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The Friendship Between this Gay Actor and His 89-Year-Old Neighbor Norma Has Us in Tears
Out actor Chris Salvatore reached out to the public to help his 89-year-old friend and neighbor remain in her home, and the response is overwhelming.
The story of the beautiful friendship between out actor Chris Salvatore and his 89-year-old neighbor Norma Cook, and how hundreds of strangers have rallied to help her, gives us hope in humanity at a time when we could really use it. PRIDE spoke with Chris and wrote about them back in November but now their story is going viral thanks to an interview Chris gave to People. Read our story about them below.
In the four years since West Hollywood residents Chris and Norma first met at their apartment building, they developed a close bond that he’s been able to share on YouTube and with his sizable social media following over the years. One of the stars of the gay-themed movies Eating Out, Chris’s fans stepped up when he shared with them that Norma has been ill with Leukemia, among other ailments, and needs 24-hour care, meaning it would be nearly impossible on her monthly social security check alone, to live at home and not in a nursing facility.
As their friendship developed and Norma’s health was on the decline, Chris began to lend his time to Norma, cooking meals for her, and taking her shopping and on doctors’ appointments, as well as just being her good friend. But last week he took things to the next level, building a crowdfunding page and reaching out on Norma’s behalf so that she can leave the rehab facility she’s currently in and return to her apartment with her beloved cat Hermes.
"I think there is a lot of love and kindness in the world despite what seems to be divisiveness during this cycle of time. Sharing my relationship with Norma over the past few years on social media has provided a window for people to see into Norma’s simple life and see how alone we all can be,” Chris told Pride exclusively in an email when we asked why he thought the friendship between him and Norma has resonated for so many people.
Since Chris launched a GoFundMe page on Norma’s behalf last week, hundreds of people have donated to the amount of 57,000-plus raised so far. Chris had originally set the goal at 50,000, but the more money raised, the longer Norma will be afforded the opportunity to remain in her home. In the first month that the GoFundMe page was live they raised enough money for Chris to move Norma into his apartment, according to the interview with People.
Chris went on to tell PRIDE, “Each of us wants to do our best, but we get so busy in our own little small world we forget to take the time to notice others. I believe a simple smile or hello opens up so many possibilities of kindness and love. Just one simple act of friendship truly did inspire others to be generous.”
As the story begins to go viral, Chris is grateful for the power of humanity at its finest. “Each of us has the potential to be proactive in our own communities, creating a ripple effect. We should never underestimate the power of our voice that challenges us to be the best humans we were created to be,” Chris wrote to Pride. “With each act of kindness, there is a shift in universal consciousness that only creates a more peaceful world for all. I hope this story continues to inspire us all to understand each of us can be the best version of ourselves when we do our best, however, a simple gesture it may be!”
Watch the CBS report on Chris and Norma (and Hermes) below.
And check out the GoFundMe page here.
Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP, Executive Producer of Entertainment for the Advocate Channel. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.
Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP, Executive Producer of Entertainment for the Advocate Channel. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.
