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Black History Month profiles
2011-02-16

This article shared 3473 times since Wed Feb 16, 2011
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E. Denise Simmons

Former Cambridge, Mass., Mayor E. Denise Simmons was the first openly-gay African American mayor in United States history. Adding to the landmark appointment was the fact that Simmons won the seat unanimously. Her term lasted from 2008-2009.

Simmons made the following statement following her election:

"Just like being a Cantabrigian, a grandmother, a Justice of the Peace, a small business owner, and Mayor, being gay is part of who I am. I live in a city where my friends, family and colleagues just know me as Denise, not as the first African American lesbian mayor. One of the main reasons that public service has drawn me is that I believe in fairness and equality for all people, whether they are gay or straight, African American or of another background, women or men.

"Equity and access to services and opportunities is what raises all of us to a higher quality of life. I started the GLBT Commission in Cambridge for that reason, to engage the broader community in policy issues that would make Cambridge a better place to live and work for gay individuals and families. I'm proud of the progress the Commission has made. All of my work centers around civic engagement—I truly believe that is how the strongest communities are built, on the vision, involvement and actions of their citizens. Although being a lesbian is not something that defines my work, I realize that this is a great step for the GLBT community and I am truly honored to have this opportunity to be a leader."

Lee Daniels

Lee Daniels

Fifty-year-old, openly-gay producer/director Lee Daniels was the first African-American solo producer of an Academy Award-winning film, for Monster's Ball ( starring Halle Berry, Billy Bob Thornton and Heath Ledger ) . The 2001 film about race, politics, feminism and the legal system won a Screen Actors Guild Award ( SAG ) for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role ( Halle Berry ) , two National Board of Review awards and a Black Reel Award. Monster's Ball was the first production from Lee Daniels Entertainment—a company started by Daniels. Prior to his work on Monster's Ball, Daniels worked as a casting director on the films Under the Cherry Moon and Purple Rain.

Following the success of Monster's Ball, Daniels produced the Kevin Bacon/Kyra Sedgwick film The Woodsman in 2004. He would make his directorial debut with the film Shadowboxer in 2006. Shadowboxer starred Helen Mirren, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Mo'Nique, Joseph Gorden-Levitt, and Macy Gray ( among others ) . 2008 would bring the film production of Tennessee starring Adam Rothenberg, Ethan Peck, Mariah Carey and Lance Reddick.

Daniels teamed up again in 2009 with Mo'Nique and Mariah Carey for the two-time Academy Award-winning film Precious. The movie was based on the novel Push by Sapphire and depicted a tumultuous mother-daughter relationship on the brink of multiple emotional disasters. Daniels would be honored at the GLAAD Media Awards in 2010 for his work on the film and for being a celebrated gay Black director in film.

The Simmons and Daniels selections are from the forthcoming book Black, Gifted and Gay by LGBT media pioneer Leyla Farah ( with assistance from LGBT celebrity reporter Sarah Toce ) .


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