JD Disalvatore, a prolific LGBT film and television producer and director and gay rights activist, died Thursday, Aug. 24 after a long battle with cancer. She was 51.
A proud marching band trumpet player in Miami Palmetto Senior High, JD went on to study communications at Boston University, absorbing as much as she could from her creative writing and film classes. After graduating she packed her bags, pointed her car toward Los Angeles and never looked back. That trip started what would become a long and storied career.
As a filmmaker credits include Eating Out 2, A Marine Story, Gay Propaganda, Elena Undone and the multi award-winning Shelter, which won a GLAAD Media Award for best feature film in limited release and in 2012 topped the list of The 100 Greatest Gay Movies Of All Time newnownext.com‘s.
In 2009, JD was honored at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center’s An Evening With Women with a LACE Award for her work in the community, was featured in Go Magazine’s “100 Women We Love” and this past March was honored with a West Hollywood Women in Leadership Award. She was also on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, where she served a term as Vice President of the Board and was last President of the Board of Directors of the Frontiers Foundation.
JD’s love of film and writing skills extended to magazine and newspaper outlets including Clout, Curve, GayWired.com, PlanetOut.com,
JD leaves behind a large family of friends, her brother and sister Roanne and Carl DiSalvtore, and a grateful LBGT community. Her huge activist heart, passionate spirit for filmmaking and her indomitable, fighting spirit will not be forgotten.
A memorial party will be planned for the near future.
