This Day in Queer History

On this day, Johanna Elberskirchen was born. An openly homosexual feminist writer and activist, she fought for the rights of women, queer people, and workers until the Nazis silenced her in 1933.

On this day, writer Glenway Wescott was born. One of America's clearest lyrical voices, he kept journals about everything and was linked romantically to photographer George Platt Lynes.

On this day in 1932, Joel Grey was born. The Academy and Tony Award-winning actor, beloved as the emcee in Cabaret, came out as a gay man in 2015, telling People magazine simply: 'I'm a gay man.'

On this day in 1949, writer Dorothy Allison was born. A self-identified lesbian femme from South Carolina, she explored class, abuse, and queer identity in award-winning works including Bastard Out of Carolina.

On this day, the Mattachine Society held its first constitutional convention at a church in Los Angeles. Founded by Harry Hay in 1950, the organization was among the earliest gay rights groups in the United States.

On this day, singer, songwriter, and AIDS activist Michael Callen was born. Co-inventor of safer sex practices and co-founder of the People With AIDS movement, he turned survival into resistance.

On this day in 1956, Christine Hallquist was born. She became the first openly transgender nominee for governor in the United States, winning Vermont's 2018 Democratic primary with over 40% of the vote.

On this day in 2001, GLAD filed the Goodridge v. Department of Public Health case in Massachusetts, a lawsuit that would lead to the state becoming the first in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004.

On this day in 2013, the French Senate approved the law granting equal marriage and adoption rights to gay and lesbian couples, making France a leader in LGBTQ+ equality.