This Day in Queer History

On this day, Oscar Wilde died in Paris at just 46. The Irish playwright behind The Picture of Dorian Gray was imprisoned for homosexuality, then pardoned posthumously in 2017 alongside an estimated 50,000 other men.

On this day, singer Clay Aiken was born. After years of public speculation, the American Idol star came out as gay in 2008 and was later honored by the Family Equality Council for his advocacy.

On this day in 1989, Columbus, Ohio's mayor signed a hate-crimes bill including sexual orientation. He had asked the council to remove the term. They refused. Progress won.

On this day in 1995, the CDC released the first U.S. government-sponsored ad targeting gay men on the eve of World AIDS Day, urging 'smart sex.' It was a long-overdue acknowledgment of the community most affected.

On this day in 2006, South Africa became the first African country to legalize same-sex marriage, affirming equality in one of the world's most progressive constitutions.