A Tribute to André Leon Talley; the fashion icon dies at 73, France ends archaic ban on gay & bisexual men giving blood & Amy Schneider inspires a 83 year old man to be more accepting – Wednesday, January 19, 2022

André Leon Talley was a force in the fashion world for nearly 5 decades. It’s nearly impossible to articulate his impact & legacy but I’m going to try. France finally ends the discriminatory ban thats kept bay & bi men from giving blood since the beginning of the AIDS crisis. A 83-year-old man leaves his transphobia behind as he learns how to be more accepting from Jeopardy! Star Amy Schneider.

00:00 – Welcome & Intro

00:39 – The Qube Ad

01:04 – Intro Music

01:45 – André Leon Talley was a force in the fashion world for over 5 decades. It’s nearly impossible to articulate his impact & legacy

04:29 – France finally ends the discriminatory ban thats kept bay & bi men from giving blood since the beginning of the AIDS crisis

05:33 – A 83-year-old man leaves his transphobia behind as he learns how to be more accepting from Jeopardy! Star Amy Schneider

06:29 – Anna’s Got a Word

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André Leon Talley was a force in the fashion world for nearly 5 decades. It’s nearly impossible to articulate his impact & legacy. France finally ends the discriminatory ban thats kept bay & bi men from giving blood since the beginning of the AIDS crisis. A 83-year-old man leaves his transphobia behind as he learns how to be more accepting from Jeopardy! Star Amy Schneider.

Our leading story today is André’ Leon Talley, a larger than life stylist, author, fashion reporter, fashion icon and the first Black man to be the editor of Vogue has made his earthly transition at 73. I’m not even in the fashion world and I know who he was. I know he’s a legend. Growing up in a strict southern home André often talked about the fashion he learned from his family and how church on Sunday mornings was the pinnacle of it all. He talked about his grandmother being his inspiration and the one who taught him unconditional love. When asked what kept him grounded he said, “Faith. My faith and belief, my religion, my foundation in church. I grew up in a household of faith and love and that was the standard. I’ve had low values and high peaks, but my faith sustained me.” That type of love & faith has to be how he navigated the very white and very elitist world of fashion as a 6’6 black man who described his fashion as extravagant flamboyance. He broke ceilings every time he walked into a room and he worked behind the scenes to bring more people of color along for the ride. He danced with Diana, styled Michele, keke’d with Whoopi, and was a godfather to Naomi & Tyra & so many others. Hear how some of the fashion industry greats including Anna Wintour described André. PLAY CLIP In an interview he did he talked about how he wanted to be remembered. Take a listen. PLAY CLIP Now if you want to learn more about André there is a film called the “Gospel According to André” and it looks to do a beautiful job of telling his story. You can buy or rent it on YouTube and I’ll probably do that this weekend because I got all caught up in this research. Well done André. Take your rest. Well done. 

Now in France they have finally ended the ban on gay & bisexual men being blood donors. It seems so archaic to think this could still be a thing given all we know about HIV/AIDS today but when I say we have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of work to do & so much of it is global. The health minister of France Oliver Veran said, “We are putting an end to an inequality that is no longer justified”. This ban started in 1983 in the very early years of the AIDS crisis and it was meant to be a life-long ban. Over the years advocates have been trying to end the restriction. In 2016, it was reduced to a one-year ban; gay and bi men could donate blood if they said they had not had sex for a year. And in 2019, that period was reduced to four months. This is so discriminatory its mind blowing. Well now in 2022 it is finally just banned. Long overdue but a welcome change.  

Ya’ll should know by now that I’m an Amy Schneider fan and her Jeopardy story just keeps getting better. She has now won 33 games in a row which is the third-longest winning streak in the show’s history. We know with Amy’s stardom the trolls and homophobes always show up so she tries her best to avoid those comments but she recently told NPR that one comment stood out to her. Amy said, “So someone wrote on Twitter, somehow, after two to three years of conversation, you being on Jeopardy! every night has taught my dad to be accepting of trans people,” … “You’re the first person he’s used correct pronouns with, an 83-year-old man saying, this isn’t too hard. Thanks for your message of love.” That is the goal, right there. To change the hearts and minds of those who choose everyday not to even try and understand. Amy, keep winning because you are breaking down some walls. 

Let’s close out our word for today with a message from André Leon Talley himself. While doing an interview he talked about how he survived and thrived. I hope a nugget of what he shares blesses you today. Till tomorrow family, peace. 

Sources

​​Fashion icon André Leon Talley is dead at age 73

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/André-leon-talley-obit/index.html

The Gospel According To André – Official Trailer

André Leon Talley, Fashion’s Godfather | Fashion Icon Profile

André Leon Talley on ​why dressing well is a moral code​

France ends ban on gay & bisexual male blood donors

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/01/france-ends-ban-gay-bisexual-male-blood-donors/

Trans Jeopardy! champ Amy Schneider helped an 83-year-old man accept trans people

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/01/trans-jeopardy-champ-amy-schneider-helped-83-year-old-man-accept-trans-people/