October 19th

10-19-1932 – 05-12-1992 Robert Reed – Born in Highland Park, Illinois. He was an American stage, film and television actor, and television director. From 1961 to 1965, he was on the popular drama series, The Defenders. He is best known as the father, Mike Brady on The Brady Bunch, which aired from 1969 to 1974. In 1964, Reed made his Broadway stage debut as Paul Bratter in Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park, replacing Robert Redford. Shortly before his death, Reed appeared in the touring production of Love Letters and taught classes on Shakespeare at UCLA. Reed was gay but kept this fact private, fearing it would damage his career. He did marry in 1954, the couple had one child and divorced in 1959. After his death, Reed’s Brady Bunch co-stars, Barry Williams, and Florence Henderson, publicly acknowledged Reed’s sexual orientation. They said that most of the cast and crew knew he was gay but never discussed it with him. Reed’s death certificate was made public revealing that he was HIV positive. While Reed did not have AIDS at the time of his death, his doctor listed his HIV-positive status as a “significant condition that contributed to death” of colon cancer on the death certificate.

10-19-1945 – 03-07-1988 Divine (Harris Glenn Milstead) – Born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was an American actor, disco singer, and drag queen. People magazine described him as the “Drag Queen of the Century.” He starred in John Waters’ films Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Lust In The Dust, and Hairspray among many other cult films. Divine was openly gay. He died as a result of an enlarged heart at the age of 42.

10-19-1954 Andy Humm – Place of birth unknown. He is a journalist, activist and current co-host of TV news program Gay USA. As a gay news reporter, Humm has covered every major gay and AIDS news story since the 1980s. He began writing regularly for the gay press in the 1970s and 1980s when he worked for New York City News. His activism began when he became the President of the Gay Student Union at the University of Virginia in 1974. His work in the LGBT and AIDS Communities has been honored by the Human Rights Campaign, New York University, Parents and Friends for Lesbian and Gay Rights, and many other organizations.

10-19-1985   Ashlyn Harris – Born in Satellite Beach, Florida. She is an American soccer player. Her position is goalkeeper. Following the United States’ win at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Harris and her teammates became the first women’s sports team to be honored with a Ticker Tape Parade in New York City. On May 1, 2019, Harris was named to the 23 player roster for the 2019 Women’s World Cup. On December 6, 2021, Harris was traded alongside Ali Krieger to New Jersey’s team Gotham FC. Harris has spoken of the sexism faced by female athletes and the importance of improving their pay and conditions. She has been in a relationship with Ali Krieger since 2010. The couple married on December 28, 2019, in Miami. Megan Rapinoe, who played a role in the couple’s coming out, served as Harris’s maid of honor.