Rainbow Honor Walk honoree Vito Russo
Rainbow Honor Walk honoree Vito Russo
Today on the anniversary of his birth, we celebrate the life and legacy of Rainbow Honor Walk honoree Vito Russo (11 July 1946 – 7 November 1990). A trailblazing film historian, author, and AIDS activist, Russo was a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility and justice.
His groundbreaking book The Celluloid Closet exposed the ways Hollywood has portrayed queer people, and helped shift the cultural conversation around representation in media. As a co-founder of both GLAAD and ACT UP, Russo combined intellect with activism, using media as a tool for liberation and protest during the darkest days of the AIDS epidemic.
His voice still echoes in every demand for fair representation and every act of defiance against stigma and erasure. Vito Russo’s legacy is one of courage, culture, and uncompromising truth.
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