This Day in Queer History

On this day in 1862, Albert Cashier enlisted in the Union Army's 95th Illinois Infantry. Born Jennie Hodgers, Cashier lived as a man for over 50 years, serving with honor in a life that defied every boundary.

On this day in 1913, Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld spoke at a London medical conference and met with British gays about forming a local branch of his Scientific Humanitarian Committee, the world's first gay rights organization.

On this day, Andy Warhol was born. The gay pop art icon transformed American culture through painting, film, and celebrity, while his relationships with men like Jed Johnson shaped his personal world.

On this day, Martin Duberman was born. The historian came out in a 1972 New York Times essay, co-founded the Gay Academic Union, and established the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at CUNY.

On this day, 'The Girl who Became a Bridegroom' was published about Mark Weston. Assigned female at birth, Weston was a champion British field athlete who underwent gender-changing operations in 1936 and later married and had three children.

On this day in 1938, out actor and director Paul Bartel was born in Brooklyn. He directed cult camp classics including Death Race 2000 and Eating Raoul, bringing subversive queer humor to genre filmmaking.

On this day, Steve Endean was born. He founded Minnesota's first gay rights lobby, created the Human Rights Campaign, and lived to see Minnesota pass its landmark LGBT nondiscrimination law before dying of AIDS.

On this day in 1992, the Ontario Court of Appeals voided the Canadian military's ban on gays and lesbians, opening the door for queer service members to serve openly.

On this day, the Japanese-American Citizens League voted 50-38 in San Francisco to support same-sex marriage. An organization forged in the fight against its own community's internment stood up for another minority's rights.