| | He died of liver cancer on April 5, 1997.<ref>http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm</ref> Ginsberg was also a fervent supporter of gay rights, and an anti-war, anti-nuclear and environmental activist, and is known for his controversial behavior. He was widely criticised, even by friends and allies, when he joined the notorious North American Man-Boy Love Association, or [[NAMBLA]].<ref>http://www.ijn.com/archive/2002%20arch/062102.htm#story8</ref> In "Thoughts on NAMBLA," Ginsberg explains his reasons for joining the organisation: "NAMBLA's a forum for reform of those laws on youthful sexuality which members deem oppressive, (it is) a discussion society not a sex club. I joined NAMBLA in defense of free speech."<ref>Bill Morgan, ed., ''Deliberate Prose: Selected Essays 1952-1995.'' New York: HarperCollins (2000), ISBN 0-06-093081-0 (p.170)</ref> When he felt his point had been made--that free speech should be afforded even those with unpopular viewpoints--he quit the organisation. | | He died of liver cancer on April 5, 1997.<ref>http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm</ref> Ginsberg was also a fervent supporter of gay rights, and an anti-war, anti-nuclear and environmental activist, and is known for his controversial behavior. He was widely criticised, even by friends and allies, when he joined the notorious North American Man-Boy Love Association, or [[NAMBLA]].<ref>http://www.ijn.com/archive/2002%20arch/062102.htm#story8</ref> In "Thoughts on NAMBLA," Ginsberg explains his reasons for joining the organisation: "NAMBLA's a forum for reform of those laws on youthful sexuality which members deem oppressive, (it is) a discussion society not a sex club. I joined NAMBLA in defense of free speech."<ref>Bill Morgan, ed., ''Deliberate Prose: Selected Essays 1952-1995.'' New York: HarperCollins (2000), ISBN 0-06-093081-0 (p.170)</ref> When he felt his point had been made--that free speech should be afforded even those with unpopular viewpoints--he quit the organisation. |
| − | Ginsberg became a student of the well-known [[Tibet]]an [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] teacher Chögyam Trungpa after a chance meeting in [[New York City]] in 1970. | + | Ginsberg became a student of the well-known [[Tibet]]an [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] teacher Chögyam Trungpa after a chance meeting in [[New York City]] in 1970.<ref>http://poetry.about.com/od/20thcenturypoets/p/ginsberg.htm</ref> |