This Day in Queer History

On this day in 1931, Clyde Hicks was arrested on sodomy charges in Hawaii and sentenced to six years in prison. Transferred to Alcatraz and placed in solitary for passing a note to another man, his story reveals devastating cruelty.

On this day, Black and White Men Together began weekly demonstrations outside the Ice Palace disco in NYC, protesting the club's racist door policies and fighting racism within the LGBTQ+ community.

On this day, Katie Sowers was born. She became the first openly LGBT coach in the NFL and the first female and first openly gay offensive assistant in a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers.

On this day, a law prohibiting insurance companies in Washington, D.C. from discriminating against people who tested HIV-positive went into effect, protecting those most vulnerable during the epidemic.

On this day in 1987, over 100 gay men and lesbians gathered at Piccadilly Circus in London for a bold kiss-in, defying the Sexual Offences Act that still treated public same-sex affection as a crime.

On this day, rallies were held in 21 American cities for Free Sharon Kowalski Day. After her parents barred her partner Karen Thompson from visiting, Thompson fought and won guardianship in a landmark case for gay rights.

On this day in 1989, Outweek magazine published a list of 66 allegedly closeted celebrities under the headline "Peek-a-Boo." The controversial article ignited the national debate over "outing" by gay activists.

On this day in 1994, two daily newspapers in York, Pennsylvania reversed their policy of refusing same-sex personal ads just one week after implementing it, bowing to community pressure.

On this day, three LGBTQ activists in Poland hung pride flags on statues, including one of Christ. Police charged them with desecrating monuments. President Duda called LGBT rights more harmful than communism.