This Day in Queer History

On this day in 1943, gay resistance fighter Willem Arondeus led a team disguised as German soldiers to destroy a Dutch registration building, protecting Jewish lives. Before his execution, he declared: "Homosexuals are not cowards."

On this day in 1952, actress Maria Schneider was born in Paris. She starred opposite Marlon Brando, came out as bisexual in 1974, and championed women's rights in film.

On this day, LGBTQ+ leaders including Frank Kameny, Jean O'Leary, and Rev. Troy Perry met with a Carter White House aide, marking the first official discussion of gay and lesbian rights at the White House.

On this day, White House press secretary Jody Powell defended gay rights advocacy on Face the Nation, declaring that any group's right to bring grievances before officials is 'the essence of America.'