This Day in Queer History

Today in queer history, filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini was born in Bologna. Openly gay from the start of his career, the poet, novelist, and director became a towering figure in European cinema and letters.

Today in queer history, Jean O'Leary was born. A former Catholic nun turned fierce activist, she co-founded National Coming Out Day and helped lead the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

On this day, Svend Robinson was born. He became the first member of Canada's Parliament to come out as gay while in office, serving seven consecutive terms over 25 years.

On this day, the word "lesbian" was heard for the first time in a Hollywood film when Sidney Lumet's The Group reached theaters, pushing past censorship in a movie that tackled free love, contraception, and queerness.

On this day in 1971, Village Voice columnist Jill Johnston came out in her article 'Lois Lane is a Lesbian,' igniting a fierce debate between feminism and lesbianism that she fueled with fearless provocation.

On this day, young playwright Samantha Gellar's award-winning play about love between two women was banned in Charlotte, NC. The controversy propelled her work to off-Broadway and national recognition.

On this day, Ang Lee won the Academy Award for Best Director for Brokeback Mountain, bringing a queer love story to Hollywood's biggest stage and into the cultural conversation forever.

On this day, Daniela Vega became the first openly transgender presenter in Academy Awards history, taking the Oscar stage after starring in the Best Foreign Film winner A Fantastic Woman.

On this day in 2018, Yance Ford became the first openly transgender man nominated for an Academy Award, for directing and producing Strong Island, a documentary about his brother's 1992 murder.