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LGBTQ+ People in History: a thread
~ every day of pride Iâll add another person to this thread!
~ just a friendly reminder that LGBTQ+ people have always existed and have been incredibly influentional on our world today!
~ just a friendly reminder that LGBTQ+ people have always existed and have been incredibly influentional on our world today!
1. Barbara Gittings
Gittings was an out lesbian activist in the 50s/60s and is well known as the founder of the NY chapter of the DOB (the first lesbian civil/political rights org in the US). She also worked to get the APA to drop homosexuality as a mental illness in 1972!
Gittings was an out lesbian activist in the 50s/60s and is well known as the founder of the NY chapter of the DOB (the first lesbian civil/political rights org in the US). She also worked to get the APA to drop homosexuality as a mental illness in 1972!
2. Bayard Rustin
Rustin was a gay man well known for his activism in the Civil Rights Movement, particularly for being one of the organizers of the March of Washington in 1963. His legacy continues today - he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
Rustin was a gay man well known for his activism in the Civil Rights Movement, particularly for being one of the organizers of the March of Washington in 1963. His legacy continues today - he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
3. Selma Lagerlöf
In 1909 she was the first female to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. One of her most famous works (Du lÀr mig att bli fri) is a collection of letters she wrote to her Jewish lover and fellow writer Sophie Elkan. The two were together from 1894 to 1921!
In 1909 she was the first female to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. One of her most famous works (Du lÀr mig att bli fri) is a collection of letters she wrote to her Jewish lover and fellow writer Sophie Elkan. The two were together from 1894 to 1921!
4. Audre Lorde
Self-described as a âblack, lesbian, mother, warrior, poetâ Lorde spent her life addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, homophobia. The Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in NYC and the Audre Lorde Project are both named in honor of her
Self-described as a âblack, lesbian, mother, warrior, poetâ Lorde spent her life addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, homophobia. The Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in NYC and the Audre Lorde Project are both named in honor of her
5. JĂłhanna SigurĂ°ardĂłtti
In 2009 she became Icelands 1st female Prime Minister and the worlds 1st openly LGBT head of government. In 2010 Iceland passed a marriage equality law which allowed her to marry her partner, Jonina LeosdĂłttir. She remained in office until 2013.
In 2009 she became Icelands 1st female Prime Minister and the worlds 1st openly LGBT head of government. In 2010 Iceland passed a marriage equality law which allowed her to marry her partner, Jonina LeosdĂłttir. She remained in office until 2013.
6. Gilbert Baker
Baker was an artist and gay rights activist who is most well known as the designer of the rainbow flag! Debuted at the 1978 San Francisco Pride, the flag originally including eight colors - turquoise and pink were removed in later versions for practical reasons.
Baker was an artist and gay rights activist who is most well known as the designer of the rainbow flag! Debuted at the 1978 San Francisco Pride, the flag originally including eight colors - turquoise and pink were removed in later versions for practical reasons.
7. Simon Nkoli
He founded the Gay + Lesbian Org. of the Witwatersrand in 1988 and organised the first pride parade in South Africa! He advocated for the protection from discrimination in the Bill of Rights in the 1994 South African constitution + for the repeal of the sodomy law
He founded the Gay + Lesbian Org. of the Witwatersrand in 1988 and organised the first pride parade in South Africa! He advocated for the protection from discrimination in the Bill of Rights in the 1994 South African constitution + for the repeal of the sodomy law
8. Edie Windsor
A prominent LGBTQ+ activist, she is well known as the lead plaintiff in the 2013 Supreme Court case United States v. Windsor, which overturned Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act and was considered a landmark legal victory for the same-sex marriage movement
A prominent LGBTQ+ activist, she is well known as the lead plaintiff in the 2013 Supreme Court case United States v. Windsor, which overturned Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act and was considered a landmark legal victory for the same-sex marriage movement
9. Christine Jorgenson
She was a transgender woman who was the first person to become widely known in the US for having sex reassignment surgery in 1952. In the US she became an instant celebrity, known for her directness and polished wit, and advocated for transgender people.
She was a transgender woman who was the first person to become widely known in the US for having sex reassignment surgery in 1952. In the US she became an instant celebrity, known for her directness and polished wit, and advocated for transgender people.
10. Miss Major Griffin-Gracy
Miss Major is a trans woman activist for transgender rights with a particular focus on women of color. She served as the og Executive Director for the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project. She was a participant at the Stonewall Riots.
Miss Major is a trans woman activist for transgender rights with a particular focus on women of color. She served as the og Executive Director for the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project. She was a participant at the Stonewall Riots.
11. Kathy Kozachenko
Three years before Harvey Milk took office, Kathy was elected to the Ann Arbor City Council in MI in 1974, becoming the first openly gay person elected to political office in the US. While Kathyâs career was short, she helped pave the way for a new movement.
Three years before Harvey Milk took office, Kathy was elected to the Ann Arbor City Council in MI in 1974, becoming the first openly gay person elected to political office in the US. While Kathyâs career was short, she helped pave the way for a new movement.
12. Joséphine Baker
Baker, who identified as bisexual,
was an American-born entertainer, French Resistance agent, and civil rights activist. Baker was the first mixed race to star in a major motion picture. She was a vocal supporter of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s.
Baker, who identified as bisexual,
was an American-born entertainer, French Resistance agent, and civil rights activist. Baker was the first mixed race to star in a major motion picture. She was a vocal supporter of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s.
