Queer Heroes
Queer heroes were in short supply in my “coming of age” period and sorely lacking for helping me feel even the least bit good about myself. Every once in a while, I will do a brief bio on someone I consider to be a hero in the queer community. It will always be someone who makes me feel proud about who I am.
Ann Northrop
I first learned about Ann Northrop when I started watching Gay USA TV, a weekly television news show. She and co-host Andy Humm brought LGBTQ news to me each week. It wasn’t until recently that I realized just what a hero Ann is when she hosted a roundtable of lesbian AIDS activists on Logo. During the 80’s when AIDS was killing of thousands of men in the gay community, it was terrifying realizing that no one was going to help us. I have always been incredibly grateful that women stepped forward to advocate on behalf of people with AIDS. They were a godsend…especially the women that knew how do activism.
Strangely enough, it was at the NJ Sheep Breeders Association Festival that I found out just what a hero Ann Northrop is. I was speaking with two women at the BeadBiz booth (with beautiful beaded knitting and crochet!). One of the women working there was an early AIDS activist in New York City as well and knew Ann. She told me how Ann, a debutante from a well-to-do family walked away from her family to pursue activism.
Mostly, I find that Ms. Northrop exhibited enormous integrity, pride and courage as an open lesbian in her television career, as an anti-war, feminist activist and as an early AIDS activist.
Some of my charitable donations go to Gay USA so Ann can continue to do her important work. The show combines her activism and journalistic background into the incredibly important work of the weekly LGBTQ news show.
If you’d like to know more about Ann or Gay USA TV, please visit http://gayusatv.org. Make sure to subscribe to their e-mail or donate to their work if you can.
Current Knitting
I worked like a demon to finish the raglan shaping on Briyoke and make it to the body.
The standard brioche stitch is a nice, simple, meditative action that I enjoy doing. So now that it’s simple knitting in the round, I’m hopeful the body will go quickly.
Hi Joe, excuse the nitpicking but I think you mean supply and not demand in your first line.
Your brioche sweater is looking beautifully squishy.
Thanks Dawn…that is exactly what it was supposed to be, so I’ve edited (and left this reply so people don’t think you’re crazy and can’t read!).
Joe
Many thanks for this blog entry about Ann Northrop. I have always enjoyed reading
your blog and your knitting updates. Back in the eighties I was devastated by the AIDS
epidemic. I could not imagine mostly men being disowned by their families. It just broke my heart. Fast forward years and I have a gay son who is wonderful man. I worried about him but thankfully he did not encounter very much harassment. I live in London Ontario, a very conservative city so I always enjoy seeing activists put their heart in soul into it.
Thank you
Marion Shaw
Having just seen “Bohemian Rhapsody”, I find this particularly poignant. When AIDS first started making the headlines, I remember reading some of the original journal articles describing the search and identification of HIV, and then then the devastating, cynical, hypocritical comments from Conservative, faux-Christian, shallowly principled loudmouths: reading and remembering how cruel, how hateful, etc.
Obviously Joe’s a knitter; my parents had a friend in New Mexico who had been an extremely successful business man and professed one day at lunch, back in the early ‘80s, that he was a “closet knitter”; I love doing things with my hands and would probably be good at, and enjoy, knitting!!!
What the heck? I’ve gone from AIDS to knitting, but that’s because both topics were woven out of this thread!
Joe, your sweater is coming along wonderfully. I tried to learn brioche, but started with a 2 color brioche class, which was above the ability of my 70-year-old-brain to process. Have never given it another try, but you may inspire me. I especially love the neckline of this pattern. Can’t wait to see you model it!