LGBTQ History #19: Transgender Soldier Enlists in the Union Army
The word “transgender” didn’t emerge until the 1970s, but Civil War combat veteran Albert Cashier might have identified with the term if it had existed in his time. Cashier was
LGBTQ History #18: Transgender Activist and Stonewall Legend Sylvia Rivera
Sylvia Rivera was a bisexual, transgender activist. Fiery and unapologetic, she was at the forefront of many movements during the 1960s and 1970s. She is known for her relentless work
LGBTQ History #17: Eliza McCormick Arrested For Proposing to Woman
What if you were arrested for just being you? What if you were arrested simply for wearing the clothing that was most comfortable to you? That’s what happened in 1847
LGBTQ History #16: Eleanor Roosevelt Writes to Her Female Love
The wife of the 32nd U.S. president built her own vibrant political career and personal life shaped, in part, by her decades-long intimate friendship with a pioneering female journalist. Eleanor
LGBTQ History #15: The First Dyke March
Over twenty thousand people descended upon Washington, D.C. in 1993 for the first dyke march. A group of activists known as The Lesbian Avengers planned the march out of anger
LGBTQ History: STAR is Founded by Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera
Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, both trans women of color, were not only leaders at the Stonewall riots, but also very active advocates for members of the LGBTQ community
LGBTQ History #14: Ellen DeGeneres Comes Out
Ellen DeGeneres came out in 1997, on the cover of Time, in conjunction with her character on a famous episode of her sitcom Ellen, titled “The Puppy Episode.” (I came
LGBTQ History #12: Willi Smith Brings Street Couture to the Masses
Parson’s Design School alum and openly gay Philadelphia designer Willi Donnell Smith launched WilliWear in 1975 — a move that would launch his career and make him an institution in…
LGBTQ History #11: Bounce Music Originates in New Orleans
It’s been widely propagated that there is no place for queerness in hip-hop. However, for those who know better hip–hop has not only provided an affirming and encouraging backdrop for…
LGBTQ History #10: Laverne Cox Becomes First Openly Trans Person Nominated for an Emmy
Laverne Cox is a “Jackie” of all trades. Actress, producer, and LGBTQ activist are just some of the many lines of Cox’s extensive résumé. Graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, Cox…