by Belo Cipriani | Oct 7, 2014 | Belo Cipriani, Midday Dreams, Writing
I was 16 years old when I happened to find an Amália Rodrigues CD accidentally nestled between Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughn at Tower Records in San Jose. The guy at the music store didn’t know who she was and was about to take the CD from me when I realized the...
by Belo Cipriani | Feb 12, 2014 | Belo Cipriani, Dating and Disability
Let go of that laundry list of dos and don’ts this Valentine’s Day. Finding a meaningful partner is about opening your heart and dropping the superficial standards. Physical appearances usually spark interest, but they shouldn’t be the dominant force when seeking...
by Belo Cipriani | Sep 29, 2011 | Belo Cipriani, Blind: A Memoir, GLBT, Lambda Literary Fellowship, Queer Writing, Writing
As a fan of Octavia Butler, Mary Shelly, H. G. Wells, Bram Stoker and Ray Bradbury, I sought shelter in science-fiction and gothic novels that made it easier to fantasize outside the hetero world. These authors made it possible for me to write stories that challenged...
by Belo Cipriani | Aug 6, 2011 | GLBT, Lambda Literary Fellowship, Queer Writing
Before Queer as Folk, The L Word, and Will & Grace introduced queer culture to the masses, I would spend hours rewriting songs, movies, and shows; tweaking lyrics from popular titles became a hobby — soon “American Woman” became “American Bottom Boy.” The...
by Belo Cipriani | Jul 4, 2011 | Americans with Disabilities Act, Blind Technology, Mobility/ Disability, Travel
As it has for many, the meaning of the 4th of July has changed tremendously for me from the time I was a nerdy kid in San Jose to a writer in San Francisco. Images of barbecues and city parks have been replaced by feelings of patriotism when I listen for the...