This Day in Queer History

On this day, jazz great Billy Strayhorn was born. The openly gay composer of "Take the 'A' Train" was Duke Ellington's creative partner for nearly three decades, his genius fueled by soul, complexity, and defiant authenticity.

On this day, a Quebec court ruled that Montreal's Catholic School Commission could not refuse space to a gay rights group, marking Canada's first legal victory under its Charter's gay rights protections.

On this day, West Hollywood incorporated and quickly approved a gay rights ordinance, becoming the first U.S. city with a majority-LGBTQ city council. A community built a city in its own image.

On this day in 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed an immigration bill ending the "Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts" ban, removing one of the most degrading barriers to queer people entering the U.S.

On this day in 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the Massachusetts ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, effectively letting the historic decision stand without comment.

On this day, Dinh Cong Khanh and Nguyen Thai Nguyen held the first same-sex wedding in Hanoi. Though not legally recognized, their ceremony sparked vital conversation in Vietnam's LGBTQ+ community.

On this day, Uruguay became the first Latin American country to pass a national civil union law, a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ rights in the region.