Thanks for the Memories: Remembering LGBTQIA+ People and Allies Who Died in 2021

"Let us now sing the praises of famous people, our ancestors in their generations" (Ecclesiasticus/Sirach 44:1).

As 2021 draws to a close, and we await the beginning of 2022, this is a time to remember who, in the LGBTQIA+ community, and among our allies, are no longer with us. Some of them were truly "larger than life," while others entertained us, and still others were without a name, but their presence in this world, mattered.

One of those who was larger than life was the late-Archbishop Desmond Tutu of the Anglican Church of South Africa. There is no doubt that he was instrumental in the awakening of racism in South Africa, leading the anti-apartheid movement, side to side with Nelson Mandela. After Mandela became President of South Africa, he asked his friend, Archbishop Tutu, to head of the successful Truth and Reconciliation Commission process in the country, dredging up memories that revealed the deep, festering wound of that country, brought on by racism and classism. When his own daughter came out of the closet, Archbishop was leading the way in making South Africa a "rainbow nation." He famously said, "If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn’t worship that God." We remember Archbishop Tutu. Here's a link to more information: https://religionnews.com/2021/12/28/archbishop-desmond-tutu-father-of-south-africas-rainbow-nation/

We remember those who entertained us throughout the last half century, and beyond, like the late Stephen Sondheim. As a gay man who got the "Broadway gene," I relished and enjoyed most of Sondheim's musicals, give or take one or two that were simply challenged me more than anything else. From his lyrics in "West Side Story," to the music of "Send in the Clowns," from "A Little Night Music," and as one who did really enjoy "Merrily We Roll Along," and couldn't understand why it wasn't a bigger hit, while singing out loud the opening song to "Sweeney Todd" whenever I heard it played on "On Broadway" on SiriusXM radio, Sondheim's use of syncopated rhythms, the rhyming of his words, and the poignancy or joy or tragedy of the song...it all worked on me and for me. Here's a link to more information: https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/26/entertainment/stephen-sondheim/index.html.

There were also the deaths, the passing away, of other luminaries, like Siegfried Fischbacher of "Siegfried and Roy," and their tiger act in Las Vegas (January 13, 2021). Ian Matos, a young Brazilian Olympic diver who came out of the closet recently, died at the age of 32-years-old because of a lung infection. Rest in peace, and rise in power (Dec. 23, 2021).

But I want to also remember the death of 375 transgender people in 2021 around the world. This was the deadliest year for transgender people in world history, since we started to record these deaths. Last year's total in 2020 was 350. Most of the victims were Black, migrant transgender women (MTF) of color, and transgender sex workers. The majority of deaths were in Central and South American countries. The reality is that this number is probably higher, since many of those who died were not reported as victim of a hate crime, and their loss or death was not recorded by anyone. Here's a link to more information: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiewareham/2021/11/11/375-transgender-people-murdered-in-2021-deadliest-year-since-records-began/?sh=3569dad8321c

To one and all: Rest in Peace, Rest in Power, and Rise in Glory.