Danny Sotomayor died young, but he did not let a diagnosis of AIDS stop him from acting up and fighting back against the 1980s/early 1990s government complacency around HIV and AIDS. A 2010 tribute to Sotomayor showed that his graphic design and editorial cartoon work were an important voice against homophobia and AIDS ignorance, and it is still very relevant today.
George, a 36-year-old green wing macaw, having lived for 20 years with business/life partners Art Johnston and Pepe Pena, died June 19 from internal problems.
Danny had many animals in his life, but George was his first. He had to give him up when the doctor for Sotomayor's partner, Scott McPherson ( who, incidentally, wrote Marvin's Room ) told Sotomayor he had to find a new home for the bird before McPherson returned from one of his many hospital stays.
"Since George always liked Pepe, Danny asked us if we would adopt him; of course, we said yes," Johnston said. Some macaws can live to 90 years old.
George was also an ongoing element in Sotomayor's artwork. During a profile of Johnston for their Out and Proud in Chicago documentary in 2008, Johnston told WTTW how important it was to have George in their lives more than a decade after Danny had died.
The Boystown nightspot Sidetrack was often a second home for George when Johnston and Pena travelled, and he said that the employees, too, were impacted by having George as a connection to their own lost community history.
"That big bird did symbolize the loss of so many friends," said former Chicago AIDS activst Tim Miller, now living in San Francisico. "I haven't had a good cry, like I did this morning, in a very long time."
"He is back now sqawking at Danny. In addition to the heavy sorrow we feel, we are grateful to Danny for lending George to us for so many years. He enriched our lives beyond measure," Johnston said.
"How fortunate he was for the last 18 years," said Lori Cannon. "His world was filled with attention, love, respect and humor because of you boys [ and your extended family ] . I find it hard to think of a day without George."
Tracy Baim