This Day in Queer History

Today in queer history, poet and playwright Angelina Weld Grimké was born. A Harlem Renaissance luminary, she became one of the first women of color to have a play publicly performed.

On this day in 1952, Tam O'Shaughnessy was born. A science writer and former tennis pro, she was the life partner of astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, for 27 years.

On this day, Libby Davies was born. She became the first female Canadian Member of Parliament to come out as LGBT, representing Vancouver East for the NDP from 1997 to 2015.

On this day, Sherry Harris was born. She became the first openly lesbian African-American elected official when she won a Seattle city council seat in 1991, defeating a 24-year incumbent by a 70% majority.

On this day in 1988, two hundred gay leaders gathered in Warrenton, Virginia for a historic War Conference that launched a national media strategy and gave birth to National Coming Out Day.

On this day, the CDC reported a major decline in AIDS-related deaths for the first time, a turning point made possible by activism, science, and the relentless demand for treatment.

On this day in 2001, Willow and Tara kissed on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Though not the first TV lesbian kiss, their relationship was the first realistic, ongoing lesbian romance on mainstream television.

On this day, New Paltz mayor Jason West began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, following San Francisco's lead. The licenses were later nullified, but the message endured.

On this day in 2017, ABC premiered When We Rise, Dustin Lance Black's docudrama tracing 45 years of LGBTQ+ rights from Stonewall onward, bringing queer history to a prime-time national audience.