August 2nd

08-02-1924 – 12-01-1987 James Baldwin – Born in Harlem, New York. He was an American novelist, essayist, poet, and social critic. Baldwin’s first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953), is said to be his best-known work. His essays, as collected in Notes of a Native Son (1955) explore the intricacies of racial, sexual and class distinctions in Western societies. During his teenage years in Harlem and Greenwich Village, Baldwin realized that he was gay. Disillusioned by American prejudice against blacks and gays, Baldwin left the United States at the age of 24 and settled in Paris, France. Baldwin’s second novel, Giovanni’s Room (1956), was considered controversial due to its explicit homoerotic content. Baldwin returned to the United States in the summer of 1957 and became involved with the Civil Rights Movement. Baldwin died of cancer in 1987.

08-02-1894 – 05-27-1976   Yvonne de Bremond d’Ars – Born in Nantes, France. She was an antique dealer, specializing in 18th-century furniture. Her store, located at 20, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honore, in Paris, was famous for its Christmas windows. Her books written on antiques were popular and in 1968, the French Academy awarded her the Broquette – Gonin Prize for literature for her book The Destiny of Things. She was lovers with singer Suzy Solidor (b. December 18, 1900). Photo is of Suzy Solidor & Yvonne de Bremond d’Ars.

08-02-1984 Nilla Fischer – Born in Kristianstad, Sweden. She is a professional women’s soccer player and is a member of the Swedish team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2013, Fischer gave an interview to QX magazine in which she announced her intention to marry her girlfriend. In December 2013 she married her partner Mariah-Michaela. Fischer was one of 48 out LGBT athletes at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil.