FW resident here, so I’ve been in close proximity to his influence for almost a lifetime.
Cliburn was a class act. Although he was probably homosexual, he was NOT openly “gay,” (that is purely a political identity). Yet, his private proclivity, that he did NOT make a part of his very identity, has been hijacked by the Gaystapo for their own political ends. It grieve me that these deviants are so heartless and wicked to drag out as purported “support” what even Cliburn was willing to completely repress.
My husband’s cousins are (now retired) concert duo-pianists and they knew Van Cliburn personally. They always said that he was a very nice person.