Know Your LGBT History - Sylvester

No negative portrayals today - only a spotlight on one of my idols/heroes, the late Sylvester James.

For an in depth look at Sylvester's life, go here for the Black History Month spotlight I posted on him.

But to enjoy his music of his television appearances, check out any of the clips below. Sylvester was way ahead of the pack on talent, style, and pride. In the 70s where it was difficult for lgbts to stand up for themselves (to say nothing of lgbts of color), Sylvester was THE MAN. By the way he carried himself, he unashamedly said, "This is me. This is who I am not for your pity or laughter but because I am a child of God blessed with His gifts."

We need more black folks like Sylvester.





The following is favorite clip - Sylvester on American Bandstand with his back up singers Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes who were known then as Two Tons of Fun. We all know them as the Weather Girls, singers of the anthem "It's Raining Men." Rhodes passed years later but Wash continued to persevere, singing on the hits "Everybody Sweat," "Everybody, Everybody," and "Strike It Up":




Past Know Your LGBT History postings:

Know Your LGBT History - Once Bitten

Know Your LGBT History - The Boys in the Band

Know Your LGBT History - Christopher Morley, the crossdressing assassin

Know Your LGBT History - Midnight Cowboy

Know Your LGBT History - Dracula's Daughter

Know Your LGBT History - Blacula

Know Your LGBT History - 3 Strikes

Know Your LGBT History - Paris Is Burning

Know Your LGBT History - The Women

Know your LGBT History - Soul Plane

Know Your LGBT History - The Player's Club

Special Know Your LGBT History - Fame

Know Your LGBT History - Welcome Home, Bobby

Know Your LGBT History - Barney Miller

Know your lgbt history - The Jerry Springer Show

Know your lgbt history - Martin Lawrence and that 'gay guy' on his show

Know your lgbt history - The Ricki Lake Show

Know your lgbt history - Which Way Is Up

Know your lgbt history - Gays in Primetime Soaps

Know your lgbt history - Boys Beware

Know your lgbt history - The Boondocks

Know your lgbt history - Mannequin

Know your lgbt history - The Warriors

Know Your LGBT History - New York Undercover

Know Your LGBT History - Low Down Dirty Shame

Know Your LGBT History - Fortune and Men's Eyes

Know your lgbt history - California Suite

Know your lgbt history - Taxi (Elaine's Strange Triangle)

Know your lgbt history - Come Back Charleston Blue

Know your lgbt history - James Bond goes gay

Know your lgbt history - Windows

Know your lgbt history - To Wong Foo and Priscilla

Know your lgbt history - Blazing Saddles

Know your lgbt history - Sanford and Son

Know your lgbt history - In Living Color

Know your lgbt history - Cleopatra Jones and her lesbian drug lords

Know your lgbt history - Norman, Is That You?

Know your lgbt history - The 'Exotic' Adrian Street

Know your lgbt history - The Choirboys

Know your lgbt history - Eddie Murphy

Know your lgbt history - The Killing of Sister George

Know your lgbt history - Hanna-Barbera cartoons pushes the 'gay agenda

'Know your lgbt history - Cruising

Know your lgbt history - Foxy Brown and Cleopatra Jones

Know your lgbt history - I Got Da Hook Up

Know your lgbt history - Fright Night

Know your lgbt history - Flowers of Evil

The Jeffersons and the transgender community   

Ugandan anti-gay bill supporter spouts discredited Paul Cameron data and other Friday midday news briefs

Molotov Mitchell Responds To HuffPo (Sort Of) -- And Still Can't Stop Misleading - A supporter of the Ugandan anti-gay bill spouts discredited Paul Cameron statistics. Why oh why am I not suprised?

Houston Mayor Annise Parker Issued Sweeping Non-Discrimination Order This Week - Just the thing to get the religious right upset. And I thought today was going to be a bad day.

Census Form Question Stirs Controversy - And you just know it's about us lgbts.

Gay marriage issue affects Calif. GOP Senate race - Where is Maggie Gallagher and the National Organization of Marriage getting all of this money?

Expert: Donohue's claim that most abusive priests are gay is "unwarranted" - Ignore Bill Donohue's lying rhetoric my #!$

High schoolers use the power of love to chase away hate group

When Fred Phelp's hateful Westboro church came to Columbia, we had a great time making fun of their ignorance.

The students of Gunn High School in Palo Alto, CA used a different, but very inspiring method to stand up to the group. This is just too cool:




Hat tip to AmericablogGay.