This Day in Queer History

On this day in 1872, Sergei Diaghilev was born. The gay impresario founded the Ballets Russes, shaping 20th-century art through relationships with lovers including Nijinsky, Massine, and Lifar. Art and desire, inseparable.

On this day in 1894, Jackie 'Moms' Mabley was born. She came out as lesbian at 27, becoming one of the first openly gay comedians and performing for over sixty years from vaudeville to primetime TV.

On this day in 1953, the Diana Foundation was born in Houston when friends gathered to watch the first televised Oscars. It became the oldest continuously active gay organization in the United States.

On this day, Victor/Victoria opened nationwide to rave reviews. Robert Preston's warm, affable portrayal of a gay man became a box office hit and shifted public perceptions of LGBTQ+ people.

On this day in 1987, the FDA approved AZT, the first drug for treating HIV/AIDS. Born from activist urgency and scientific effort, it marked a turning point in the fight against the epidemic.

On this day in 1987, the FDA approved AZT for HIV/AIDS treatment, the first drug of its kind. For a community devastated by the epidemic, it was a flicker of hope in the darkest of times.

On this day in 1987, AZT became the first FDA-approved drug for HIV/AIDS treatment. It arrived amid devastating loss, offering the queer community and its allies a fragile but vital lifeline.

On this day, Quebec's Court of Appeal upheld a ruling that same-sex marriages are legal under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, joining Ontario and British Columbia.