Throughout the decades, there are numerous openly gay or posthumously outed public figures who had a terrific legacy in their culture, politics and arts. Their demises, be it the result of disease, brutality, or other issues, were likely to spark larger debates about the crisis of health, discrimination and the perception of LGBTQ lives. This ensemble is a reprise of some of the most famous names, the circumstances of their demise and the heritage they leave behind in this world.
1. Rock Hudson
Hudson was among the final leading men of Hollywood gold age who died in 1985 as a result of AIDS complications. This was because he chose to come out publicly to confess his diagnosis just before his death by altering the channel through which the media turned to handle HIV. He had also received treatment in the last months of his life in France and in the United States.
2. Freddie Mercury
The Queen front man died in 1991 because of bronchopneumonia, which was a result of AIDS. He had only a day before he died at his home in London, confirmed that he was sick. His passing led to the creation of awareness and generation of funds on HIV/AIDS in the world.
3. George Michael
The pop star died in 2016 because of the dilated cardiomyopathy and fatty liver myocarditis. These were natural causes that were governed by the coroner. He was reported, on Christmas Day, to have been found in his house in Oxfordshire, where the authorities said that there were no suspicious conditions.
4. Liberace
The flamboyant pianist died of AIDS related pneumonia in 1987. His health condition was not clear till he died when the cause was determined. During his final days he had been given attention in his residence at the Palm Springs.
5. Keith Haring
The activist and artist died in 1990 due to complications as a result of AIDS. He included his advocacy till his death, having left behind a foundation to assist AIDS organizations and children programs before his death on top of his art work.
6. Halston
In 1990, the popular fashion designer dies because of complications linked to AIDS. This created the effect of the fashion industry when he translocated to San Francisco where he was receiving medical attention as his health worsened.
7. Klaus Nomi
The artiste of the avant-garde died in 1983 after having AIDS complications, therefore becoming one of the first famous entertainers to succumb to the condition. He was in New York City on medical care where he spent his last days.
8. Anthony Perkins
The most famous of all the individuals when it comes to his contribution in Psycho is Perkins, the AIDS-stricken patient who died of the condition in 1992. He was almost nearing the final point of his illness when he was taken to Los Angeles and his illness was a secret.
9. Tab Hunter
The actor died in 2018 because of sudden cardiac arrest because of a blood clot. This event was described as an occurrence, which took place in his home on Santa Barbara.
10. Gianni Versace
The fashion designer was shot dead in 1997 in Miami Beach outside his house. The murderer, Andrew Cunanan, killed himself eight days later and a murdering spree, which covered eight states, came to a conclusion.
11. Alan Turing
His father, the modern mathematician and cryptanalyst, died in 1954, a case of cyanide poisoning but officially it was a suicide. Some historians have disputed this conclusion since they believe that there are possibilities that the death could have been accidental.
12. Leslie Cheung
He was depressed and in 2003, the Hong Kong singer and actor committed suicide. His death resulted in country mourning and burials.
13. Stephen Gately
The boy zone singer died in 2009 as a result of acute pulmonary edema as a result of an unknown heart related ailment. There was nothing foul play in the discovery of him out at his apartment in Majorca on vacation.
14. Divine
The personality was born Harris Glenn Milstead, who passed away in 1988, owing to cardiac arrest occasioned by enlarged heart. His death happened in a sleep at a hotel in Los Angeles.
15. Michel Foucault
This French philosopher died in 1984 in AIDs related complications. In his final several weeks he was an in-patient at a hospital in Paris, and the reason was officially confirmed with the assistance of his nearest friends.
16. Rudolf Nureyev
And the ballet primadonna died in 1993 as a result of AIDS issues. He passed his last few months in a medical establishment in Paris, and the preparations were made in the way he wished.
17. Harvey Milk
The supervisor of the city who was the leader of the gay rights in San Francisco was killed by his former supervisor, Dan White, in 1978. The assassination of him led to massive numbers of citizens and state memorials.
18. Pedro Zamora
The Real world TV celebrity was killed in 1994 because of the complications of AIDS. As he spent time on the show, his candidness on living with HIV informed millions of viewers.
19. Larry Kramer
He died in 2020 due to pneumonia and the playwright and AIDS activist lost his life. He had a long medical history with liver transplantation and was one of the major people behind the campaign of HIV/AIDS.
20. Allen Ginsberg
The Beat Generation poet died in 1997 because of liver cancer problems. Also, he was a known hepatitis victim and he experienced liver failure in his later years as he died in his apartment in New York City.
The lives of these individuals, their events, as well as their deaths show the success and the outlook of the changes in the context of the LGBTQ visibility, the nature of the health in the society, and the culture. Knowing them is useful in the preservation of the past of strength and ingenuity in society.
