All the latest breaking news on people who have recently died. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on people who have recently died.
A doctor who was instrumental in making PrEP accessible in the UK has died at the age of just 44.
Doctor Mags Portman was just 44 when she died from a rare form of cancer, according to Buzzfeed News. The doctor became a hero of the gay and bisexual community by making access to the HIV-preventative drug, PrEP easier for those who needed it. She was an HIV consultant at London’s Mortimer Market Centre, one of the capital’s busiest sexual health clinics.
She leaves behind a husband and two young children. She died in the early hours of Wednesday morning in her hometown of Leeds, at a hospice. She had been receiving treatment for mesothelioma, a cancer which affects the lining of the lungs.
The Terrence Higgin’s Trust, the UK’s leading HIV charity called the doctor a pioneer, saying “All of us at Terrence Higgins Trust are deeply saddened by the passing of the brilliant Dr Mags Portman.
Before adding that they pledge to “continue the fight for PrEP in her memory”.
All of us at Terrence Higgins Trust are deeply saddened by the passing of the brilliant Dr Mags Portman.
We pledge to continue the fight for PrEP in her memory. Please take some time to read about Mags’ vital role as a #PrEP pioneer.https://t.co/SVHsPfReCi
In October 2018 Mags took to her blog to write about her life with cancer and the treatment she received, in a post she titled, “Dancing With Death and Depression”. In the emotional post, the doctor documented how she lived with anxiety and unbearable pain. About anxiety, she wrote, “It reared it’s ugly head so quickly. I was taken completely unawares until was right in the middle of its grip, smothered by it. Rendered completely incapable. The “I can’t” voice in my head persisted, became louder and more repetitive. I would sit and wring my hands, rub my face and head, stand up and then sit down again over and over.”
She revealed that she managed to get help for her anxiety, writing “Thankfully, one of the GPs rang back within an hour and was absolutely great with me. He suggested starting medication (which I was glad about and ready to accept). He suggested Mirtazepine (which I was glad about too, because it also helps with sleep and appetite, and I was hoping for this). He also referred me to the Young Persons Support Team at St Gemma’s Hospice as a lot of my anxiety was around the boys and how we would get through the summer holidays with my deteriorating health.”
A retail executive, Vongell Lugo, 36, has been killed after being stabbed to death in his apartment in Washington DC, USA allegedly by a man that was known to him and may have been an “intimate partner”. Police responded to an emergency call at 4.15 AM on Sunday 6th January 2019.
This is the second report of a domestic violence-related death in the USA in the last month.
A twenty-six-year-old man, Collin J. Potter, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Lugo’s death. NBC News says that he was found by the police, “standing over a man who had been stabbed to death”.
According to the AVP, Lugo was a successful retail exec, who was described as a “kind soul, the centre of the party, and a beacon of light that made an impact on everyone he came into contact with”.
Lugo immigrated to the USA in 1994 and went to the University of Maryland, completing a BA in Sociology in 2010.
A man in his 50s was killed in a domestic-violence related homicide.
John Likeness was killed on December 30th 2018 after an alleged domestic violence incident. Likeness who was in his early fifties lived in Menomonie, Wisconsin and was allegedly shot in the chest with a crossbow and died from his injury.
Seehaver is currently in custody and charged with first-degree intentional homicide, domestic abuse being a repeat criminal offender and illegal use of a dangerous weapon according to the Anti-Violence Project.
John Likeness was a veteran, who served his country for 10 years until 1993 after becoming disabled while in the military.
His niece, Carrie Likeness said, “John was proud to have served our country and although a disabled veteran, he spent this last year embracing independence while exploring the U.S. by railway,”
One of the last icons of Hollywood’s Golden Era, Carol Channing has died at the age of 97.
As well as being a legend of some of Hollywood’s most glamorous years, the late Carol Channing was also celebrated as a gay icon.
She will be remembered for groundbreaking roles like the money-obsessed Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and the matchmaking Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!
In her lifetime, Carol won three Tony awards and was Oscar-nominated in 1967 for the film Thoroughly Modern Millie.
