This Day in Queer History

On this day in 1940, Alix Dobkin was born. A women's music legend and feminist activist, her landmark album Lavender Jane Loves Women became a touchstone for lesbian culture and visibility.

On this day in 1969, New York's Gay Liberation Front sponsored the first 'Coming Out' dance at Alternate U, giving gays and lesbians a space to celebrate on their own terms, free from mafia-owned bars.

On this day, Blue Earth County, Minnesota issued a marriage license to two men, Jack Baker and Mike McConnell. Pioneering advocates for marriage equality, they weren't legally recognized until 2019.

On this day in 1985, Dr. Paul Volberding wrote a breakthrough letter about obtaining experimental AIDS drugs. He founded the first inpatient AIDS ward and became one of the world's leading AIDS experts.

On this day in 1988, the United Church of Canada became the first mainstream church in the world to accept gay ordination without imposing celibacy. Faith and inclusion, united at last.

On this day in 1990, OutRage demonstrated outside Scotland Yard, demanding an end to police entrapment and urging greater effort to solve anti-gay murders in Britain.

On this day in 1991, New Jersey Governor James Florio issued an executive order prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination in the public sector, extending protections to state employees.

On this day, the president of Huntington, West Virginia's chamber of commerce stated that an ordinance banning anti-gay discrimination would be good for business. Equality made economic sense too.

On this day, a video store clerk in Largo, Florida, was found not guilty of obscenity charges for renting a gay porn video to an undercover officer, a small but meaningful courtroom victory.

On this day in 1996, President Clinton endorsed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act via video at a Human Rights Campaign event, becoming the first president to back a civil rights bill including gay Americans.

On this day, Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres married. Their union became one of the most visible same-sex marriages in American culture, bringing queer love into millions of living rooms.