In a rarity, I open this column with some sad news.  I can think of nothing more important than sharing that Bob Smith has passed away.  It is incredible for me to imagine that anyone reading this column does not know who Bob Smith is (I use the present tense because his presence shall always be felt).  The Barbara Walters School of Journalism (founded sometime shortly after The Crusades) dictates that we always should explain who a subject is.  In 1988, Bob Smith founded Funny Gay Males alongside fellow comics Jaffe Cohen and Danny McWilliams.  These days, it’s taken for granted that one can be an openly gay performer.  Not only was it not easy in 1988, it was pretty much impossible for a comedian.  Unlike actors, comedians are fairly transparent and draw on their personal lives for material.  For a gay man, this was an insurmountable obstacle.  Many tried prior to Bob, Jaffe and Danny, but they were really the first to take their acts out of gay bars and into mainstream comedy clubs.

Bob went on to surpass that landmark with one he didn’t have to share with anyone.  On July 13, 1994, he became the first openly gay comedian to perform on The Tonight Show.  In time, writing became the focus of his talents.  He wrote several books, my favorite being the provocative Remembrance of Things I Forgot.  Writing took on more importance in 2010 when he stepped away from performing.  His speech was becoming slurred and he often found it difficult to correctly time a punchline.  He may not have been able to do it onstage, but his timing was as sharp as ever when writing about his diagnosis.  “Lou Gehrig’s Disease?  I don’t even like baseball!”  Although his physical condition deteriorated drastically, his mind never lost its sharp edge.  We continued to drop each other notes.  It was important for me to let him know his place in history.  Without his talent and bravery, there would likely not be a generation of queer artists in every field.  And, I daresay, there may not be a Billy Masters.  Rest in peace, Bob.