Actor Cheyenne Jackson paid tribute to 9/11 hero Mark Bingham yesterday on the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
Jackson portrayed Bingham in the 2006 movie, United 93. It was a dramatization, in real-time, of what happened aboard one of the planes that crashed on 9/11.
Bingham was a former rugby player. He was also gay. He helped set up the world’s first international tournament for gay rugby teams in the summer of 2001.
Along with other passengers and crew members, Bingham was able to overcome the terrorists who hijacked United Airlines 93, which was on its way from Newark, New Jersey to San Francisco.
United Airlines 93 ended up crashing in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing all 44 people on board. It was the only one of the four hijacked planes that day not to reach its intended target.
Without the action taken by those on board, many more people might have died it the plane reached its intended target — believed to be Washington DC.
Jackson posted a photo of Bingham and said, “Thinking of you today Mark Bingham. It was a privilege portraying you in the film #United93 and I honor your memory as well as your mother Alice Hoagland’s and all of the souls lost that day. #NeverForget”
Alice Hoagland
Hoagland, a former flight attendant, was Bingham’s mother. After his death, she became involved in campaigns and events to keep her son’s memory alive. This included the Mark Bingham Foundation and the renamed Bingham Cup: the world’s biggest gay rugby tournament.
The first Bingham Cup took place in San Francisco in 2002, the year after the 9/11 attacks.
Hoagland died, aged 71, in December 2020.
Many thanked Jackson for remembering Bingham.
“Aside from my personal connections to a few human souls lost that day… Mark is one of my favorites. He is such a hero to me,” said one. “Also proof that no matter how the world treats you for being who you were born to be, you can still stand in your goodness, retain your integrity and your humanity. Thank you Mark!”
“Met Mark at a July 4th party two months before 9/11. What a sweetheart. 💔” said another.
“Thank you @mrcheyennejackson he means so much to us in the rugby community. We loved Alice so much too,” said a third.
Related*
Cheyenne Jackson shares what happened when he bumped into his former bully at their high school reunion
Jackson said he’d not been planning to attend but an old friend talked him into it.
Marjorie Taylor Greene marks 9/11 by devising a special new workout routine
She calls it the “Kabul 13”.
ZzBomb
In a world so full of hate, we should all strive to be like Mark Bingham.
bachy
Feeling pain and heartbreak remembering Mark Bingham and all the innocent people whose lives were taken on 9/11.
Mr.Gavin Elster
Wow! Great story! Almost no mention of this great hero, Mark Bingham, and his dear mom in mainstream media. Queerty, PLEASE more empowering articles like this, about our often overlooked lgbt+ history, and less “twink-thirst-traps.”
missvamp
it’s a day i’ll never forget. my brother had just quit a job working near the towers just the week before. he travelled under the towers every single day. he would have been killed that day. he had a friend in tower 1 that died. he was able to call his wife between the time the first & 2nd planes hit. the story he told was utterly horrifying & heartbreaking. i met his mom(she lived in dallas, where i did at the time). it was so hard to see her pain.
dbmcvey
Lovely. We should never forget.
cuteguy
Thank you Mark Bingham for being a true hero, who happened to have been gay. And thank you Cheyenne for reminding us of the lgbtq trailblazers who directly or indirectly paved a path for the freedoms we take for granted today. May we never forget and always live love and prosper today bc tomorrow is never guaranteed.
KyleMichelSullivan
Lovely sentiment about an amazing man who was heroic in the extreme. He’s been all but ignored by those who’ve fetishized 9/11, but he will not be forgotten.
barryaksarben
a horrifying day for all Americans . I always think of mark and betty eng a air hostess who showed extreme heroism.