REMEMBRANCE
New York-Based Music Star Ari Gold Dies at 47
Songwriter, singer never shied away from embracing his identity as a gay man
BY MATT TRACY
Ari Gold, an out gay songwriter and
singer from New York City, died on
February 14 at the age of 47. He had
long suffered from Leukemia.
Gold, who hailed from the Bronx, was immersed
in the music world from an early age.
While he was also the voice behind characters
on cartoon shows during his youth, he went on
to focus much more on music — and became
more comfortable about expressing his sexuality
— as he came of age.
Gold built a name for himself performing
across a variety of New York City venues, including
gay bars like Barracuda and Splash,
before emerging as a prominent leader in the
city’s music scene. He unveiled seven albums,
worked with stars like Diana Ross and Boy
George, and became a key player behind the
scenes and in the spotlight. He especially became
known for his work on “Where the Music
Takes You” in 2007.
In 2006, Gold wrote a story for The Advocate
in which he explained the adversity he faced in
FACEBOOK/ARI GOLD
Ari Gold was born in the Bronx and grew his career in New York.
the music industry and his experience growing
up in an Orthodox Jewish family. He recalled
coming out to his family in an 18-page letter
before heading off to college.
Even as he progressed in his career, Gold encountered
harsh realities simply because of his
sexual orientation. He once described a time
when a gay music producer told him to stay
closeted, which Gold said was “disrespectful.”
“I for one am proud to be known as a gay artist
when too many artists on the music scene don’t
want to be,” Gold said in 2006, according to The
Advocate. “I’m done with hiding and done with
shame in any form. As long as my friends are
being beaten on the streets, as long as there are
still kids killing themselves because of shame,
and as long as we are still fi ghting for our basic
civil rights, I will continue to shout from the
queer rooftops.”
Speaking to Gay City News in 2004, Gold
further elaborated on the homophobia he faced
during his career as he navigated the cabaret
world.
“It seems like a really conservative genre,”
Gold said at the time. “And sure, it can go
unspoken, but I’ve gotten plenty of direct homophobia.
Of course, they don’t think they’re
being homophobic, and, pathetically enough,
it comes from both straight and gay people. In
fact, it’s probably more gay people than straight
people. I was always told, ‘Come out later. You
have to establish yourself fi rst.’ But let’s face it,
that’s been done.”
Ricky Martin Joins Foundation for Pulse Victims
Out gay celebrity aims to help raise $49 million to honor those who died
BY TAT BELLAMY-WALKER
Out gay Puerto Rican
singer and songwriter
Ricky Martin has been
appointed as the national
spokesperson for the onePULSE
Foundation, a non-profi t building
memorials to honor LGBTQ people
killed during the Pulse Nightclub
shooting.
Martin’s new role incldues serving
as an advocate for the foundation’s
OUTLOVE HATE campaign,
a fundraising effort to honor the
49 people killed and dozens of others
injured after a gunman opened
fi re in June 2016 during a Latinxthemed
night at Pulse, a queer
nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
“I’m excited to assist onePULSE
Foundation with engagement and
awareness-building opportunities
as they build the National Pulse
Memorial and Museum,” Martin
said in a written statement. “The
Ricky Martin has been tapped as a national spokesperson for the OnePULSE Foundation.
OUTLOVE HATE campaign is the
perfect way to start our partnership.
I ask everyone to join our
movement, commit to change, and
share the love.”
REUTERS/DANNY MOLOSHOK
Individuals seeking to join the
campaign can upload a selfi e to
the organization’s site. The pictures
are expected to appear as
a digtal mural and a permanent
mosaic tile inside the Pulse Museum
in Orlando, Florida, which
is scheduled to open its doors at
some point next year.
“Participation allows you to
be a ‘Face of Change’ and part of
both a global digital mural and
a permanent mosaic tile on display
in the Pulse Museum in Orlando,
Florida,” Earl Crittenden,
onePULSE Foundation’s board
chair, said in a written statement.
“We invite the world to OUTLOVE
HATE today and for generations
to come.”
Last June, OnePULSE held a
virtual version of their annual vigil
due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The group is hoping to raise
$49 million to build a permanent
National Pulse Memorial and Museum
and offer educational programs
and scholarships to honor
the individuals who died in the
Pulse Nightclub shooting nearly
fi ve years ago.
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