This Day in Queer History

On this day in 1859, Ernest Rhys was born in London. The editor of the Everyman Library filled his autobiography with anecdotes about his gay literary circle, including Oscar Wilde, preserving queer social history within the canon.

On this day in 1883, Swedish director Mauritz Stiller was born. He discovered Greta Garbo and helped create a national cinema that took a progressive attitude toward sexuality and desire.

On this day in 1898, photographer Berenice Abbott was born. Famous for capturing New York's evolving cityscape, she also documented queer life in the 1920s and shared 30 years with partner Elizabeth McCausland.

On this day in 1945, Ethyl Eichelberger was born. The drag performer and playwright became a transformative figure in experimental theater, writing nearly forty plays before dying during the AIDS crisis.

On this day in 1968, The Wall Street Journal published an article on how U.S. homosexuals were gaining ground in persuading society to accept them. The mainstream press was paying attention.