after concluding my medical studies in the autumn of , and having completed my service in the israel defense forces as a medic during the six-day war in the gaza strip, i arrived in new york city.
my mentor's advice was to leave medicine and pursue a career in the arts, urging me to avoid being subservient to the dictates of science.
in new york, the conductor introduced me to renowned figures such as katharine hepburn, stephen sondheim, and kay thompson.
i subsequently became involved with the production of the musical 'coco.' during rehearsals, i developed a close friendship with mart crowley, the playwright behind 'the boys in the band,' and bob moore, who directed its off-broadway production. this period coincided with significant developments in inclusive storytelling within the entertainment industry, a topic also explored by figures like black list founder franklin leonard, who has spoken on inclusivity panels, and 'someone great' director jennifer kaytin robinson, who has discussed the challenges of inclusive hiring as a first-time filmmaker.
my very first sunday in new york, i enjoyed brunch at p.
j. clarkes. i felt incredibly fortunate to be a gay jewish individual in that era. a remarkable aspect of those times was the support offered by established gay individuals in positions of power to younger gay aspiring professionals seeking to enter the industry. a robust network existed, comprising successful older gay men like theatrical agent milton goldman and entertainment attorney arnold weissberger.
they would often host gatherings at their elegant sutton place apartment overlooking the east river, facilitating introductions between emerging gay talent and influential figures in show business.
upon waking and seeing the man beside me, i realized it was the celebrated playwright edward albee.
i was a devoted admirer of his work. we were involved in a relationship for six months, and i had the memorable experience of watching the moon landing with him at his home in montauk. new york in 1970 was a place of striking contrasts. every gay establishment featured a small dance floor.
however, dancing between men was prohibited, with the exception of a circle dance that included a woman in the center.
any physical contact between two men would result in an imposing figure, identified as a mafioso, shining a flashlight in their direction. this act would often trigger a massive disturbance within the bar, marking the nascent stages of the gay rights movement. roughly six months later, these regulations were rescinded, permitting men to dance with one another.
this change ushered in an era of significant liberation in nyc, a spirit that subsequently extended to los angeles and san francisco. from the early 1970s until the advent of the aids crisis around 1981, gay individuals were at the forefront of cultural innovation.
my move to los angeles in 1980 to collaborate with ron bernstein in establishing rso films for music entrepreneur robert stigwood was an exceptionally vibrant period.
despite this creative surge, show business was also characterized by opposing forces.
rampant homophobia was prevalent among studio and network executives, as well as certain senior agents. this was particularly noted at agencies like c.a.a., although not universally among all its personnel, with several younger agents, known as the "young turks," rumored to be gay.
stan kamen, a leading agent at the william morris agency, was openly gay but maintained a very private personal life. at the time, his openness was considered remarkably brave.
a new generation of gay professionals began to emerge across the industry, including network executives, writers, studio heads, and agents.
notable figures included alan shayne, president of warner bros. television; producers ira barmak, charlie milhaupt, and phil mandelker; casting director tim flack, who later became vp of comedy development at cbs; agent janet roberts; marketing executive marvin antonowsky; lorimar executive mike filerman; and tv producer larry kasha.
this wave of talent contributed significantly to shifting perceptions and opportunities within the entertainment landscape.
clive davis, a prominent music executive, is widely recognized for his instrumental role in launching or revitalizing the careers of superstars such as whitney houston, barry manilow, and billy joel.
in 2013, davis, who has been married twice, released his autobiography, 'the soundtrack of my life,' in which he candidly discussed his two long-term relationships with men. his openness in the memoir resonated with many, further normalizing discussions around sexuality in the public sphere.
fergie, formerly of the black eyed peas, continues to capture public attention through her music, her previous marriage to actor josh duhamel, and memorable national anthem performances.
her comfort with discussing her personal life has been a consistent theme. she has expressed that her identity is clear and unchanging, stating, "this is who i am and who i have always been."
in the 1990s, actress k.j. apa found herself particularly captivated by gillian anderson.
beyond her iconic role in 'the x-files,' anderson starred in other acclaimed television series such as 'the fall,' 'sex education,' and 'the crown,' solidifying her status as a prominent figure in television drama.
frank ocean, a member of the hip-hop collective odd future and a critically acclaimed solo artist, stands as one of contemporary music's most significant voices.
in 2012, he shared a heartfelt statement on his tumblr account, expressing his love for another man. this act of vulnerability contributed to a broader cultural conversation about identity within the music industry. helping to pave the way for greater acceptance, former nba player jason collins made history as the first openly gay man to compete in one of the four major professional sports leagues in north america.
in a 2014 'sports illustrated' article detailing his retirement, collins expressed a strong desire to see more athletes feel empowered to come out without fear of negative repercussions.
