This Day in Queer History

On this day in 1889, Nels Anderson was born. His 1923 sociological study The Hobo contained the first known use of the word "fag" in print referring to gay men, documenting queer survival in Depression-era America.

On this day in 1932, Barbara Gittings was born. A fearless pioneer of LGBTQ+ activism, she organized early picket lines, edited the DOB magazine, and helped remove homosexuality from the psychiatric disorder list.

On this day in 1939, actress Susan Flannery was born. Known for The Bold and the Beautiful and Days of Our Lives, she shared an eight-year relationship with actress Fannie Flagg.

On this day, sixteen veterans picketed the Pentagon in the first lesbian and gay protest of the U.S. military, demanding an end to discrimination. CBS Washington aired the coverage that evening.

On this day in 1965, Ian Roberts was born. In 1995, the rugby league star became the first high-profile Australian athlete to come out publicly, breaking barriers in one of the toughest sports in the world.

On this day in 1969, the Gay Liberation Front held its first meeting in New York City. About 50 gay militants gathered to build a radical new movement, declaring: you bet your sweet ass we are.

On this day, Urvashi Vaid became executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Out magazine later named her one of the 50 most influential LGBT people in America.

On this day, Jamie Nabozny won nearly a million dollars in the first case of a gay teen suing school officials for failing to protect him from years of abuse. The landmark ruling held schools accountable for anti-gay violence.

On this day in 2005, the Netherlands halted the extradition of gay individuals to Iran following reports of executions targeting homosexuality. A government chose protection over protocol.