November 29th

11-30-1961   Ivan Velez Jr. – Born in the Bronx, New York, he is of Puerto Rican descent. Velez is an openly gay Latino American cartoonist, writer, museum educator, and teaching artist. He is best known for his groundbreaking comic series Tales of the Closet (1987 – 1993). The series was one of the first narratives about the gay community. Velez used his comics to educate both straight and LGBT teens about AIDS. As of 2017, Velez still lives in the Bronx.  

11-30-1992   Nats Getty (Natalia Williams) – Born in Los Angeles, California. She is an American model, socialite, designer, artist, and LGBT rights activist. She is the granddaughter of Sir John Paul Getty and uses her mother’s surname professionally. Her brother is fashion designer August Getty, who is gay. She, along with her mother and brother, have provided new infrastructures for the Los Angeles LGBT center and works closely with GLAAD. Getty is openly lesbian and as of March 2018, she is engaged to Canadian socialite Gigi Lazzarato. 

11-30-1924 – 10-25-2006   Elliott R. Blackstone – Born in Chinook, Montana. In 1949, he became a San Francisco police officer. He was a pioneer in what is now called community policing. In 1962, he was designated as the department’s first liaison officer with the LGBT community. Blackstone, a straight man, became a staunch supporter of the gay community and worked within the police department to change policy and procedures directed against the LGBT community, such as entrapment of gay men in public restrooms. Blackstone worked with the Mattachine Society, Daughters of Bilitis, the Vanguard gay youth group, and other LGBT organizations. He even took up a collection at his church to buy hormones for transgender people, at a time when health clinics would not provide them. At his retirement dinner in 1975, he was recognized by LGBT community leaders for his advocacy and support. Blackstone was featured in the 2005 film Screaming Queens, a documentary about the 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria riot. At the premiere at the Castro Theater, Blackstone received a standing ovation. An audience member asked why, as a straight man, he had worked so hard on behalf of LGBT rights. He said, “Because my religion teaches me to love everybody.” In 2006, Blackstone died of a stroke.

11-30-1965 Ryan Patrick Murphy – Born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is an American film and television screenwriter, director, and producer. Murphy is best known for creating/producing a number of television series including Popular (1999-2001), Nip/Tuck (2003-2010), Glee (2009-2015), American Horror Story (2011-present), The New Normal (2012-2013), Scream Queens (2015-present). and American Crime Story (2016-present). Murphy has been married to photographer David Miller since July 2012. The couple has two children. In October 2015, Murphy received the Award of Inspiration from the Foundation for AIDS Research for his contributions to TV and film as well as his work in the fight against AIDS.

11-30-1978 Clay Aiken – Born in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is an American singer, television personality, actor, producer, author, and activist. Aiken began his rise to fame on the second season of American Idol in 2003. He made his Broadway debut playing the role of Sir Robin in Monty Python’s Spamalot in 2008. In 2014 he ran for Congress in North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district. He lost to Republican incumbent Renee Ellmers in the general election on November 4, 2014.