian emperor], while another 80 Macedonian officers married daughters of Persian nobles. (p. 1005)

Horatio Alger Jr. (January 13, 1832 - July 19, 1899)
American writer, born in Revere, Massachusetts. Books a.o.: Ab Autumn sheaf (1856), Ragged Dick (1868), The telegraph boy (1879), Dan, the detective (1884), Tom Tracy (1888), The young salesman (1896), Making his mark (1901)

 

Chad Allen (June 5, 1974)
American actor, born as Chad Allen Lazzari in Cerritos, California. Chad has a twin sister, Charity. His first job was at the age of four in a McDonalds TV Commercial. Chad was co-founder of The Creative Outlet Theatre. TV: St. Elsewhere (as Tommy Westphall, - 1988), Webster (1985-1986), Our house (1986-1988), My two dads (1989-1990), Dr.Quinn: Medicine woman Theatre: Change at Babylon, Temporary Help, Sons of Lincoln Website: www.kclark.net/chad/

Peter Allen / CD-cover  (February 10, 1944 - June 18, 1992)
Australian singer/songwriter/pianist, born as Peter Woolnough in Tenterfield, New South Wales. He was married to Judy Garland's daughter Liza Minelli from 1967 - 1970. Minelli later said in an interview with 'The Advocate' that everyone knew Allen was gay except her. And about how she found out she said: "Let me put it this way: I'll never surprise anybody coming home again as long as I live". Allen also wrote hitsongs for others, like 'I honestly love you' for Olivia Newton John, 'Arthur's theme' (with Christopher Cross) and 'Don't cry out loud' for Melissa Manchester.  Hits: I go to Rio (1978) LP's/CD's: Chris & Peter Allen's Album 1 (1967), Peter Allen (1971), Tenterfield Saddler (1972), Continental American (1974), Thaught by experts (1975), It's time for Peter Allen (1977), I could have been a sailor (1979), Bi-coastal (1980), Not the boy next door (1983), Peter Allen captured live at Carnegie Hall (1985), Legs Diamond - Original Broadway Cast Recording (1988), Making every moment (1990), The very best of Peter Allen, Peter Allen at his best Documentary: Peter Allen, the boy from Oz (1995) Biography: Peter Allen, the boy from Oz (Stephen MacLean, 1997)

Waheed Alli (November 16, 1964)
British TV producer, entrepreneur, and politician, born in South London. He has studied at Stanley Technical College in South Norwood. TV: The word, Gaytime TV

Pedro Almodovar (September 24, 1949)
Spanish film director, screenwriter, composer and actor, born in Caldaza de Calatrava. His film 'All about my mother' received both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for the best foreign language film in 2000. Films: Pepi, Luci, Bom (1980), Labyrinth of passion (1982), What have I done to deserve this (1985), The law of desire (La ley del deseo, 1986), Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown (1988), Tie me up! Tie me down (1989), Kika (1993), Carne Tremula (1997), All about my mother (Todo sobre mi madre, 1999), Hable con ella (2002)

Marc Almond (July 9, 1957)
British singer and songwriter, whose real name is Peter Almond. Almond used to be a member of the popgroups Soft Cell (with dave Ball) and Marc and the Mamba's. Hits: (with Soft Cell:) Tainted love (1981), Say hello, wave goodbye (1982), Torch (1982), (and solo:) Love to love you/Johnny remember me (with Jimmy Somerville, 1985), Tears run rings (1988), Something's gotten hold of my heart (with Gene Pitney, 1989), Jacky (1991), The days of Pearly Spencer (1992) LP's/CD's: (solo:) Vermin in Ermine (1984), Stories of Johnny (1985), Violent silence (1986), Mother fist and her five daughters (1987), The stars we are (1988), Jacques (1990), Enchanted (1990), Tenement Symphony (1991), Twelve years of tears (1993), Absinthe (1993), Treasure box (1995), Fantastic star (1996), Open all night (1999), (Marc & the Mamba's:) Untitled (1982), Torment and Toreros (1983), Bite black and blue (1984), (Soft Cell:) Non Stop Erotic Dancing (1981), Non Stop Ecstatic dancing (1982), The art of falling apart (1983), The very best of Soft Cell (2002), Cruelty without beauty (2002)
Autobiography: Tainted life (1999)

Tom Ammiano 
American politician, who was candidate for mayor in San Francisco. Ammiano has a daughter.
 

