Holly Woodlawn IS a Superstar. Her work in seminal queer films like Trash and Women in Revolt, made her one. And she’s immortalized by the late Lou Reed who pays homage to the trans pioneer, in his anthem Walk on the Wild Side:
Holly came from Miami, F.L.A.
Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs and then he was a she
Woodlawn, 68, is now in very poor health in an L.A. hospital and the outcome for her recovery isn’t good. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by her friend, Penny Arcade, will to help cover medical and even eventual funeral and burial costs for the ailing performer. Penny’s note reads:
Holly Woodlawn, the beloved, iconic Transgender LBGT pioneer and Warhol superstar is very ill. She is currently in the hospital in Los Angeles in a private room.The hospital has asked that we not give out the name because they are aleady fielding many phonecalls about Holly and are not set up to handle it. Holly cannot speak on the telephone now and her condition is dire. She is undergoing investigative measures to determine exactly the nature of the lesions discovered on her brain and lungs. There are also other physical conditions challenging her recovery. Holly’s has made it clear that she wants to return home, surrounded by friends and if she must die, she doesn’t want to die in a nursing home.
We who love Holly, hope to raise enough funds to continue her care and hopefully bring Holly home with 24-hour nursing care, after she recouperates in a nursing home. Currently, we have no means to achieve these goals, which also include provisions for her funeral and to secure her final resting place. Holly gave visability long before it was comfortable to do so and also gave thousands of people both hope and pleasure.
You can contribute here and help Penny and friends bring Holly home. Since it was posted two days ago, half the goal, $25,000 has been raised. Share this widely, please. T/Y.
