This Day in Queer History

On this day, Katharine Lee Bates died. The author of "America the Beautiful" was a Wellesley professor who shared her life with Katharine Coman for twenty-five years, their love woven quietly into our national anthem.

On this day in 1931, writer Jane Rule was born. Her novel Desert of the Heart, rejected 22 times before publication, became a landmark of lesbian literature and the acclaimed film Desert Hearts.

On this day in 1962, Alexandra Billings was born. Among the first openly transgender women to play a trans character on television, she built a groundbreaking career as an actress, singer, teacher, and activist.

On this day in 1986, Stefani Germanotta, known as Lady Gaga, was born. The bisexual pop icon launched the Born This Way Foundation and became a global force for LGBTQ+ empowerment, self-expression, and radical acceptance.