On January 7th, 1957 the American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) “…decided that laws that made sexual intimacy a crime for lesbians and gay men could not be constitutionally challenged.” This was a radical departure from earlier efforts to end discrimination for LGBTQIA+ people. Today, the…
Jeanne d’Arc, or Joan of Arc in English (1412 – 1431), was born on around 1412 in Domremy, France. Some historians have listed her birth date as January 6th of that year, but there are no records that indicate the exact date. Like many modern…
In response to raids on New Year’s Eve 1966 and early morning of New Year’s Day 1967 at the Black Cat Tavern in Los Angeles, Personal Rights in Defense and Education (P.R.I.D.E) staged demonstrations in defense of the patrons and in protest of the police…
On January 4, 1964, Dot Marie Jones was born in California, where she grew up. Jones is best known these days for her portrayal of Coach Sheldon Beiste on the television show Glee, where she portrayed a transgender man. One of the pivotal scenes in…
January 3rd, 1981: Representative Barnett “Barney” Frank took office after being elected to serve the state of Massachusetts. He became the first national U.S. politician to come out voluntarily when he came out in 1987. He served from January 3, 1981 – January 3, 2013….
Martha Carey Thomas (January 2, 1857 – December 2, 1935) is remembered as a suffragist and the president of Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. For many years, Carey Thomas was in a relationship with Mamie Gwinn. She is still remembered as one of the earlier…
“For too long, religious teachings have been misused – and are still being misused – to cause deep pain and offence to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex. This must change.” Says Paul Bayes, the bishop of Liverpool, co-chair of the…
“If I wait for someone else to validate my existence, it will mean that I’m shortchanging myself,” says Zanele Muholi, south African activist and artist who uses her art to show the “beauty and individuality of black LGBTQ women: a group that she believes has…
On January 1st, 1962, Illinois became the first state to decriminalize sexual activity between adult partners of the same physiological anatomy after repealing sodomy laws. Read more about this and other milestones on the road to LGBTQIA+ equal rights here: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/stonewall-milestones-american-gay-rights-movement/
Twenty-seven years ago today, Brandon Teena (December 12, 1972 – December 31, 1993) was attacked and murdered in a small town in Nebraska. Teena was murdered because he was transgender, and his two friends – Phillip DeVine and Lisa Lambert – were killed to cover…
The Open and Affirming Coalition advocates for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in the United Church of Christ and beyond, and equips UCC congregations to become effective witnesses to Christ’s extravagant welcome. Read more