13. Frank Kameny
In 1963 Kameny + the Mattachine Society (which he cofounded in 1950) launched a campaign to overturn D.C. sodomy laws. He also helped remove the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder. He continued advocating for LGBT rights until his death in 2011
In 1963 Kameny + the Mattachine Society (which he cofounded in 1950) launched a campaign to overturn D.C. sodomy laws. He also helped remove the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder. He continued advocating for LGBT rights until his death in 2011
14. Del Martin + Phyllis Lyon
They had been together for 3 years when they founded the Daughters of Bitilis in San Francisco in 1955, which became the first social/political org for lesbians in the US. They also formed the Council on Religion and the Homosexual in northern CA!
They had been together for 3 years when they founded the Daughters of Bitilis in San Francisco in 1955, which became the first social/political org for lesbians in the US. They also formed the Council on Religion and the Homosexual in northern CA!
15. Karl Heinrich Ulrichs
He was a German lawyer + author who is seen today as a pioneer of the modern gay rights movement. Its argued that he was the first person to âcome outâ in modern society when he published a statement of support for a man arrested for homosexual offences
He was a German lawyer + author who is seen today as a pioneer of the modern gay rights movement. Its argued that he was the first person to âcome outâ in modern society when he published a statement of support for a man arrested for homosexual offences
16. James Baldwin
He was a gay American writer + activist; known for his essays that explore the intricacies of racial, sexual, + class distinctions in the US w/ themes of masculinity, sexuality, race, + class intertwined to create narratives abt political movements at the time.
He was a gay American writer + activist; known for his essays that explore the intricacies of racial, sexual, + class distinctions in the US w/ themes of masculinity, sexuality, race, + class intertwined to create narratives abt political movements at the time.
17. Ernestine Eckstein
She was a Black lesbian woman who helped steer the US Lesbian/Gay rights movement during the 1960s. Eckstein was one of the most progressive thinkers of her time in the gay and lesbian political movement as well as in the Black Feminist movement.
She was a Black lesbian woman who helped steer the US Lesbian/Gay rights movement during the 1960s. Eckstein was one of the most progressive thinkers of her time in the gay and lesbian political movement as well as in the Black Feminist movement.
18. Bill Thom
In 1971 Thom formed Lambda Legal, a civil rights org that focuses on LGBTQ+ communities + people living with HIV/AIDS through impact litigation, education, and public policy. The org has been influential on some of the biggest LGBTQ+ court cases in recent history.
In 1971 Thom formed Lambda Legal, a civil rights org that focuses on LGBTQ+ communities + people living with HIV/AIDS through impact litigation, education, and public policy. The org has been influential on some of the biggest LGBTQ+ court cases in recent history.
19. Larry Kramer
Kramer, a gay writer, co-founded the advocacy groups GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis) and ACT UP, which has been widely credited with changing public health policy and the perception of people living with AIDS. He was also a two-time recipient of the Obie Award.
Kramer, a gay writer, co-founded the advocacy groups GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis) and ACT UP, which has been widely credited with changing public health policy and the perception of people living with AIDS. He was also a two-time recipient of the Obie Award.
20. Marsha P Johnson
She was a gay liberation activist and self-identified drag queen. Johnson is well known as one of the prominent figures in the Stonewall uprising of 1969. Johnson also cofounded the Gay Liberation Front and Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR).
She was a gay liberation activist and self-identified drag queen. Johnson is well known as one of the prominent figures in the Stonewall uprising of 1969. Johnson also cofounded the Gay Liberation Front and Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR).
21. Hal Call
He was a LGBT rights activist, veteran, + businessman. He served as president of the Mattachine Society and in the 1950s was one of the first gay activists to speak publicly on television. Call also founded multiple printing presses for LGBT publications.
He was a LGBT rights activist, veteran, + businessman. He served as president of the Mattachine Society and in the 1950s was one of the first gay activists to speak publicly on television. Call also founded multiple printing presses for LGBT publications.
22. Sally Ride
In 1983 Ride became the first US woman in space. Ride remains the youngest US astronaut to have traveled to space. She came out posthumously due to her private nature, but she was with her partner Tam O'Shaughnessy for 27 yrs. She is the first known LGBT astronaut
In 1983 Ride became the first US woman in space. Ride remains the youngest US astronaut to have traveled to space. She came out posthumously due to her private nature, but she was with her partner Tam O'Shaughnessy for 27 yrs. She is the first known LGBT astronaut
23. Ma Rainey
Billed as the âmother of the bluesâ, she was one of the earliest African-American professional blues singers. Some of her songs contained references to her queerness, including âProve It On Meâ which was a cultural precursor to the lesbian cultural movement.
Billed as the âmother of the bluesâ, she was one of the earliest African-American professional blues singers. Some of her songs contained references to her queerness, including âProve It On Meâ which was a cultural precursor to the lesbian cultural movement.
24. Lionel Blue
He was a British Reform rabbi, journalist and broadcaster, described by The Guardian as "one of the most respected religious figures in the UK". He was the first British rabbi publicly to declare his homosexuality and was involved with various gay charities.
He was a British Reform rabbi, journalist and broadcaster, described by The Guardian as "one of the most respected religious figures in the UK". He was the first British rabbi publicly to declare his homosexuality and was involved with various gay charities.
