I remember Larry Kramer from his days writing for the New York Native, when he was shouting the alarm over a mysterious disease killing gay men in New York. They wouldn’t listen to him, so he made them. He was among the few true lions in a world more in need of them now than ever.

From his obituary in The Guardian:

“Larry Kramer, who has died aged 84 of pneumonia, enraged many gay readers with his lurid 1978 novel Faggots, a cautionary bestseller warning against the perils of promiscuity, before addressing the Aids crisis in his 1985 play The Normal Heart, in which an activist-writer warns against the perils of promiscuity. Publishers Weekly said he “made red-faced fist-pumping into his art”.

He also put his mouth where his money was. As co-founder of two Aids advocacy groups, Gay Men’s Health Crisis and ACT UP (Aids Coalition to Unleash Power), he improved the lives of people suffering from HIV and Aids, and pilloried mercilessly and tirelessly those politicians and medical professionals who refused to take the epidemic seriously. Each of these figures he excoriated in lengthy screeds, or on the streets in a voice described by the LA Times as a “nasal bullhorn”.”

You can hear my interview on the House of Mystery Radio Show and podcast with Alan Warren and Julie Saville at the 16.17 mark. Listen as we talk about my newest book, Beautiful Corpse: A Marshall James Thriller, and about my life and writing. You can also download the episode directly HERE. – Mark McNease/Editor

It’s no secret that I write gay mysteries and have come to know a few others who do, too. Among my current favorites are Brad Shreve and Jon Michaelsen’s newest releases. For anyone looking for some gripping good reads during this national downtime, or any time at all, check these out.

A Body in a Bathhouse
Brad Shreve

On the verge of bankruptcy private investigator Mitch O’Reilly takes any gig that comes his way while running his Eye Spy Supply shop in a forgotten Los Angeles strip mall. After two tours in Afghanistan, Mitch’s life amounts to running his store, coping with his fun-loving sister, Josie, and scoring with anonymous men he meets online. That changes when he gets a break. A beloved comedy scriptwriter is murdered at a bathhouse, and Mitch is hired to prove the innocence of the club custodian. Adapting from a two-bit gumshoe to a high-profile sleuth proves more challenging than he expected. Continue reading.

The Deadwood Murders: A Kendall Parker Mystery (Book 2)
Jon Michaelsen

A mutilated conventioneer. A trail of bodies. The same grim signature.

Homicide Detective Kendall Parker isn’t sure he wants to return to the police force. His last case ended with the arrest of an innocent man for murder, and his long-time homicide partner was killed in the process. On leave from the APD, Parker has gotten sober, smoke-free, and is rebuilding a life alone. Continue reading.

Have a book to recommend? Email me at: editor AT lgbtsr.com. – Mark

The American Society on Aging recently hosted a webinar focused on the needs of LGBT adults living with dementia and their caregivers. This was part of the National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center webinar series sponsored by the Administration for Community Living.

VIEW THE PDF HERE

About the Webinar (April 13):

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) older adults may be at greater risk for dementia and yet many services are not designed with LGBT individuals in mind. The San Francisco LGBT Dementia Care Project is an innovative project with the goal of increasing access to dementia-capable care for the LGBT community. This seminar will highlight the importance and challenges of reaching a vital but invisible population. Learn how you and your organization can be more attuned to the needs of LGBT constituents with dementia by adapting policy and programmatic changes.

Presenters: Arthur Chan, Margarida Remedios

Actor Leslie Jordan has been around for decades but recently found himself becoming an Instagram sensation during the national semi-quarantine. You can see his videos HERE, as he helps lighten a very dark time.

“For a really long time, I had 20,000 followers. People would tell me, “Oh, that’s nothing,” and I said, “Are you kidding me? 20,000 people want to hear from me.” And then Megan Mullally from “Will & Grace” reposted something I posted, and I had 80,000 followers. They kept saying, “That’s still nothing.” I go, “What do you mean? That’s 80,000 people.” And it stayed at 80,000 for a really long time, and then I’m not sure what happened. The shutdown, of course, we all had to hunker down and stay at home, and my number started — I would just notice, oh my gosh, I’ve got like 20,000 more. Who are these people? I had no idea. It’s all of a sudden becoming popular, and how is this happening?” – Leslie Jordan, in the Washington Post

I just trimmed my husband Frank’s hair yesterday, but not before denying any responsibility for the results. A wise disclaimer, considering how it looks now. Never worry, a professional will repair the damage in a few weeks. – Mark/Editor

On Being Retired
Jean Ryan

The following is reprinted with permission from Jean Ryan’s blog. See our ‘In the Spotlight’ piece featuring her artwork.

My top three blessings, in order of appearance, are my sisters, my spouse, and retirement. I can’t imagine the hollowness of a life without loved ones; as for retirement, I am still marveling over the perks.

Who knew that a clear calendar could have such salubrious effects? Free to be no one but yourself, you become intrigued: Who are you? What do you want? What do you shun, and why? You glimpse your infinite layers and begin to peer inside. What will you reach for? What might be out there, beckoning?

Pennsylvania has become a leader in collecting data to measure health disparities impacting the overall wellness of its LGBTQ population. Since 2015, a growing network of LGBTQ organizations have helped to collect data about the health needs and barriers to care experienced by thousands of LGBTQ Pennsylvanians.

Beginning March 9, this coalition will be collecting data for the 2020 PA LGBTQ Needs Assessment. For the first time, there is a Spanish language version of the assessment (http://bit.ly/2020PANA_S). Special efforts are being made to encourage participation from underrepresented subpopulations including LGBTQ youth, people of color, members of rural communities, and transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. As we seek to capture a greater diversity of perspectives, we hope to promote a better understanding of the unique experiences of members throughout the LGBTQ community and throughout the state.

Every person who partakes in the survey will be helping Pennsylvania’s department of health learn more about how to promote the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ people. The data collected will fuel community-based programs designed to close gaps in service and address health disparities. Together, we will build a stronger, healthier community.

Take the time to raise your voice for LGBTQ health and be entered in a raffle to win a gift card now at http://bit.ly/2020PANA_E.

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