This Day in Queer History

On this day, Alice B. Toklas was born in San Francisco. With Gertrude Stein, she formed queer history's most legendary lesbian couple. Their Paris salon hosted Hemingway, Picasso, and Matisse while their love letters became timeless.

On this day, Marcel Proust published the first part of Sodome et Gomorrhe, bringing themes of same-sex passion to the fore in his monumental Remembrance of Things Past. Queer desire became high literary art.

On this day in 1988, some 30,000 people marched in London to protest Clause 28, which banned the 'promotion' of homosexuality. It was the largest lesbian and gay rally in UK history, a roar of collective defiance.

On this day in 1989, more than 20,000 people marched on the Texas state capital in Austin, making it the largest gay and lesbian rights demonstration in the state's history.

On this day in 1997, Ellen DeGeneres came out on her sitcom in 'The Puppy Episode,' watched by 42 million viewers. Despite backlash that ended her show, her courage opened the door for a generation of LGBTQ+ celebrities.