Jacques d'Ancona (September 15, 1937)
Dutch mediacritic, born in Groningen. His partner, Henny Vierbergen, died in January 1996. TV: Soundmixshow

Hans Christian Andersen (April 2 1805 - August 4, 1875)
Danish storyteller and playwright, born in Odense. Stories: The little mermaid (1836), The ugly duckling, The emperor's new clothes, The princess and the pea, The snow Queen Autobiography: Jackie Wullschlager: Hans Christian Anderson - the life of a storyteller

Mitchell Anderson (August 21, 1961)
American actor, born in Jamestown, New York and is one of six children. He graduated with a B.A. in Theatre from Williams College, and studied at The Juilliard School in New York City before moving west. Mitchell currently lives in Los Angeles and Atlanta where he shares his life with his partner Richie Arpino and their cats, Elmo and Hot Rod. This openly gay actor is known for playing the role of Ross, the violin teacher on Party of Five. His film and television credits also include WB's Popular; Relax, It's Just Sex; The Karen Carpenter Story; and The Last Place on Earth.  The host of gay.com’s Activist Way, Mitchell has devoted much of his time to working with organizations like the Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign. TV: Intimate encounters (1986), Student exchange (1987), The Karen Carpenter Story (1989), The comeback (1989), Doogie Howser, MD (1989-1991), Is there life out there (1994), Party of five (1994-1997, 1999-2000), If these walls could talk 2 (2000) Films: Space camp (1986), Jaws - the revenge (1987), Deadly dreams (1988), All-American murder (1992), The Mid-wife tales (1995), Relax...it's just sex (1998), Taking the plunge (1999), The last place on earth (2000)

Cristian Andreason (July 21, 1969)
American singer, born in Bellaire, Texas. CD's: The storybook, Boy called Sue Website: http://www.allaboutchristian.com/

Martin Andreasson (October 1, 1970)
Swedish Liberal politician and Member of Parliament, born in Mälmo. A long-time activist for LGBT rights, who in 2001 became the first openly gay politician to be elected into the national governing board of a Swedish political party. In 2002 he became one of the first two persons with a background in the Swedish LGBT movement to become Member of Parliament. He is the chairman of the Liberal Party's LGBT association since 2001. Website: http://www.martinandreasson.nu/

Bob Angelo
See 'Niek Engelschman'.

Kenneth Anger (February 3, 1927)
American actor, filmmaker and writer, born as Kenneth Wilbur Anglemyer in Santa Monica, California. Books: Hollywood Babylon (1960), Hollywood Babylon II Films (directing): Tinsel tree (1942), Fireworks (1947), Puce moment (1949), Rabbit's moon (1950), Eaux d'Artifice (1953), The dead (1960), Scorpio rising (1963), Lucifer rising (1966), Donald Cammell: The ultimate performance (1998)

Susan B. Anthony (February 15, 1820 - march 13, 1906)
American teacher, feminist and suffragist, born in South Adams, Massachusetts as Susan Brownell Anthony .

 

Gregg Araki (1963)
American filmmaker, born in Los Angeles, California. Films: Three bewildered people in the night (1987), The long weekend (1989), The living end (1992), Totally fucked up (1993), The doom generation (1995), Nowhere (1996), Splendor (1999)
 

Reinaldo Arenas (July 16, 1943 - December 7, 1990)
Cuban writer and poet, born in Holguin, Cuba. In 1973 he was imprisoned for his homosexuality and his opposition against the Fidel Castro regime. In 1980 he went to the USA, where he committed suicide when he had Aids. In 2000 Julian Schnabel made a movie about his life: Before night falls. Books: El mundo alucinante (1966), Celestino antes del alba / Singing from the well (1967)

Giorgio Armani (July 11, 1934)
Italian fashion-designer, born in Piacenza. In a wide ranging interview in October's Vanity Fair, the 66-year-old Armani went public with his "bisexuality" and recalled a conversation with Gianni Versace, in which the late designer allegedly told him: "You know something Giorgio, you dress elegant women, sophisticated women. I dress sluts." An unusually loquacious Armani went on to detail his sexual relationship with Sergio Galeotti, a "business partner" 11 years his junior, who died of AIDS complications in 1985. The shocking revelation that Giorgio might not be 100 percent heterosexual shattered illusions all over the fashion world, like so many champagne glasses in a cat fight. At this rate, the only straight designer left will be Calvin Klein.