She was always a vibrant and vocal ally to the gay community and even once visited Fire Island in the USA to perform in front of 500 gay fans at the Ice Palace disco.
Publicist B. Harlan Boll confirmed her death to USA TODAY, saying that the actor died of natural causes after suffering two strokes last year.
“It is with extreme heartache, that I have to announce the passing of an original industry pioneer, legend and icon: Miss Carol Channing,
“I admired her before I met her, and have loved her since the day she stepped … or fell rather … into my life. It is so very hard to see the final curtain lower on a woman who has been a daily part of my life for more than a third of it. We supported each other, cried with each other, argued with each other, but always ended up laughing with each other.”
Boll added, “Saying good-bye is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but I know that when I feel those uncontrollable urges to laugh at everything and/or nothing at all, it will be because she is with me, tickling my funny bone.”
Kevin Fret has died at the age of just 24 after being shot on the streets of Puerto Rico.
Gay rapper Kevin Fret has died after being shot 8 times while he was riding a motorbike in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was just 24.
Fret was reportedly riding his motorcycle when he was shot at around 5:30 AM. He was taken to hospital after his shooting where he was pronounced dead.
The BBC reports that an investigation is underway.
His murder is the 22nd in Puerto Rico this year already.
Fret’s best-known song was “Soy Asi” which managed to rack up half a million views on YouTube, after its release in 2018. He is described as Latin Trap music’s first openly gay recording artist.
His latest single, “Diferente” featuring Mike Duran clocked up over 1.8 million hits.
“There are no words that describe the feeling we have and the pain that causes us to know that a person with so many dreams has to go.
“We must all unite in these difficult times, and ask for much peace for our beloved Puerto Rico.”
It is not known if Fret was targetted specifically or if his killing was an act of random violence or whether there is a hate-crime element to his death.
He would have been 25 on the 2nd Feb.
Is Puerto Rico LGBT+ friendly?
Puerto Rico has a good recent history with regards to LGBT+ rights. Gay people in the country are afforded many rights including, marriage, adoption there are discrimination laws to protect LGBT+ people.
Puerto Rico is known to have a high crime rate and something it has been struggling with for decades.
It has a homicide rate of 30.6 per 100,000 people. In the UK the homicide rate is 1.20 per 100,000 people.
A transgender woman who allowed the cameras into her life to document her transition during the late 70s has died.
Manchester-based Julia Grant was a pioneer in the trans community when she became one of the first transgender women to allow a film crew from the BBC to document her transition in the late 70 through to the 90s. The show was called A Change Of Sex and was watched by more than 20 million people in the UK.
BBC first broadcast the first instalment of A Change Of Sex in late 1980 which was followed by two new chapters, Julia: The First Year and Julia: My Body, My Choice. A revised version aired in 1994, accompanied by another new chapter, The Untold Story, which updates viewers on Julia’s life of the past 15 years. The final instalment, Julia Gets Her Man, followed in 1999. David Pearson directed the films.
Julia was subject to another episode which was titled her dead name, which is described as an “inside story” episode and was broadcast in June 1979.
She passed away at the age of 64.
For many, Julia was the first trans woman they’d ever seen on television; she went on to completely shape the national trans debate and inspire people with gender dysphoria to come out and seek medical help.
She owned and operated an LGBT venue in the city of Manchester called, Hollywood Showbar. She passed away in the early hours of Wednesday (2nd January) after a short illness.
Gay rights campaigner and Manchester Liberal Democrat Leader John Leech responded:
“I’m really sad to hear the news that Julia Grant has passed away.
“She was rightfully looked up to by many as a leader in the LGBTQ+ community, in particular here in Manchester, but also across the country.
“Throughout her life, she took on issues that others couldn’t quite bring themselves to and, in the process, changed the course of thousands of people’s lives.
“Even as recently as last year, I know she was just as angry as I am about the overdevelopment and destruction of heritage and history in our Gay Village.
“Whilst this is a sad day, it is also a day to remind ourselves of her immense contributions to society and an even better day to renew our fight for true equality.
