Arnie Kantrowitz, a prominent LGBTQ activist & co-founder of GLAAD has died at 81. Kantrowitz also established a Gay Studies course at the College of Staten Island among other LGBTQ advocacy wins. Sarah Kate Ellis GLAAD President & CEO stated, “Arnie Kantrowitz’s activism paved the way for the growing visibility, protections & acceptance of the LGBTQ community that we see today. At a time when LGBTQ people were villainized in the public sphere, Arnie bravely used his personal story to educate the public about our community & its history, ultimately fighting for the fair & accurate representation of LGBTQ people & our issues in the media. His legacy inspires us to continue fighting for a future where the most marginalized among us are seen, heard & protected.” Kantrowitz’s groundbreaking memoir “Under the Rainbow: Growing Up Gay” (1977) successfully reached a wide audience opening their eyes about the hardships our LGBTQ community faced in the 1950s & ’60s even sharing how he had dealt with them including two suicide attempts. The book also chronicled historical events in our movement including the first Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day Parade held in New York City in 1969 after Stonewall. Andy Humm concluded, “He was a leader of the generation of activists in the immediate aftermath of the Stonewall Rebellion who put their lives & livelihoods on the line to advance the cause of gay liberation.” GLAAD is the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization & has been at the forefront of cultural change & accelerating acceptance for our LGBTQ community.
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