This Day in Queer History

On this day, Tab Hunter was born. The golden-haired 1950s heartthrob kept his sexuality hidden for decades before confirming he was gay in his 2005 memoir. He spent his final 30 years with producer Allan Glaser.

On this day in 1934, Giorgio Armani was born. The iconic fashion designer has publicly identified as bisexual. His longtime partner and co-founder Sergio Galeotti died of AIDS-related complications in 1985.

On this day, Vito Russo was born. Author of The Celluloid Closet and co-founder of GLAAD, he transformed how America understood queer representation in film before AIDS took him at 44.

On this day in 1946, Jack Wrangler was born. The openly gay adult film star turned theatrical producer became an icon of the gay liberation movement, unapologetic about his sexuality throughout his career.

On this day, Esera Tuaolo was born. The NFL defensive tackle played nine seasons, reaching the Super Bowl with the Falcons, before coming out as gay on HBO's Real Sports in 2002 and becoming an anti-bullying advocate.

On this day, New Zealand marked a moment in the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, where queer communities continued building visibility and pushing for legal recognition in the Pacific.

On this day, New Zealand's Homosexual Law Reform Act decriminalized consensual sex between men, ending 146 years of criminalization that had been in place since 1840.

On this day, Dr. Tom Waddell passed away from AIDS complications. The Olympic athlete founded the Gay Games and, with Sara Lewinstein, built a family that redefined queer possibility.

On this day in 1990, Muscatine, Iowa's library board voted down a proposal to remove books about gays and lesbians. Of 75 residents at the meeting, only one supported the ban. Community won.

On this day in 2003, Britain's House of Lords repealed the notorious Section 28, the Thatcher-era law that banned any mention of homosexuality in schools. A generation of enforced silence was finally lifted.

On this day, Jane Lynch, Billie Jean King, Laura Ricketts, and Urvashi Vaid formed LPAC, the first super PAC specifically targeting lesbian political power, fundraising, and candidate support.

On this day, Stacy Offner became rabbi of Temple Beth Tikvah. The openly lesbian rabbi was the first hired by a mainstream Jewish congregation after being fired from a previous position for coming out in 1987.