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Gay History Timeline: 1979
Figure Skater Johnny Weir - Ice Queen with Balls

LGBT History Time Capsule: 1980

 1980

 

Jan 12, 1980 - Dan Hartman's classic Vertigo/Relight My Fire begins its first of six weeks atop Billboard's dance chart.

Feb 8, 1980 - The controversial film Cruising, starring Al Pacino, opens.  Some gay critics took issue with what they viewed as the sensationalistic depiction of the BDSM lifestyle. 

March 31, 1980 - 30-year old Richard Gere appears shirtless on the cover of People Magazine (cover date of 4/7/80).  It was very similar to Gere's cover in After Dark back in 1978.

Richard_gere_people_mag

Richard_gere_after_dark

June 20, 1980 - After 18 months of wild mainstream success, the Village People "jumped the shark" with the opening of their movie Can't Stop the Music.  It was so bad that it was the inspiration for the Razzie Awards.

Sept 20, 1980 - Opening night at "The Saint", New York's premier gay dance club of the 1980's.

Sept 20, 1980 - Love Sensation by Loleatta Holloway goes to #1 on Billboard's dance chart.

Nov 5, 1980 - The Fifth of a July opens on Broadway.

Fifthofjuly_reeves

Nov 24, 1980 - Eyebrows are raised as Ron Regan Jr. gets married.


(To read about gay milestones from other years, double click here.)

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