Vito Russo
Vito Russo | |
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Russo in 1989 | |
| Born | July 11, 1946 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | November 7, 1990 (aged 44) New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupations |
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| Notable work | The Celluloid Closet |
| Partner | Jeffrey Sevcik |
Vito Russo (/ˈruːsoʊ/; July 11, 1946 – November 7, 1990) was an American LGBT activist, film historian, and author. He is best remembered as the author of the book The Celluloid Closet (1981, revised edition 1987), described in The New York Times as "an essential reference book" on homosexuality in the US film industry. In 1985, he co-founded the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), a media watchdog organization that strives to end anti-LGBT rhetoric, and advocates for LGBT inclusion in popular media.