This Day in Queer History

On this day in 1747, philosopher Jeremy Bentham was born. He wrote the first known argument for homosexual law reform in England around 1785, calling anti-gay prejudice irrational, though his essay wasn't published until 1978.

On this day, Edith Lees Ellis, openly lesbian wife of sexologist Havelock Ellis, urged women on a speaking tour to begin "organizing a new love world," boldly advocating for women's freedom to love.

On this day, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote to her lover Lorena Hickok about building "deep roots" together, revealing the tender, private love between the First Lady and the trailblazing journalist.

On this day in 1938, gay writer Martin Greif was born. One of the first to compile LGBTQ+ history and biographies, he co-founded Main Street Press with partner Lawrence Grow. Both men died of AIDS-related illness.

On this day, French actress Maria Schneider told The New York Times she was bisexual, saying she loved women more for beauty than for sex, and men for grace and intelligence.

On this day in 1981, Congressman Jon Hinson was arrested for sodomy in a House restroom. He resigned, then became an LGBT activist in D.C. before dying of AIDS-related complications at 53.

On this day, the Massachusetts high court ruled that only full marriage rights for same-sex couples would be constitutional. Civil unions were inferior and discriminatory. Separate is never equal.