Today in Gay History: James Baldwin Didn't Understand 'Homosexual'

@ 2026 Equal Entertainment LLC.
All rights reserved

 
        Today in Gay History: James Baldwin Didn't Understand 'Homosexual'
     
 Outtraveler Staff 
          
          Aug 02, 2013
          
Outtraveler Staff
 See Full Bio    
 
        FROM OUR SPONSORS
        
        The Latest
        
News 
        Gay New Jersey detective says supervisor groped him — and bosses did nothing
      Russell Kingsland is seeking $1.5 million, alleging years of homophobic harassment and retaliation inside the state Attorney General’s Office.
 
Jacob Ogles
 
Obituaries 
        Gay adult performer Christian Styles dies at 29
      The GayVN winner was a successful adult performer who made a name for himself on OnlyFans.
 
Ariel Messman-Rucker
 
States 
        Trans band teacher accepted an Iowa school job offer. Days before classes, the board blocked his hiring
      Ace Rios has already started setting up his classroom before a 2-2 split vote by the school board meant he had to leave.
 
Jacob Ogles
 
Print Issue 
        Meet 3 transgender student-athletes fighting for the right to play
      These teen girls just wanted to participate, but the Trump administration decided to wage war on them rather than address other vital issues in this country.
 
Desiree Guerrero

 
        More For You
        
        A closeted soccer star escaped to a WeHo motel. A new doc sparked what came next
     
Desiree Guerrero
 Aug 20, 2026 
Tony Powell (center) in a scene from 'The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel.'

        Gabriel Connelly
    
        If you’ve ever taken a walk down Holloway Drive near La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood over the last few decades, chances are you spotted a silver-haired gentleman enjoying a glass of wine with his chihuahua on a second-story motel balcony. Occasionally, you might see a friend sitting and laughing with him on his perch, which is decorated with a string of colorful Christmas lights, a tiki mask, plants, and other kitschy décor. The balcony man’s name is Tony Powell, and he is, in fact, the last guest of the Holloway Motel. Keep Reading → 
 
        Queer stars & fans celebrate 'Star Trek's 60 years of diversity
     
Dawn Ennis
 Aug 03, 2026 
Celia Rose Gooding & Karim Diané

        Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for Italian Global Series Festival / Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association
    
        This story originally appeared on Out.The future of Star Trek may be unclear as the beloved sci-fi franchise celebrates its 60th year next month. With no new TV projects on the horizon, its place in the hearts of queer stars, fans and allies is secure. However, many told Out they fear that a conservative-leaning owner in Paramount Skydance could undo all the diversity that has been at the heart of Trek since its beginnings in September 1966. Keep Reading → 
 
        Discover Jack Cole, the gay man behind Marilyn Monroe's most iconic numbers
     
Desiree Guerrero
 Jun 25, 2026 
Cover art for Jazzed: Jack Cole and Twentieth-Century American Dance; Jack Cole and Marilyn Monroe

        University Press of Kentucky; Reinhard Archive-Ullstein Bild via Getty Images
    
        Even if you’ve never seen a Marilyn Monroe movie, you’ve probably, at some point in your life, viewed vintage film clips of the star’s iconic “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” performance from 1953’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. In addition to Madonna paying homage to it decades later in her “Material Girl” video, that image of Monroe — dressed in skin-tight pink satin, drenched in jewels, and surrounded by gorgeous male dancers — might be one of the most famous pop-culture moments in history. But many don’t know the renowned queer choreographer behind the legendary number, Jack Cole. Keep Reading → 
 
        How Jeff Hiller's 'blood-curdling screams' landed him on ​'Widow's Bay'​
     
Joel Medina
 Jun 18, 2026 
Jeff Hiller plays the government employee Dale in 'Widow's Bay.'

        Apple TV
    
        This story originally appeared on Out. Keep Reading → 
 
        Qween Jean makes trans history at the 2026 Tony Awards
     
Moises Mendez Ii
 Jun 08, 2026 
Qween Jean attends The 79th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 07, 2026 in New York City.

        Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
    
        This story originally appeared on Out. Keep Reading → 
 
        Most Popular
        
National 
        Maryland school district caves to Trump and adopts forced outing policy to expose LGBTQ+ students
      The Anne Arundel County policy change came after Education Secretary Linda McMahon urged the Justice Department to punish the district, citing parental rights protections.
 
Jacob Ogles
 
News 
        South Florida husbands among Americans killed in Kenya helicopter crash
      Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra were remembered as a loving couple devoted to family, travel, and service.
 
Christopher Wiggins
 
Politics 
        Kansas law forced these men into women's bathrooms. Their compliance highlights the absurdity
      A group of transgender men who call themselves the "SB244 compliance crew” have been using women’s bathrooms in protest of a Kansas law that mandates that they do so.
 
