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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2025 51 This month our selection for the Famous LGBT Americans series is John D'Emilio, a pioneer historian in gay studies. D'Emilio was born in 1948 in New York City. He received three degrees from Columbia University: a B.A. in religious studies in 1970 (cum laude), an M.A. in 1972, and a Ph.D. in 1982, both in U.S. history. He was one of the first academics to focus his historical research on the gay community. In 1983, he began teaching at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In 1999, he moved to the University of Illinois at Chicago where he is Emeritus Professor of Gender & Women's Studies and History (he retired in 2014). D'Emilio is the author or editor of almost a dozen books including Sexual Politics, Sexual Communities: e Making of a Homosexual Minority in the United States, 1940-1970; Lost Prophet: e Life and Times of Bayard Rustin; and Intimate Matters: A History of Sexuality in America, co-authored with Estelle B. Freedman. D'Emilio has had a significant impact on laws affecting homosexuality in the United States. In the 1980s and 1990s, he submitted affidavits challenging the constitutionality of sodomy statutes. D'Emilio's book, Intimate Matters, was cited in 2003 by the landmark U.S. Supreme Court majority opinion in Lawrence v. Texas, which declared consensual "sodomy" laws unconstitutional. D'Emilio was a coauthor of a historians' brief, which the Court also cited. D'Emilio has received many grants, awards, lecture invitations and fellowships. In 2005, he was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. D'Emilio met Jim Oleson, his partner, in 1980. Oleson died at their home in 2015 at the age of 77. D'Emilio described his passion for studying American history: "The ranks of graduate students studying U.S. history were populated with individuals like myself who believed that a knowledge of history was a critical resource in the effort to build a society grounded in justice, equality, and inclusion." In 1973, he participated in a meeting focused on how historical and other research could be a tool for the LGBTQ movement. That meeting became the foundation of the Gay Academic Union. For more information and for the sources for this article, please go to the Rainbow Group's Facebook page or request a copy via our email (rainbowgroup@myyahoo.com). The locations and times of Rainbow Group events are available via our Facebook page or email. ~ Dan Hazeltine and Frank Galvan Rainbow Group e Classic Film Group presents a special Halloween event featuring the making and screening of Walt Disney's 1949 classic. On Oct. 28 and Nov. 4 at 6 pm, join us for e Adventures of Ichabod Crane and Mr. Toad. e town of Sleepy Hollow is famous as the setting for Washington Irving's classic short story, e Legend of Sleepy Hollow, with the iconic Headless Horseman. e town's rich colonial history and landmarks mentioned in the story make it a popular destination for fans of American folklore and spooky tales. In 1996, the town ocially changed its name from North Tarrytown to Sleepy Hollow to strengthen its connection to the legend. "e Legend of Sleepy Hollow" portrays the conict between man and the supernatural. e supernatural is believed to be all around the town, fueling the villagers' fears. Ichabod's fear is so intense that he ees aer a supposed encounter with the Horseman. e Wednesday Western Matinee features Riders In e Sky on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 2 pm in e Lodge eater. Old cowboys share stories late into the night about seeing Ghost Riders chasing cattle across the sky. Texas is full of legends, lore, and ghost stories. Among the most famous and haunting is the tale of the Ghost Riders, a tragic and sinister story from Crosby County, Texas, in 1889, known locally as Stampede Mesa. is legend inspired the classic song "Ghost Rider." When Gene Autry is asked about the Ghost Riders song he sings, he shares this legend: Gene is about to resign as an investigator for the county attorney and go into the cattle business with his friend Chuckawalla Jones (Pat Buttram), but instead, he helps Anne Lawson (Gloria Henry) clear her father's name. Along the way, Gene meets an old cowboy who recounts seeing the Ghost Riders late one night coming for him. Happy Halloween! ~ Paul Plamondon, 4seasonsmoviegroup@gmail.com Classic Film Group

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