This Day in Queer History

On this day, bisexual poet John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, was born. A courtier of King Charles II, he embodied the Restoration's revolt against Puritan repression with bawdy, beautifully simple verse that celebrated desire without shame.

This month in 1896, the first issue of Der Eigene appeared, an openly homosexual publication by Adolf Brand. Running until 1932, it was dedicated to those proud of their individuality who would maintain it at any price.

On this day in 1943, Dutch resistance leader Willem Arondeus was arrested after bombing a Nazi records office to protect Jews. Before his execution, he declared: 'Let it be known that homosexuals are not cowards.'

This month, The Advocate estimated approximately 6.8 million gay people lived in the United States, offering one of the earliest attempts to quantify a community long rendered invisible.

This month in 1972, Delaware decriminalized private consensual adult homosexual acts, joining the growing movement to dismantle laws that criminalized queer intimacy and autonomy.

On this day in 1973, Rachel Maddow was born. She became the first openly gay anchor to host a major prime-time news program in the United States, bringing sharp political commentary to MSNBC every night.

This month, Kathy Kozachenko won a seat on the Ann Arbor City Council, becoming the first openly gay or lesbian person elected to public office in the U.S., a milestone largely overlooked by history.

On this day, Mandate, an openly gay magazine, made its debut, adding another publication to the growing landscape of queer media and visibility in the 1970s.

This month in 1976, South Dakota decriminalized private consensual adult homosexual acts, joining the growing number of states dismantling laws that criminalized queer intimacy.

On this day in 1979, the Village People's 'In The Navy' hit the Top 40. The U.S. Navy briefly considered it for recruitment until someone explained the lyrics. Camp as resistance.

On this day, Ebony magazine posed the question: Is homosexuality a threat to the Black family? The article concluded that it is not, pushing back against a harmful and persistent myth.

This month in 1985, the Harvey Milk School opened in a Greenwich Village church basement for 20 openly LGBTQ+ teens, offering refuge to students who had fled abuse and harassment elsewhere.

This month in 1986, Ireen Wüst was born. The Dutch speed skater became the most decorated Winter Olympian from the Netherlands with ten medals. She came out as bisexual in 2009.

On this day, the first National Gay and Lesbian Youth Conference was held in Los Angeles, creating space for young queer people to gather, connect, and see themselves reflected.

On this day in 1990, Madonna told Vanity Fair she wasn't a lesbian and Sandra Bernhard wasn't her lover. Bernhard, openly bisexual and a fierce gay rights ally, continued living her truth regardless.

On this day in 1998, Coretta Scott King called on the civil rights community to join the fight against homophobia. Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow drew powerful connections between movements, even as some criticized her stance.

This month in 2001, the Netherlands made history as the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen married four couples at midnight, changing the world forever.