Quispe López
 
Elections 
        Florida voters deliver wins for LGBTQ+ candidates and losses for Moms for Liberty
      Five out Democrats advanced in Florida House races as Equality Florida-backed school board candidates defeated extreme conservative rivals.
 
Jacob Ogles
 
States 
        Ex-Virginia cop demands $15 million after sharing locker room with trans colleague
      The Norfolk Police Department said the recruit’s presence broke no rules. Former officer Meghan Grabow claims she was told to “learn to deal with it.”
 
Jacob Ogles
 
Opinion 
        If anyone should get a motel room, it’s Senator John Kennedy and Donald Trump
      The Louisiana Republican's Obama and Colbert antigay smear campaign surely earned Trump’s undying love.
 
John Casey

Site Navigation

Today in Gay History: James Baldwin Didn't Understand 'Homosexual'

The Latest

Gay New Jersey detective says supervisor groped him — and bosses did nothing

Russell Kingsland is seeking $1.5 million, alleging years of homophobic harassment and retaliation inside the state Attorney General’s Office.

Gay adult performer Christian Styles dies at 29

The GayVN winner was a successful adult performer who made a name for himself on OnlyFans.

Trans band teacher accepted an Iowa school job offer. Days before classes, the board blocked his hiring

Ace Rios has already started setting up his classroom before a 2-2 split vote by the school board meant he had to leave.

Meet 3 transgender student-athletes fighting for the right to play

These teen girls just wanted to participate, but the Trump administration decided to wage war on them rather than address other vital issues in this country.

LGBTQ+ stories deserve to be told.

In ‘Test,’ queer bodybuilders and their struggles finally take center stage

15 Romantic Lesbian Films With Swoon-Worthy Happy Endings

J.K. Rowling uses Harry Potter wealth to fund anti-transgender organization

The most searched gay adult entertainers of 2024 revealed

Johnny Mathis, the queer trailblazer and global superstar, takes a final bow

More For You

A closeted soccer star escaped to a WeHo motel. A new doc sparked what came next

Queer stars & fans celebrate 'Star Trek's 60 years of diversity

Discover Jack Cole, the gay man behind Marilyn Monroe's most iconic numbers

How Jeff Hiller's 'blood-curdling screams' landed him on 'Widow's Bay'

Qween Jean makes trans history at the 2026 Tony Awards

Most Popular

Maryland school district caves to Trump and adopts forced outing policy to expose LGBTQ+ students

The Anne Arundel County policy change came after Education Secretary Linda McMahon urged the Justice Department to punish the district, citing parental rights protections.

South Florida husbands among Americans killed in Kenya helicopter crash

Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra were remembered as a loving couple devoted to family, travel, and service.

Kansas law forced these men into women's bathrooms. Their compliance highlights the absurdity

A group of transgender men who call themselves the "SB244 compliance crew” have been using women’s bathrooms in protest of a Kansas law that mandates that they do so.

Florida voters deliver wins for LGBTQ+ candidates and losses for Moms for Liberty

Five out Democrats advanced in Florida House races as Equality Florida-backed school board candidates defeated extreme conservative rivals.

Ex-Virginia cop demands $15 million after sharing locker room with trans colleague

The Norfolk Police Department said the recruit’s presence broke no rules. Former officer Meghan Grabow claims she was told to “learn to deal with it.”

If anyone should get a motel room, it’s Senator John Kennedy and Donald Trump

The Louisiana Republican's Obama and Colbert antigay smear campaign surely earned Trump’s undying love.

Latest Stories

Stay up to date with the latest in LGBTQ+ news with The Advocate’s email newsletter, in your inbox five days a week.

Today in Gay History: James Baldwin Didn't Understand 'Homosexual'

FROM OUR SPONSORS

The Latest

Russell Kingsland is seeking $1.5 million, alleging years of homophobic harassment and retaliation inside the state Attorney General’s Office.

The GayVN winner was a successful adult performer who made a name for himself on OnlyFans.

Ace Rios has already started setting up his classroom before a 2-2 split vote by the school board meant he had to leave.

These teen girls just wanted to participate, but the Trump administration decided to wage war on them rather than address other vital issues in this country.

LGBTQ+ stories deserve to be told.

More For You

Most Popular

The Anne Arundel County policy change came after Education Secretary Linda McMahon urged the Justice Department to punish the district, citing parental rights protections.

Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra were remembered as a loving couple devoted to family, travel, and service.

A group of transgender men who call themselves the "SB244 compliance crew” have been using women’s bathrooms in protest of a Kansas law that mandates that they do so.

Five out Democrats advanced in Florida House races as Equality Florida-backed school board candidates defeated extreme conservative rivals.

The Norfolk Police Department said the recruit’s presence broke no rules. Former officer Meghan Grabow claims she was told to “learn to deal with it.”

The Louisiana Republican's Obama and Colbert antigay smear campaign surely earned Trump’s undying love.