This Day in Queer History

On this day, Rosa Bonheur was born. The most famous female painter of the 19th century lived openly with her partner Nathalie Micas for over 40 years. They share a grave in Paris.

On this day in 1930, Stephen Sondheim was born. The greatest composer in American musical theater, he won a Pulitzer, eight Tonys, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom while living openly with partner Jeff Romley.

On this day in 1976, a New Jersey Superior Court ruled that transgender people may marry based on their reassigned sex. The landmark decision affirmed trans identity in the eyes of the law decades before mainstream recognition.

On this day, Lawrence Poirier came out in Lynn Johnston's comic strip For Better or for Worse. About 40 newspapers refused to run the storyline, but 70% of the 2,500 letters Johnston received were supportive.