Michael C. Burgess (editor)

Anti-Apartheid Movement

In the 1980s, Burgess was a City Group committee member, later reading The Leninist and aiding The Non-Stop Picket of South Africa House that called for Nelson Mandela's release from prison.^[1] He said the Picket became part of his daily routine and noticed early picketers lost their motivation and gave up.^[2]

Burgess and Steve Stannard were elected co-treasurers for OutRage! in May, 1990 when it became a not-for-profit organization.^[3] Stannard was ousted on September 4.^[4]

Film and theater performances

From 2004 to 2011, Burgess performed in plays in San Diego County such as Arcadia, The Engagement of Marjorie and Hay Fever.^[5][6][7] He acted in the films South of 8 (2016), Hacksaw (2020) and Friend of the World (2020).^[8]

Journalism

In 1988, Burgess interviewed several British black gay men and women in an article he wrote for The Voice.^[9] He became the editor of The Star-News in California, United States on March 29, 2002.^[10]

In 2003, Burgess wrote a column about Steve Padilla, quoting him from a Mid-Bayfront speech at San Diego Country Club.^[11] Padilla claimed Burgess made wrong interpretations about his statement.^[12][13] In 2004, Burgess gathered lawsuit information from City Council candidate Steve Castaneda who wanted legal action on his opponent, Dan Hom. After Burgess received hard copies of liens and court cases, his publisher told him to kill the story.^[14] The next day, Burgess was removed from his duties as Editor.^[15]

Poetry

Burgess is a Brixton bedsit poet^[1] and his verse, Blue Rhapsody, was published in Once I Was a Washing Machine by Ken Worpole in 1989.^[16] He talked about how difficult it is waiting for literature to be published for those that do not take up writing at a young age.^[17] Another verse, The Victims, was published in the 1990 book The Cream of the Troubadour Poets by David Stuart Ryan.^[18]

Publishing

In 2015, Burgess was editor and publisher for Damsels in Distress, Bailey Among The Angels and The Rican Eye Detective Agency by author Neil Raymond Ricco.^[19][20][21]

Stand-up comedy

In 1986, Burgess did stand-up comedy as Baron Husk at Shepherd's Bush Pavilion with Ian Macpherson and Kevin Day,^[22] and the Bearcat Club in Twickenham with Rory Bremner, Phil Cornwell, and Arnold Brown.^[23] On October 19, 1991, he did a show at the Hackney Empire with Tommy cockles, Hattie Hayridge, and Mark Steel.^[24] In 1994 and 1995, Burgess had a duo residency for Upstairs at the Redan in Queensway, London with John Lane,^[25] hosting for comedians like Shaun Pye as Burgess & Lane.^[26]

2023–present

In 2023, Burgess posted on social media, "The very idea of human trials for Elon Musk's Neuralink chip is going to be a freak show that posterity will judge to be more horrific than the Holocaust."^[27]