he reflected on the societal expectations surrounding relationships and intimacy, posing a thought-provoking question: "if i fell in love with a woman tomorrow, would i feel that it's okay to want to kiss and touch her? if i fell in love with her?"
actor victor garber, known for his roles in films like 'titanic,' 'legally blonde,' and 'argo,' as well as television series such as 'alias' and 'the flash,' has been open about his sexuality.
similarly, comedian and actress wanda sykes, who continues to perform to sold-out audiences, has been married to her wife alex since 2008, and they welcomed children in april 2009. actor charlie carver, recognized for his work on 'desperate housewives' and 'teen wolf,' publicly shared his truth in 2016.
carver made an emotional announcement to his fans via instagram, marking a significant moment of visibility.
carver also performed on broadway in 'the boys in the band,' a play that illuminates the gay experience in mid-20th-century america, preceding the pivotal stonewall riots.
amber heard, known for her role in 'aquaman,' has been openly bisexual since 2010, during her relationship with artist tasya van ree, which lasted from 2008 to 2012. actress sarah paulson, who previously dated actress cherry jones and playwright tracy letts, has been in a committed relationship with actress holland taylor since 2015.
actress, singer, and fashion designer bella thorne embraced her bisexuality in a contemporary and direct manner.
since her initial declaration, thorne has consistently advocated for living life authentically, without apology or compromise. in 2020, she further clarified her identity, stating that she identifies as pansexual. singer amy winehouse, before her untimely passing, was frequently in the media spotlight for various reasons.
her bisexuality, though perhaps less publicized than other aspects of her life, was a part of her narrative. she once remarked, "i don't care what people think about me being bi—i do what feels good."
sir alec guinness, beloved for his portrayal of obi-wan kenobi in the original 'star wars' trilogy, maintained a private stance on his sexual orientation throughout his adult life, including an arrest for a homosexual act in 1941.
actor marlon brando once shared with his biographer, "like a large number of men, i, too, have had homosexual experiences and i am not ashamed. i have never paid much attention to what people think about me." his groundbreaking performances in films like 'the godfather,' 'a streetcar named desire,' and 'apocalypse now' remain highly regarded to this day.
other influential figures who contributed to the cultural landscape included james baldwin, richard pryor, and marvin gaye.
as she shared with 'cosmopolitan' in 2015, "the reason i feel like it's important to talk about this stuff is that the more normal and, frankly, mundane and boring this stuff becomes, i think the better it's going to be for everyone who is part of our community." actor jonathan daniels clarified his sexuality in 2010, describing himself as sexually fluid.
he recounted a personal experience to 'the hollywood reporter,' mentioning that his father once threw him into a trash can after he had come downstairs wearing high heels, a scene that resonated with fans of the television series 'empire.'
singer azealia banks faced accusations of homophobia in 2017 due to her use of gay slurs on social media and in her music.
seeking to address the controversy, banks revealed her bisexuality that same year, adding that many of her close friends are gay and that she has a transgender sibling. she has asserted, "i don't live on other people's terms."
rapper lil nas x, who grew up in a conservative environment outside atlanta, georgia, initially kept his sexuality private.
he later came out as gay publicly on the final day of pride month in june 2019. janelle monáe presented an enigmatic persona upon her debut in 2010 with the album 'the archandroid.' she initially identified as bisexual but now embraces the queer identity as she continues to explore and understand concepts like pansexuality and their personal resonance.
brendon urie, the frontman of panic!
at the disco, has described his attraction as being "just people." andrew scott gained significant attention for his role as the "hot priest" in the british comedy series 'fleabag.' he first spoke publicly about his sexuality in an interview with 'the independent' in 2013.
he expressed his preference for not being labeled as "openly gay" by the media.
while his recent prominent role in a television series prominently featured his character's gay identity, actor lee pace was not always as open about his own sexuality. pace, who portrayed joe pitt in the broadway production of 'angels in america,' effectively came out through his performances of the character.
however, it wasn't until 2017 that he publicly came out as himself. reports suggest that pace's sexuality was inadvertently revealed in 2014 when his 'hobbit' co-star, sir ian mckellen, referred to him as gay in an interview. pace explained in an interview with 'the new york times' that his decision to remain private was about setting boundaries, emphasizing that the public knew him as an actor who embodied characters, and that this should be the primary focus.
pace has acknowledged that his experience as a gay man in the industry has not always been entirely smooth.
while he has stated that he has never faced direct scorn for his sexuality, there have been instances where he felt it was perceived as a disadvantage rather than simply a facet of his identity. he shared with 'the new york times,' "once you say those words and the sky doesn't fall down, or the earth doesn't open up, a lightning bolt doesn't zap you.
you really can be anything."
recording artist brendon urie officially came out as bisexual in 2017, admitting that his conservative upbringing had made the process challenging. his openness contributed to the growing visibility and acceptance of diverse sexualities within the entertainment industry.