Edward Albeeconsidered by many to be among the top U.S. playwrights for at least a generationdied Sept. 16 at his home in Montauk, New York, at age 88 after a short illness.
In 1962, Albee's Broadway debut, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?a then-controversial analysis of a crumbling marriagewon a Tony Award for best play. It was later made into a movie starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The play has also been revived on Broadway three times, most recently with Tracy Letts and Amy Morton in 2012.
In 2012, Albee's drama about a love affair between man and beastThe Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?won another Tony. A few of his other plays include A Delicate Balance, Seascape and Three Tall Women, which all earned him Pulitzer Prizes.
Interviews revealed that Albee had said he knew he was gay by the time he was 8, and that he had his first same-sex experience at 12. In the 1950s, Albee was romantically involved with fellow playwright Terrence McNally for five years. Albee's partner of 35 years, sculptor Jonathan Thomas, died in 2005; Albee leaves no immediate survivors.
Chuck Kramer, of the local group NewTown Writers, said of Albee, "I found his work, his art to be dynamic center of his impact on American culture. Three Pulitzers, a Lambda Lifetime Achievement Award and numerous other awards are testimony to his genius.
"He described himself as a writer who happened to be gay and insisted a gay writer must be able to transcend self. He certainly did that and continued to work well into old age, never resting on his laurels. An important artist and a remarkable man."
Nick Patricca, a writer/playwright and Windy City Times contributor who knew Albee, stated, "Throughout his success as one of America's and the world's greatest playwrights, Edward Albee never forgot to give enthusiastic support to his colleagues in the arts. Albee knew the needs of writers and other artists and he did his best to meet those needs through his Foundation and his personal encouragement.
"In my own case, he was kind enough to read my poetry and give me feedback. For me, Edward Albee is not only a great playwright but a great example of how writers ought to treat one another."
Man challenges
mandatory
diversity video
By Matt Simonette
A downstate man, who works for the Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Champaign, said he fears for his job since he's refused to watch a mandatory LGBT diversity-training video.
David Hall, of Tolono, works in an information technology position and has been employed by SSA for about 14 years. In April, he and other SSA employees were notified that they would be required to view a 17-minute video on LGBT diversity, according to the (Champaign-Urbana) News-Gazette.
However, Hall said that would go against his Christian beliefs and refused to watch it. After being reminded to do so a few times over the summer, he was suspended for two days in August.
Hall has returned to work, but anticipates he'll have more disciplinary action against him, and might even face the loss of his job.
"I think this is an issue they are prepared to go to the mat with, but I'm not going to give up my faith or compromise my beliefs just to go along and get along. I don't believe God wants me to do that," Hall said.
Hall has engaged Chicago-area attorney Jason Craddock to advise him. Craddock previously represented the owners of the Timber Creek Bed and Breakfast who, in 2011, refused to allow a same-sex couple to hold a commitment ceremony.
The original article is at www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2016-09-08/man-would-rather-get-fired-watch-diversity-video.html .