“The fight for Manchester’s Gay Village is not over and I promise the Liberal Democrats in Manchester will do everything we can to protect our city’s LGBTQ+ history in Julia’s memory.
“All my thoughts are with Julia’s loved ones at this time.”
One of the last remaining cast members of Paris Is Burning, Hector Xtravaganza has died at the age of 60.
Hector Xtravaganza has sadly passed away at the age of 60. His death was announced on the House of Xtravaganza’s facebook page last night.
In a message on the page he was described as a “corner stone” of the family house.
“It is with profound sadness the House of Xtravaganza family announce the passing of our beloved Grandfather Hector.
“He was a friend to everyone he met, a source of inspiration for all who knew him, and a cornerstone of our House family. Arrangements for a celebration of Hector’s life will be shared in the coming days.’
Hector who was a dancer and AIDS activist, was a founding member of the House of Xtravaganza since its formation in 1982. It became the first Latino house in the New York ballroom scene. He served the house twice as its father.
Her body was discovered under a bed at the Duchess Hotel in New York according to her House mother Angie Xtravaganza. She had been strangled. Her body was discovered four days after her death. Her killer has never been found and her death remains an open, unsolved crime. According to the New York Post, New York has about 9000 unsolved murders since 1985.
Comedian and actor June Whitfield has passed away at the age of 93.
Tributes have poured in for one of the UK’s most famous comic actors, Dame June Whitfield. She, according to her agent, died peacefully on Friday night (27th December 2018). She was born June Rosemary Whitfield in Streatham, south London on 11 November 1925.
June was most famous for her roles on the 70’s sitcom June and Terry and later as the mother in Ab Fab, she delighted audiences with her quick onliners and impeccable timing.
Her careers spanned seven decades and she appeared in over 1300 radio and television shows.
Tribute were made by most of her Absolutely Fabulous co-cast members, including, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha and Jane Horrocks.
Joanna Lumley remembered June as “brilliant and gorgeous”
Sad news just in.. The brilliant and gorgeous June Whitfield has sadly passed away at the age of 93. Thoughts go out to her family and friends ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9RpDLzStej
Julia who plays Saffi in the comedy Absolutely Fabulous thanked June for “teaching me my craft with such dignity and grace”. Julia remarked how in awe she was and that June was “far too humble” to accept her adoration.
Jane Horrocks paid tribute to June as a “wonderful lady” and remarked on how “versatile, funny and generous” June was during their time working together.
Grew up on #TerryAndJune and had the pleasure of working with June on #AbsolutelyFabulous. She was a wonderful lady. Versatile, funny and generous. Much loved and will be much missed
David S Buckley set himself a light in Brooklyn, New York, in an apparent protest suicide. His suicide note said, “I am David Buckel and I just killed myself by fire as a protest suicide,” read a handwritten suicide note, according to the New York Daily News. “I apologize to you for the mess.”
TV Presenter Dale Winton, 62
19th April 2018
The TV presenter, Dale Winton died from natural causes at the age of 62. He had recently returned to our small screens on his show, Dale Winton’s Florida Fly Drive.
Dale Winton is probably most famous for his stint as a daytime telly presenter. The programme, Dale’s Supermarket Sweep catapulted him to fame in the early to mid-1990s. The show ran from 1993 to 2007. After the programme ended he also presented, In It To Win It and Hole in The Wall. He’s also worked in radio and has appeared in various charity TV shows.
Rick Genest, known professionally as Zombie Boy died at the age of 32. He was found just days before what would have been his 33rd birthday.
Most notably he starred in Lady Gaga’s music video for the LGBT+ anthem, ‘Born This Way’ in 2011. He was found deceased at his home in Montreal, Canada.
The icon Aretha Franklin died, she was 76-years-old. It was reported a few days ago that she was “gravely ill”. The cause of her death is reportedly advanced pancreatic cancer.
The singer who rose to fame during the 60s has had an enduring career that lasted well into her 70s. She is most famous for singing, “Respect”, “Say A Little Prayer” and “Natural Woman”.