Joan Armatrading (December 9, 1950)
British pop-singer, born in Basseterre on the island of St.Kitts in the West-Indies. Hits: Rosie (1980), Me, myself, I (1980), I'm lucky (1981) LP's/CD's: Whatever for us (1972), Back to the night (1975), Joan Armatrading (1976), Show some emotion (1977), To the limit (1978), Steppin' out (1979), Me myself I (1980), Walk under ladders (1981), The key (1983), Track records (1983), Secret secrets (1985), Sleight of hand (1986), The shouting stage (1988), Hearts and flowers (1990), Square the circle (1992), What's inside (1995), Love & affection (1996) Website: http://www.joanarmatrading.com/

Jake Arnott (1961)
British writer, former actor and sign language interpreter. Books: The long firm (1999), He kills coppers (2001)

Willem Arondeus (August 22, 1894 - July 1, 1943)
Dutch artist, writer and member of the resistance in World War II, born in Amsterdam as Willem Johan Cornelis Arondeus. He was arrested in april 1943 after having blown up the Amsterdam bevolkingsregister. On July 1, 1943 he was executed by a firing-squad. Documentary about his life: Na het feest zonder afscheid verdwenen

Alexis Arquette (1969)
American actor, born in Los Angeles, California. He's the brother of actors Patricia, Rosanne and David Arquette. Films: Last exit to Brooklyn (1989), Of mice and men (1992), Pulp fiction (1994), Threesome (1994), Never met Picasso (1996), I think I do (1997), Bride of Chuckie (1998), The wedding singer (1998), She's all that (1999), Clubland (1999), Cleopatra's second husband (2000)

Dorothy Arzner (January 3, 1900 - January 1, 1979)
American filmdirector, born in San Francisco. She studied medicine at the University of Southern California, but didn't complete her study. She died in La Quanta. Films: Fashions for women (1927), The wild party (1929), Merrily we go to hell (1932), Christopher Strong (1933), Nana (1934), Craig's wife (1936), The bride wore red (1937), The last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937), Dance, girl, dance (1940)

Howard Ashman (May 17, 1951 - March 1, 1991)
American librettist, lyricist, playwright and director, born in Baltimore. He reveived his education at Goddard College and Boston University. Ashman died of Aids. Works: Little shop of horrors (script/lyrics), The little mermaid (music), Beauty and the beast (music)
 

Sir Frederick Ashton (September 17, 1904 - August 18, 1988)
British dancer and choreographer, born in Guayaquil, Equador. He began his career as a dancer with Ballet Rambert and then Vic-Wells Ballet. He later directed the Royal Ballet. He died in Sussex, England. Biography: Secret muses: The life of Frederick Ashton (by Julie Kavanagh)

Anthony Asquith (November 9, 1902 - February 20, 1968)
British director and screenwriter, born in London. Films: Shooting stars (1927), Pygmalion (1938), Quiet wedding (1940), The way to the stars (1945), The Winslow boy (1948), The Browning version (1951), The importance of being Earnest (1952), The young lovers (1954), Carrington VC (1954), The doctor's dilemma (1958), Orders to kill (1958), Libel (1959), The millionaress (1960), Guns of darkness (1962), The V.I.P.s (1963), The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964)

W.H. Auden (February 21, 1907 - September 29, 1973)
British poet, born as Wyston Hugh Auden in York. He was educated at Christ Church College in Oxford. In 1935 he married lesbian German writer and actress Erika Mann to provide her with a British pasport and enable her to leave Germany. He died in Vienna, Austria. Book: Poems (1930), The dog beneath the skin (1935), Look! Stranger! (1936), Spain (1937), The ascent of F6 (1937), Letters from Iceland (1937), On the frontier (1938), Another time (1940), The sea and the mirror (1944), For the time being (1944), The age of anxiety (1947), Nones (1951), The shield of Archilles (1955), Homage to Clio (1960), The dyer's hand (1962), City without walls (1969)