Category Archives: Dazzler of the Day

Our road to the Summer Olympics continues with the this crowning of Timo Cavelius as Dazzler of the Day. Representing Germany in judo, Cavelius is the first openly gay athlete to compete in that sport. Trailblazing history is something Cavelius simply takes in stride. Watch for him at the Paris Olympics starting this month. 

Back when blogs were a big deal, Andy Towle created one of the most popular and relevant gay blogs the world had ever seen in Towleroad. Prior to that, and going even further back to when magazines ruled the gay landscape as far as getting information and making like-minded connections, Towle was the editor-in-chief of Genre magazine. In both career instances, he pioneered the path for an openly, and at times defiantly, gay existence, providing a means and mechanism for all of us to feel less alone at a time when easy access to other gay people often proved difficult at best. A lot has changed and happened since then, and in recent years Towle has successfully shifted his goals and focus to his painting, which finds happy fruition in a show currently running at Provincetown Commons (with another reception scheduled for this Friday, July 5 for all those in Provincetown for the holiday). 

Today he earns his first crowning as Dazzler of the Day thanks to the fascinating journey he has invited us to join over the past two decades. (See more of his work on his website here.)

Joining other luminaries from ‘The Gilded Age‘ (see Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Ashlie Atkinson, and Donna Murphy) Louisa Jacobson earns her first Dazzler of the Day thanks to her sweet turn as Marian Brook, who forms the sentimental heart of that sometimes-cutting show. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Jacobson began by making her mark on stage, which is where the bulk of ‘The Gilded Age’ actors originated, lending the ensemble its own stylistic grace. 

Five decades of any career is impressive – five decades of a career in show business is the stuff of legend, and such is the stuff of Holland Taylor, who is crowned Dazzler of the Day. Many, many years ago, I was at a party thrown for Lee Bailey that Holland was attending, but I was much too shy to say anything to her. Maybe it was her indelible scene-stealing turn in ‘Legally Blonde‘ that lent her such an wonderfully-intimidating slant, or the weight of her sparkling career glowing around her like a legacy. Whatever the reason, I’ve always been a fan, and today she is our Dazzler. 

His recent commencement speech at Brandeis University was so powerful it needs to be seen and heard around the country – especially if we are to keep democracy alive in this country. This is Ken Burns – keeper of a storytelling tradition that helps us better understand ourselves, grounded with a compassion and acceptance of difference that encompasses the very best way of looking at the world. He earns his first Dazzler of the Day for a career of life-affirming work. Check out his website here for more upcoming brilliance.

Ken Burns, photographer: Cable Risdon