This Day in Queer History

On this day in 1561, Sir Francis Bacon was born. The pioneering philosopher of modern science kept male companions his mother openly complained about in letters, proof that brilliance and queerness have always coexisted.

On this day in 1788, poet Lord Byron was born. A towering figure of the Romantic movement, Byron's passionate relationships with men revealed a complex bisexual life lived boldly and without apology.

On this day in 1952, Jim Kepner and Mattachine members conceived ONE Inc. magazine for the LGBT community. It became the foundation of what is now the largest repository of LGBT materials in the world.

On this day in 1957, openly lesbian cabaret singer Claire Waldoff died at 72. A beloved star of 1920s Berlin known for her ironic songs with lesbian themes, she shared 40 years with her partner Olga von Roeder.

On this day in 1966, Lilli Vincenz became the first lesbian to appear face-visible on the cover of The Ladder. She co-created the Gay Blade newspaper and picketed the White House with Frank Kameny.

On this day, the Supreme Court announced Roe v. Wade. Plaintiff Norma McCorvey, 'Jane Roe,' later came out as a lesbian and lived for years with partner Connie Gonzales before her views on both abortion and her sexuality shifted.

On this day in 1978, New York City Mayor Ed Koch issued Executive Order 50, forbidding discrimination against gay men and lesbians in municipal government. The order marked a bold stand for equality in the nation's largest city.