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…
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…
In 1993, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” went into effect for all U.S. Armed Forces personnel. The policy said that LGBT people needed to keep their gender and sexuality secret to serve the nation, After years of effort from activists, the policy was revoked on September…
Lili Ilse Elvenes (28 December 1882 – 13 September 1931) is born in Vejle, Denmark. After seeing herself as a woman in her wife’s paintings, the Danish artist and writer began living as a woman and in 1923, underwent gender affirmation surgery. Learn more at:…
Joe Beam (December 30, 1954– December 27, 1988) dies from complications of AIDS. He was the editor of “In the Life: A Black Gay Anthology,” and was an African-American gay rights activist and author Beam was working on a sequel to “In the Life” at…
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