This Day in Queer History

On this day, Frederick William Rolfe, known as Baron Corvo, was born. A flamboyant English writer and eccentric, his works were an unashamed celebration of male love and friendship.

On this day, James Whale was born. The openly gay director of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein lived authentically in 1920s and 1930s Hollywood, virtually unheard of for the era.

On this day, actor and choreographer Grover Dale was born. He debuted on Broadway in Li'l Abner, appeared in the original West Side Story cast, and shared a six-year relationship with actor Anthony Perkins.

On this day, Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls was born. The lesbian singer and songwriter built a devoted following through folk-rock anthems that resonated deeply with queer audiences for decades.

On this day in 1966, writer and director Roland Tec was born. His 1997 film All the Rage became a hallmark of the Queer Indie Film movement for its sharp, critical look at gay male culture.

On this day, the Metropolitan Community Church received its first mission status in Canada, beginning services in Toronto and offering queer people of faith a spiritual home.

On this day, Rufus Wainwright was born. The openly gay Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter contributed to the Brokeback Mountain soundtrack and publicly advocated for marriage equality to wed his partner, Jörn Weisbrodt.

On this day, Toronto held a second march organized by the Coalition Against Anita Bryant, protesting the anti-gay crusader's visit to the city and refusing to let her message go unchallenged.

On this day in 1980, the U.K. House of Commons extended the Sexual Offences Act to cover Scotland, decriminalizing most private consensual sex acts between men and bringing Scotland in line with England and Wales.

On this day, three same-sex couples sued the state of Vermont, arguing that banning their unions violated the state constitution. Attorney Mary Bonauto led the case that paved the way for civil unions.

On this day, Argentina legalized same-sex marriage, becoming the first country in Latin America to do so. The landmark law affirmed that love and equality transcend borders, culture, and tradition.

On this day in 2011, a bill to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell was introduced in Congress, overturning the 1993 law that prohibited lesbian, gay, and bisexual people from serving openly in the U.S. military.

On this day in 2011, lesbian couple Hege Dalen and Toril Hansen used their boat to ferry 40 people to safety during the mass shooting in Norway while 69 others were killed. Ordinary heroes in an unthinkable moment.