This Day in Queer History

On this day, Angela Morley was born. After transitioning in 1972, the English composer became the first openly transgender person nominated for an Academy Award, earning recognition for her score on The Little Prince.

On this day in 1934, John Rechy was born in El Paso. His groundbreaking novel City of Night brought gay life into American literature, making him a pioneer of modern LGBT writing.

On this day in 1979, International Women's Day in Toronto included a demand to end harassment of lesbians, marking the first time lesbian rights became an upfront feminist issue.

On this day, Janet Mock was born. The writer, TV host, and transgender rights activist penned the bestselling memoir Redefining Realness, becoming one of the most visible advocates for trans women of color in America.

On this day in 1985, William M. Hoffman's AIDS play As Is opened at Circle Rep in New York. Weeks later, Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart followed. Together, they brought the epidemic's devastating reality to the American stage.

On this day in 1994, Germany finally repealed Paragraph 175, the penal code used by the Nazis to persecute gay and bisexual men. Its removal closed one of the darkest chapters in LGBTQ+ legal history.

On this day in 2009, an Israeli court recognized the adoption rights of Uzi Even and Amit Kama, making them the first same-sex male couple in Israel to achieve legal acknowledgment as parents.