Lesbian Singer/Songwriter Lauro Nyro Named To 2012 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2012 inductees. For the fourth time, multiple Grammy winner Donna Summer had been nominated, but was not selected. Of slight solace (to me), late lesbian singer/songwriter Laura Nyro made the cut on her first nomination.

More than a quarter century after they brought hard rock back to the top of the heap, the original lineup of legendary Los Angeles band Guns N' Roses will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April. Guns were among the acts named on Wednesday as the Class of 2012, which includes fellow L.A. rockers the Red Hot Chili Peppers, iconic New York rap trio the Beastie Boys, 1960s pop singer Laura Nyro, the Small Faces (and their later Rod Stewart-led incarnation, the Faces), as well as mellow 1960s singer Donovan.

As far as I know, the other gay folks in the Hall of Fame are Elton John (1994), Dusty Springfield (1999) and Freddie Mercury (2001), who was inducted as a member of Queen. Check out the list of inductees and see if I've missed somebody. Acts become eligible 25 years after the release of their first U.S. full-length album.

VIDEO: Nyro was more famed for her many smash songs recorded by other artists. Here's her own take on her song made into a hit by the Fifth Dimension.