Today's Out Spotlight were the first gay couple to enter into a registered partnership anywhere in the world following Denmark's legalization of same-sex partnership registration in 1989, a landmark legislation which they were instrumental in bringing about. Activists they were committed to the cause and committed to each other. Today's Out Spotlight is Axel Axgil and Eigil Axgil.
Axel, born Axel Lundahl-Madsen, and Eigil, born Eigil Eskildsen, inspired by the 1948 UN Declaration of Human Rights, together with several friends, founded F-48 or Forbundet af 1948 (The Association of 1948), Denmark's first gay rights organization. By 1951, F-48's membership had grown to 1,339 and there were branches in Sweden and Norway.
In 1985, F-48 became the Danish National Association of Gays and Lesbians (Landsforeningen for Bøsser og Lesbiske, Forbundet af 1948 or LBL). The organization was one of the oldest gay rights groups in Europe.Axel was fired from his job when his role in the organization was made public. The couple went on to launch a magazine, Vennen (The Friend).
In 1955 Axel and Eigil were convicted on pornography charges and sentenced to short prison terms for running a gay modeling agency that sold pictures of naked men. While in prison, they melded their first names into the shared surname Axgil as a public show of defiance.
Later they ran a resort hotel that catered to a predominantly gay clientele.In 1989, after years of lobbying by the Axgils and other advocates, Denmark became the first country to allow same-sex civil unions when the Danish Parliament passed a law giving homosexuals most of the rights and obligations of marriage, although not the right to adopt a child. (That would be granted later.) Other countries in Europe soon followed suit.
On Oct. 1, 1989, Denmark became the first nation in the world to recognize domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. That day the Axgils and 10 other Danish couples were married by the deputy mayor of Copenhagen in the city hall, accompanied by worldwide media attention. The Axgils had been a couple for 40 years.
Eigil Axgil died on September 22, 1995 at the age of 73.
Axel Axgil died on October 29, 2011 at the age of 96.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the dates have been altered for the "exclusive" announcement of the Austin-Chloe pairing from earlier this month. Instead of the September 19th evening roll out of the couple’s "new romance", which suspiciously correlated with the September 20th premiere of Prisoners, articles are suddenly appearing tonight indicating that the dating rumors came from September 13th. Hmmm. Sure seems like PR may be trying to cover their tracks and make it seem like the out of nowhere rumor of Austin suddenly dating a wo-man after being publicly “single” for 18 months had nothing to do with Jakey’s, “I’m a tough guy because I date slutty women” premiere the following day.
Manipulating dates
I'm surprised that Jake's PR is standing still for his "Supporting Actor" award. He's been trying hard to be seen as a leading man. While its nice to be recognized as a good actor, it also firmly puts him in the supporting actor bucket - not where he wants to land. Maybe Jake got a bit pissed off over it.
ReplyDeleteOr, real m, he's fine with it and is moving on to his next producing/starring vehicle, Nightcrawlers, which starts filming this week.
ReplyDeleteStudios and producers usually don't want their cast competing against each other in the best category. Hugh is the bigger name so he is the one they are going to push for best actor. Jake is probably just happy to finally have his career back on track, although he still has to prove he can carry a picture as Jackman is getting the credit for the picture doing well--look at that nasty dig from Deadline. Deadline is certainly not the only one in HW who thinks Jake can't carry a movie.
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