This Day in Queer History

On this day, fashion photographer Herb Ritts was born. Known for his stunning black-and-white portraits in the style of classical sculpture, Ritts received the GLAAD Media Pioneer Award posthumously in 2008.

On this day in 1958, Domenico Dolce was born. He co-founded Dolce & Gabbana with partner Stefano Gabbana, building one of the world's most iconic fashion houses while living openly as a gay couple.

On this day in 1975, The Advocate declared it the Year of the Disco. Across the U.S. and around the world, discos transformed the gay and lesbian subculture into a glittering, defiant movement.

On this day in 1975, gay writer Randy Shilts made his debut in The Advocate with a story on Oregon gay rights politics. He would go on to write the landmark AIDS chronicle And the Band Played On.

On this day, Australia agreed to grant refugee status to people persecuted for their sexual orientation, recognizing that anti-queer violence was grounds for international protection.

On this day, the CDC approved funding for the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention. Led by activist Reggie Williams, the program addressed the crisis within communities of color when silence was still the norm.

On this day, Senator Dennis DeConcini called on the Pentagon to end the ban on gay and lesbian service personnel unless an independent study could justify it. The challenge put the military's policy on the defensive.

On this day, San Francisco's Bay Area Reporter published its first issue in seventeen years with no AIDS-related obituaries. A milestone measured in grief finally lifting.

On this day in 1998, novelist Julien Green died at 97. The first non-French member of the Académie Française, Green chronicled his struggle with homosexuality across decades of celebrated fiction and diaries.

On this day, the Pentagon officially revised Don't Ask, Don't Tell to require mandatory anti-harassment training for all troops. The update acknowledged what LGBTQ+ service members had long known: the policy itself bred hostility.

On this day, radio host Stephanie Miller came out on air, inspired by singer Chely Wright. The liberal talk show host and Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour creator proved that living authentically only amplified her powerful voice.

On this day in 1977, Karine Jean-Pierre was born. She became the first openly gay woman to serve as a vice presidential chief of staff and later made history as White House Press Secretary.