This Day in Queer History

On this day, Kate Millett was born. Her doctoral dissertation Sexual Politics became a feminist landmark. She came out as a lesbian, and her autobiographical works explored fame, sexuality, and the politics of gender.

On this day in 1953, Alfred Kinsey's Sexual Behavior in the Human Female went on sale, reporting that 2 to 6 percent of women were more or less exclusively homosexual. The data spoke for itself.

On this day in 1954, David Wojnarowicz was born. The painter, filmmaker, and AIDS activist channeled his rage into transformative art, imagining dumping the bodies of the dead on the White House steps.

On this day, the Gay Activists Alliance launched its first orchestrated "zap" campaign against police harassment, heckling Mayor Lindsay at the Metropolitan Opera's opening night gala in New York City.

On this day in 1979, a Saskatchewan arbitration board ordered teacher Don Jones reinstated after he was fired for being gay, affirming that orientation is no grounds for dismissal.

On this day, Leslie Blanchard died of AIDS in the arms of his partner Miguel Braschi. The ensuing court case became the first U.S. ruling to grant legal recognition to a same-sex couple.

On this day, ACT UP led 350 protesters to the New York Stock Exchange targeting Burroughs Wellcome's profiteering from AZT. Four days later, the company lowered the drug's price by 20 percent. Direct action worked.