I've occasionally used the Samuel Barber Adagio because its such a sublime piece of music, and has become "official" mourning music (played at FDR's funeral, played on the air only moments after JFK's assassination, performed at many memorial services after 9/11, etc.) and has often moves listeners to tears, even removed from that sort of context. Then, after hearing something that has moved them so much, I tell them "Oh, by the way, the man who wrote that was gay." Its amusing to see them trying to reconcile this emotional experience and this fact-- it really gets under their skin.
“Society is not a disease, it is a disaster. What a stupid miracle that one can live in it.” ~ E.M. Cioran
