I came across an old scrapbook with these images of my first male celebrity crush, #GeneAnthonyRay. On April 3, 1982 I had the opportunity to meet him during the #sanfrancisco stop of a promotional tour for the tv series #fame. Watching this man dance was nothing short of magical. His character “Leroy” was one of the first tv personalities who dared me to dream big...to see a world bigger than #oakland. Gene’s star was one of the brightest of them all. So much of his untapped potential was stifled when he joined the many we lost in the early days of the #aids epidemic. A terrifying time...A government that waited too late to act...and a politicized plague. Sounds like #2020 Those of us who bore witness to the front lines of the aids war and are still here to talk about it...we know a thing or two about pain, loss, oppression, judgement and survival. We also know that fear impedes the fight for survival. Please do yourself a favor and live your life the way “Leroy” danced...with intention, grace, beauty and strength. Gene Anthony Ray, we speak your name. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-M5M09JuYW/?igshid=1j3jj811p2sw6