This Day in Queer History

On this day, California's governor commuted the sentence of Lucilius Miller, convicted of sodomy and sentenced to 12 years in prison. A rare act of mercy in a merciless era.

On this day in 1917, the Bolsheviks repealed Russia's entire criminal code, nullifying laws against sex between men. Seventeen years later, Article 121 would recriminalize it with up to five years' imprisonment.

On this day, Jim Owles and Marty Robinson left the Gay Liberation Front to form the Gay Activists Alliance, a group laser-focused on gay rights. Both men later died of AIDS-related illnesses.

On this day in 1973, a federal judge ruled that the U.S. civil service could not terminate employees based on sexual orientation alone. A critical early protection for queer government workers.

On this day, Time and Newsweek ran their first major stories about AIDS, bringing the epidemic into mainstream American consciousness as the crisis continued to devastate gay communities.

On this day, the Chicago City Council voted 28-17 to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. The city drew a line, declaring that who you love should never cost you your job or your home.

On this day in 1990, an MTV poll revealed that 92% of American teenagers said it would make no difference if their favorite rock star came out as gay or lesbian. A generational shift in real time.

On this day, Newfoundland and Labrador became the eighth Canadian province to legalize same-sex marriage after a Supreme Court judge approved licenses for two lesbian couples.

On this day, Elton John and David Furnish entered into a civil partnership at Windsor Guildhall, among the first couples in the UK to do so. They legally married on the same date nine years later.

On this day, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed a bill establishing civil unions in the state. The first civil union licenses became available in February 2007, a step toward full marriage equality.

On this day in 2007, Nepal's Supreme Court ordered an end to all anti-LGBTQ+ laws and mandated new protections for queer citizens, making the country a surprising leader in South Asian LGBTQ+ rights.

On this day in 2008, Diego Sanchez became the first openly transgender Congressional staff member in Washington, appointed as legislative assistant to Rep. Barney Frank.

On this day in 2009, the Legislative Assembly legalized same-sex marriage and adoptions, expanding full legal recognition and family rights for LGBTQ+ couples.