This Day in Queer History

On this day in 1749, a group of single women called 'The Petticoat Club' petitioned the New York Gazette to tax unmarried men for their selfishness. The petition went nowhere, but the audacity endures.

On this day, opera star Lauritz Melchior was born in Copenhagen. The pre-eminent Wagnerian tenor of his era became a household name at the Met, his personal life intertwined with novelist and patron Hugh Walpole.

On this day in 1901, Gavin Arthur was born. The bisexual grandson of President Chester Arthur became a San Francisco astrologer and sexologist, befriending queer pioneers Edward Carpenter and Magnus Hirschfeld.

On this day, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was born. The "Godmother of rock and roll" influenced Elvis, Little Richard, and Johnny Cash, and shared a rumored romantic relationship with gospel singer Marie Knight.

On this day, Fred Rogers was born. The beloved Mister Rogers told children "I like you just the way you are" and, according to his biographer, privately acknowledged attraction to both men and women.

On this day, Dr. Ronni Sanlo was born. The LGBT historian, educator, and playwright created Lavender Graduation in 1995, lost custody of her children after coming out in 1979, and has spent decades ensuring queer stories are never erased.

On this day, David Bowie married Angela Barnett. He later explained they met because 'we were both going out with the same man.' Bowie's fluid sexuality and reinventive spirit reshaped what pop stardom could look like.

On this day, after fourteen years of effort, the New York City Council finally passed a gay rights ordinance 21 to 14. Mayor Koch told reporters, 'The sky is not going to fall.'

On this day in 1988, David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly opened on Broadway, telling the extraordinary story of a French diplomat's 20-year love affair with a Chinese opera performer who was a man, blurring lines of gender, desire, and deception.

On this day in 1990, sixty LGBTQ+ people gathered in Greenwich Village to found Queer Nation, a direct-action group born from ACT UP that reclaimed the word 'queer' and confronted homophobia with fierce, unapologetic visibility.