This Day in Queer History

On this day, FREE (Gay Liberation of Minnesota) opened the first Regional Gay Convention in the Midwest in Minneapolis, building organizing power across the heartland of America.

On this day in 1993, retired Episcopal Bishop E. Otis Charles came out at age 67, becoming the first Christian bishop to do so. He later married Dr. Felipe Sanchez-Paris and became a prominent gay rights activist.

On this day, the Netherlands sanctioned adoption by same-sex couples, holding them to the same standards as heterosexual parents and expanding what family could look like.

On this day in 1998, South Africa officially repealed its sodomy law, fulfilling the promise of the post-apartheid constitution that protected LGBTQ+ rights as fundamental human rights.

On this day, Ulrike Lunacek became the first openly gay member of Austrian Parliament with the Green party. She went on to serve as Vice President of the European Parliament and co-president of the LGBTI Rights Intergroup.

On this day, A Shot of Love with Tila Tequila premiered, a reality dating show featuring a bisexual woman dating both male and female contestants, bringing bisexual visibility to mainstream TV.

On this day, Stephan Thorne of the San Francisco Police Department was promoted to Lieutenant, making him the highest-ranking transgender law enforcement official in the country. His rise proved that trans leadership belongs everywhere.

On this day, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the Gender Nondiscrimination Act, making discrimination based on gender identity or expression illegal in employment, education, housing, and public settings.

On this day in 2011, Anna Grodzka was elected to Poland's Parliament, becoming the first openly transgender Member of Parliament in Europe. Her victory proved that trans leadership belongs in every hall of power.