This Day in Queer History

On this day in 1905, openly gay composer Marc Blitzstein was born in Philadelphia. He wrote the definitive Depression-era opera The Cradle Will Rock and brought The Threepenny Opera to Broadway audiences for years.

On this day in 1975, an Ontario Human Rights Code review committee was established in Toronto to consider protections for gays and lesbians. The slow wheels of inclusion began to turn.

On this day in 1982, Wisconsin became the first U.S. state to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. The groundbreaking legislation set a precedent that other states would take decades to follow.

On this day in 1985, the FDA licensed the first HIV blood test. A critical tool in the fight against AIDS, it arrived as the epidemic was devastating queer communities across the country.

On this day in 1996, Bob Brown was elected to the Australian Senate from Tasmania, becoming the first openly gay member of Australia's Parliament and the first openly gay leader of an Australian political party.

On this day in 2002, Jason West, mayor of New Paltz, New York, faced 19 criminal counts for solemnizing same-sex marriages without a license. He chose love over law.