My Diva: 65 Gay Men on the Women Who Inspire Them

Acknowledgments

xv Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge the following individuals and organizations for their generous support: Marilyn Nelson and Soul Mountain Retreat, Charles Flowers and Lambda Literary Foundation , Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Ucross Foundation, and Berkeley College. Thanks to all the contributors for their wonderful essays, enthusiasm , and professionalism. Special thanks to D. A. Powell (for being first to sign on); Mark Bibbins (for all the introductions); and Jim Elledge, Michael Klein, Christopher Lee Nutter, and David Trinidad (for their advice). Also to David Groff (for the encouragement to start), Richard Schneider, Jr. and The Gay & Lesbian Review (for publishing the call for submissions), Raphael Kadushin (for recognizing the book’s potential), and my agent Maya Rock (for finding me in Cimarron Review). Thanks to my friends: Will Baker, Kerry Carnahan, Rebecca Curtiss, Warren Davidson, Ivan de Petrovsky, Ellen First, Michael Frew, Marty Garcia, Mary Gilhooly, Vicki Hallas, Tonya Hegamin , Lori Jacobs, Candi Jiosne, Lisa Karakas, Pam Kaskel, Sian Killingsworth, Chip Livingston, Molly McCloy, Susan Miller, xvi James Pacello, Pat Patterson, Bill Peters, Gerri Reinberg, Eric Sasson , Steve Streeter, and Stephen Wolf. Also to Nicolas Arellano, Nik Velasquez, and Liz Yozzo (for their photographs), Julia Markus (for all her insight and wisdom), and Stephanie Fairyington (for pushing me to write the essay that began this project). Love and affection to my mother, Claire; my sisters, Michele and Pam; my niece, Kimberly; and my brother-in-law, Joe. And finally my deep respect and gratitude to Stevie Nicks and all the women featured in this book. As well as to the others whom I wish appeared and admire greatly: Elizabeth Bishop, Frida Kahlo, and Gertrude Stein. Acknowledgments My Diva ...