Arts & Entertainment
Greg Louganis will be featured on Wheaties box
Olympic diver gets overdue honor
(Courtesy of Twitter).
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis will be featured on a box of Wheaties starting in May and going through the summer months, according to the New York Times.
Welcome four-time gold medalist and hall of famer @greglouganis to the Orange Box Club. #WheatiesLegends pic.twitter.com/44qA7Oybd7
— Wheaties (@wheaties) April 5, 2016
Louganis’s life and career, including coming out in 1994 and revealing his HIV positive status, was chronicled in the HBO documentary “Greg Louganis: Back on Board.” Despite all of his many accomplishments, the 56-year-old diver was never put on a box of Wheaties.
The New York Times reports that following the release of the documentary, a Change.org petition was started to get General Mills to put Louganis on the box. More than 43,000 signatures later, the cereal company gave Louganis the honor.
Louganis, who married Johnny Chaillot in 2013, told the New York Times he believes he wasn’t asked to star on the boxes in the past due to homophobia.
“The times have changed so drastically and so fast,” Louganis told the New York Times. “When I came out to my mom, she feared I’d always be a second-class citizen and never have a chance to be married. But Johnny and I are married, and we’re making a life together.”
Louganis’s Wheaties cover will be one in a series featuring fellow Olympians, swimmer Janet Evans and hurdler Edwin Moses. Louganis says he is still grateful to be featured even though he’s included in a series.
“Edwin and I were in the 1976 Olympics together,” Louganis continued. “He was my hero. God, he was my inspiration to get trust funds put in place for the athletes coming behind me. I watched Janet grow up at Mission Viejo.”
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Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
The fourth annual Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 17.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The Washington Blade held its 18th annual Summer Kickoff Party in Rehoboth Beach, Del., on Friday, May 16. Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer spoke along with State Sen. Russ Huxtable, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Kim Leisey, Blade Editor Kevin Naff, and Clear Space Theatre Managing Director Joe Gfaller. The event raises funds for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism, which was awarded to AU student Abigail Hatting.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
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