Gay history figures
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Their contributions shaped art, science, politics, and culture in profound ways.
These historical figures often had to hide their true selves due to societal prejudices, yet they still managed to leave lasting impacts on the world.
From ancient rulers to modern-day pioneers, LGBTQ+ individuals have played key roles in shaping our world.
Some, like King William II of England, lived openly despite the constraints of their time.
Others, such as Hollywood star Tab Hunter, only revealed their sexuality later in life.
Learning about these figures helps us understand the long history of LGBTQ+ people and their vital contributions to society.
It also sheds light on the challenges they faced and the progress made in LGBTQ+ rights over time.
Key Takeaways
- LGBTQ+ individuals have made significant contributions throughout history in various fields.
- Many historical figures had to conceal their identities due to societal prejudices.
- Understanding LGBTQ+ history provides insight into both past struggles and recent progress.
Ancient Influence
Same-sex relationships and non-binary gender identities existed in ancient civilizations.
Mercury's vocal range and lyrical abilities led to classic songs including "We Are the Champions," "Don't Stop Me Now," and "Bohemian Rhapsody." While Mercury never publicly gave a label to his sexuality, he was a known bisexual man, having had relationships with both women and men; Mercury would later die at the age of 45 due to complications from AIDS.
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Sally Ride
-1951-2012
Pioneering astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman to fly to space during the 1983 STS-7 mission.
The Catholic Church viewed sodomy as a serious moral crime during this time.
Some religious figures had close bonds with others of the same sex.
In the 5th century, a young monk named Smaragdos lived separately from other monks at his monastery.
The Renaissance brought renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture.
Oscar Wilde was jailed for “gross indecency” in 1895. In Germany, some doctors and scientists said being gay was natural. Upon Ride's death in 2012, her obituary revealed her 27-year relationship with the tennis player Tam O'Shaughnessy, making Ride the first known LGBTQ+ astronaut to go to space.
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Gilbert Baker
-1951-2017
Artist, activist, and drag performer Gilbert Baker contributed a central symbol of the LGBTQ+ community—the now-iconic rainbow pride flag.
She brought attention to a wide range of different causes that affected the LGBT community, from picketing against the US government’s ban on the employment of gay people to fighting to get the American Psychiatric Association to drop homosexuality as a mental illness. Rivera, who identified as a drag queen for most of her life and later as a transgender person, fought against the exclusion of transgender people, especially transgender people of colour, from the larger movement for gay rights.
It is widely said that Turing took his own life on June 7, 1954, two years after being outed as gay. Laws and social attitudes slowly changed as brave individuals fought for recognition and rights.
Pre-World War II
In the early 1900s, being gay was illegal in many places. He came out in 1990, facing intense scrutiny and backlash.
As a transgender woman, Johnson faced abuse from police and had no permanent home while working as a drag queen and waitress, but she would find herself in the frontlines of gay rights protests after police raided the Stonewall Inn in 1969. In a 1987 interview with Village Voice, he said, “I think the gay community has a moral obligation…to do whatever is possible to encourage more and more gays to come out of the closet.”
Alan Turing
(June 23, 1912–June 7, 1954)
British mathematician, logician and cryptographer Alan Turing was responsible for breaking the Nazi Enigma code during World War II, and ultimately his work gave the Allies the edge they needed to win the war in Europe.
Created in 1978, the flag was envisioned as a "symbol of hope" with roots in the Bible's Book of Genesis. Some emperors even married men in official ceremonies.
Roman literature and art often depicted same-sex love. Johnson, a Black trans woman, fought for both LGBTQ and racial justice.
Modern Advances and Current Issues
Recent decades have seen major progress for LGBTQ rights and visibility.
Many close same-sex friendships from this era are now examined through a modern lens.
Laws against homosexuality existed in this period. Her transition was the subject of a New York Daily News feature story, and she used her newfound platform to become an advocate for transgender people. Openly bisexual, Vidal famously proclaimed that "we are all bisexual to begin with." Despite this, Vidal didn't necessarily believe in "gay" as a label.
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Andy Warhol
-1928-1987
From experimental films to paintings of Campbell's soup cans, Andy Warhol was a leader in what was known as the "pop art" movement.
But activist groups keep working for change.