Dancer, actor and mime artist Lindsay Kemp
25th August 2018
HIV Campaigner and Advocate Jacob Alexander , 25
29th October 2018
Jacob Alexander an immerging designer, a former student at the University of the Arts London and HIV campaigner has died at the age of 25. It is believed he ended his own life, according to PinkNews. He was just 25.
June Whitfield
27th December 2018
June was most famous for her roles on the 70’s sitcom June and Terry and later as the mother in Ab Fab, she delighted audiences with her quick onliners and impeccable timing.
Her careers spanned seven decades and she appeared in over 1300 radio and television shows.
A young Scottish man took his own life after months and months of homophobic bullying.
Scott McIntosh was 28-years-old when he took his own life according to Scottish news site, Sunday Post. It alleges that Scott was targetted by an acquaintance, Kevin Edgar whom Scott knew from school. Edgar is said to have made a series of homophobic phone calls to Scott, after he came out as gay. Scott was a deep-sea diver from Aberdeen. He was also a father to a four-year-old boy.
On Wednesday, the Glasgow Sheriff Court heard Edgar, 29, admit to a charge of making an obscene phone call that related to Scott’s sexuality, the communication was said to be indecent, obscene or menacing character” and contained “homophobic remarks”.
The anonymous calls and emails started 20 months before Scott finally killed himself.
Edgar was originally charged under the Communications Act 2003 by making threatening phone calls and “electronic communications messages” over a four-month period.
“took his life due to depression and anxiety”
Scott died from suicide in Feb 2018, leaving behind his only son, Riley. In August his father, Doug McIntosh, told the Scottish Sun that his son, “took his own life due to depression and anxiety and that seems to be something a lot of young people go through these days.
“It’s becoming a bit of an epidemic. But it’s a horrific thing for a family to go through”.
Scott’s father is now raising money for Scott’s son, Riley. A JustGiving page has already raised £5,900. Doug McIntosh writes, “I started this campaign “For the Life of Riley” after losing my Son Scott in February 25th 2018 and want to keep positive to help my Grandson Riley in Scott’s memory.”
A campaigner who devoted his time to erasing stigma for those living with HIV has died at the age of 25.
Jacob Alexander an immerging designer, a former student at the University of the Arts London and HIV campaigner has died at the age of 25. It is believed he ended his own life, according to PinkNews. He was just 25.
Alexander had devoted the last few years campaigning against HIV stigma and had created The Positive Project, which hoped to enlighting people about living with HIV. For his campaign, he created a t-shirt range and an app with the proceeds going to HIV research.
Alexander has not been heard from since October 5 when he wrote a message on Instagram which read, “Date In private, love in private, be happy in private, live in private, that way, you can take your losses, in private, maintain in private rebuild yourself in private.
In the caption, the campaigner wrote, “pay attention to the last line and understand where I’ve been hiding back soon”
It is understood that Alexander’s family will continue the work of The Positive Project.
According to his website, Jacob was diagnosed with HIV in 2015 and following on from his diagnosis, the designer struggled to come to terms with his status. He launched The Positive Project in 2016.
His website states, “He wanted to combat this stigma and try to shed a positive light on the HIV virus and those living with it by raising awareness through inviting the general public (and a few familiar faces too!) to take part in The Positive Project. As mentioned in Jacob’s TEDx talk in March 2016, he feels as though HIV based charities have been pushed aside in current news by larger run charities such as Cancer Research UK for example. Help Jacob get HIV in the headlines again, and together help him make a difference”.
Tributes have been pouring out for Alexander with Greg Owen, co-founder of I Want PrEP Now, tweeted: “I am shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of @jacobalxndr. He was such a sweetheart. Rest in peace.”
Many people have also taken to his Instagram page to write their condolences on his last message.
If you’d to help continue the good work of The Positive Project please consider buying a t-shirt.
If you feel you need to talk to someone about issues raised in this article please reach out to the Samaritans on 116 123 or write to jo@samaritians.org
