November 23rd

11-23-1992   Miley Cyrus – Born in Franklin, Tennessee, the daughter of country music singer, Billy Ray Cyrus. She is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist. At the age of 14, she came out to her mother as pansexual and has said: “I never want to label myself! I am ready to love anyone that loves me for who I am! I am open.” In June 2015, Time magazine called her gender fluid. She stated she “doesn’t relate to being boy or girl, and I don’t have to have my partner relate to boy or girl.” Cyrus is a supporter of the LGBT community and talks about it openly. After her 2018 marriage to a man, Cyrus went on the record to state she still identified as queer. The Happy Hippie Foundation, which she founded, works to “fight the injustice facing homeless youth, LGBTQ youth, and other vulnerable populations.” From August to September 2019, she dated Kaitlynn Carter. In October 2019, Miley and singer/songwriter Cody Simpson announced they were in a committed relationship, after being friends for years prior. (Photo 2019 Barcelona, Spain)

11-23-1960 Robin Roberts – Born in Tuskegee, Alabama. She is an American television broadcaster. Roberts is the anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America. Robert’s was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 for her contributions to and impact on the game of women’s basketball through her broadcasting. In 2012 she was diagnosed with MDS, a disease of the bone marrow. On December 29, 2013, Roberts posted a photo on Facebook with a caption that read: “At this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude. I am grateful to God, my doctors, and nurses for my restored good health… I’m grateful for my entire family, my long-time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious year together.” It was the first time Roberts publicly acknowledged her sexual orientation. Her girlfriend, Amber Laign, and she had been together since 2005. In 2015, Roberts was named as one of the 31 Icons of 2015’s LGBT History Month by Equality Forum.

11-23-1892 – 04-21-1990 Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) – Born in St. Petersburg, Russian Empire. He was a Russian-born French artist and designer who was successful in fashion design, jewelry, graphic arts, costume, and set design for film, theatre, and opera. In 1923, Erté’s costumes, program designs, and sets were featured in the Ziegfeld Follies.  Between 1915-1937, Erté designed over 200 covers for Harper’s Bazaar magazine. In 1923, his costumes, program designs, and sets were featured in the Folies Bergère. Louis B. Mayer brought him and his lover, Russian Prince Nicolas Ouroussoff, to Hollywood in 1925 where Erté designed sets and costumes for films, including Ben-Hur, The Mystic, The Comedian, and Dance Madness. Louis B. Mayer, who was known to be intolerant of homosexuals, even invited the couple to his house for dinner. Erté lived with Ouroussoff until the Prince’s death in 1933. In the 1960s, Erté’s career was rejuvenated with the revival of the Art Deco period.

11-23-1948 Bruce Vilanch – Born in New York City, New York. He is an American comedy writer, songwriter, and actor. Winner of 6 Emmy Awards, he is best known for his appearance on Hollywood Squares. Vilanch was also head writer for the show. Currently he is the head writer for the Oscars and is a featured writer for the Tonys, Grammys, and Emmys. He has received a number of awards for his work in support of AIDS charities and LGBT rights charities. Vilanch was one of the first out gay comedians.

11-23-1875 – 09-23-1955 Edith Wynne Matthison – Born in Birmingham, England. She was an Anglo-American stage actress who also appeared in two silent films. She had an affair with Edna St. Vincent Millay, while Millay was at Vassar. The two women corresponded and in one letter Millay said, “You wrote me a beautiful letter. I wonder if you meant it to be as beautiful as it was. I think you did; for somehow I know that your feeling for me, however slight it is, is of the nature of love… When you tell me to come, I will come, by the next train, just as I am. This is not meekness, be assured; I do not come naturally by meekness; know that it is a proud surrender to You.” Matthison married playwright Charles Rann Kennedy in 1898 and acted in many of his plays, as well as advised him as he was writing them. Both taught at Bennett Junior College in Millbrook, New York. In 1904, she appeared in Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer. Matthison died of a stroke in Los Angeles in 1955.

11-23-1955 Deborah Stedman-Scott, (Baroness Stedman-Scott) – Born in Paddington, London, United Kingdom. She is an English activist. She is a Conservative member of the House of Lords and Chief Executive Officer of Tomorrow’s People Trust, a charity that works with people unemployed. On July 12, 2010 she was created a life peer as Baroness Stedman-Scott. In 2006 she and Gabrielle Joy entered into a civil partnership.

11-23-1968 Joe Zee – Born in Hong Kong, he grew up in Toronto, Canada. He was Elle magazine creative director until April 2014. He is now editor-in-chief and executive officer of Yahoo Style. He was a recurring character as boss of the reality series The City. He also appeared on an episode of Ugly Betty and Mistresses as himself. He is openly gay. His clothing line “Styled by Joe Zee” can be purchased online on QVC.

11-23-1989 Josh Dixon – Born in Los Gatos, California. He was a gymnast/athlete. He attended StanfordUniversity. He was an Olympic hopeful for the 2012 Summer Games and came out that same year. In 2015, he competed in Indianapolis at the P & G Gymnastics Championships. He is a seven-time All-American.