Born this day:
Renaissance polymath, renowned primarily as a painter whose Mona Lisa is the most famous and most parodied portrait and The Last Supper the most reproduced religious painting of all time. However, he was also notable as a sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal.
His sexuality has been the subject of satire, analysis, and speculation. Much has been written about his presumed homosexuality and its role in his art, particularly in the androgyny and eroticism manifested in John the Baptist and Bacchus and more explicitly in a number of erotic drawings. Leonardo's most intimate relationships were perhaps with his pupils Salai and Melzi.It has been claimed since the 16th century that these relationships were of a sexual or erotic nature.
Henry James (1843 – 1916) US / UK
Philosopher / Psychologist
Friedrich Radszuweit (1876 – 1932) German
Author
Bessie Smith (1894 – 1937) US
Singer / Actress
American photographer, who became one of the country's most successful fashion and portrait photographers, but his greatest work may have been his intensely homoerotic dance images and male nudes.
Lynes also photographed several series of male nudes. These photographs frequently depict mythological figures, utilize theatrical lighting, feature symbolic tableaux or props, and are nearly always frankly homoerotic in their appeal.
Given the state of censorship at this time, it is not surprising that Lynes never published these photographs. Instead, he restricted their circulation to friends and admirers. Nevertheless, he considered these private photographs his most significant work, a judgment in which some later critics have concurred.
Lynes also photographed several series of male nudes. These photographs frequently depict mythological figures, utilize theatrical lighting, feature symbolic tableaux or props, and are nearly always frankly homoerotic in their appeal.
Given the state of censorship at this time, it is not surprising that Lynes never published these photographs. Instead, he restricted their circulation to friends and admirers. Nevertheless, he considered these private photographs his most significant work, a judgment in which some later critics have concurred.
Howard Junior Brown (1924 - 1975) US
A founder of the National Gay Task Force and a former New York City Health Services Administrator, who helped change the image of gay men and lesbians in the United States by coming out publicly in 1973.
Sally Miller Gearhart (1931 – ) US
Author / Teacher / Activist
Craig Zadan (1949 – ) US
Producer / Director
Glenn Shadix (1952 – 2010 ) US
Actor
Paul Harland (1960 – 2003) Dutch
Author / Photographer / Murder Victim
Linda Perry (1965 – ) US
Singer / Songwriter / Record Producer / Musician
Samantha Fox (1966 – ) UK
Dance-pop singer, actress, and former glamour model. In 1983, at the age of 16, she began her topless modelling career on Page Three of The Sun, and went on to become a popular pin-up girl.
In August 2009, Samantha Fox announced her plans to have a civil partnership with her manager, Myra Stratton.
Died this day
Fritz Haarmann (1879 - 1925) German
Serial Killer
Jean Genet (1910 - 1986) French
Poet / Author / Playwright
Kenneth Williams (1926 – 1988) UK
Actor / Comedian
Greta Garbo (1905 - 1990) Swedish / US
Actress – Born
John Curry (1949 - 1994 ) UK
Figure Skater
Reg Bundy [Regina Fong] (1941 - 2003) UK
Drag Queen / Dancer / Actor
Sodomy in history,
April 15
1966 — The Minnesota Supreme Court rules that a person can be convicted of an attempt to commit sodomy, even though not charged with any intent to commit sodomy.
1974 — The Colorado Supreme Court strikes down a state law prohibiting loitering for purposes of engaging in or soliciting deviate sexual intercourse.
1998 — An appellate court in Quebec strikes down a provision of the Canadian Criminal Code that sets an age of consent of 18 for anal sex, but 14 for all other sexual activity.
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