Category Archives: Uncategorized

Born in 1913 to a Hungarian-Jewish mother and Indian Jat Sikh father in Budapest, Sher-Gil grew up in a household where her talent for art was celebrated and nurtured. At a young age, the family left Hungary for India, where she lived a life of relative privilege and practiced her art, as well as learnedContinue reading “Amrita Sher-Gil”

Born into slavery on the eve of the Civil War, William Dorsey Swann grew up in Maryland and had a penchant for “trouble” at an early age. In his early 20s, he was arrested for stealing books from the Washington Library Company and sentenced to several months in jail. This didn’t stop him and hisContinue reading “William Dorsey Swann”

Though we will never know definitively if the Greek figures of Achilles or Patroclus ever actually existed in human history, the war in which they fought is part of the historical record. That said, the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is often painted as that of a close friendship (even in Hollywood), but in manyContinue reading “Achilles & Patroclus”

Though some would pretend that American history is made up solely of brave men and women who furthered the American Dream, scholars have recently uncovered stories of those who did not identify as entirely male or female in Colonial America. One such person is Thomas(ine) Hall. To be clear for this posting, a person whoContinue reading “Thomas(ine) Hall”

Many people try to make the argument that homosexuality only “sprung up” within the last half of the 20th century. Historians, however, are more than aware that homosexuality has existed for thousands of years. Though some try to make the argument that close relationships between people of the same gender are nothing more than closeContinue reading “Ruth & Naomi”

#ArshamParsi (September 30, 1981 – ): Parsi is an Iranian #LGBTQIA rights activist currently living in exile in #Canada. Born and raised in #Iran, where homosexuality is punishable is illegal and carries a maximum penalty of execution (though this is rarely the punishment given for the “crime”), Parsi found himself isolated as a gay teenager and began volunteering for undergeround LGBTQIAContinue reading “Arsham Parsi”

#RebeccaSugar (July 9, 1987 – ): Born and raised in #SilverSpring, #Maryland, Sugar is an animator, director, screenwriter, producer, and singer/songwriter most well known for being the creator of the TV show #StevenUniverse. Previously she worked as a writer and storyboard artist for #AdventureTime, and earned six Primetime Emmy Award nominations. She identifies as bisexual and non-binary, usesContinue reading “Rebecca Sugar”

#KaylaGore is the Southern Regional Director for the Transgender Law Center and has fought for housing equity for the trans community that is homeless, as well as in those unjustly treated by law enforcement. Together with #IllyahnnaCWattshall, she founded #MySistahsHouse, which provides emergency housing for #transgender and #gendernoncomforming people, specifically those who are Black, Indigenous, andContinue reading “Kayla Gore”

#JoseSarria (December 13, 1922 – August 19, 2013): Born in #SanFrancisco to Columbian parents of Spanish and Columbian origin, Sarria was a political activist who fought for the rights of #LGBTQIA people. Though also known as a drag performer and the creator of the #ImperialCourtSystem (now the second largest LGBTQ organization in the world), he was the first openly gay candidate forContinue reading “José Sarria”

#LadyJava (August 20, 1943 – ): Known as #SirLadyJava in some places, she is an American transgender rights activist, exotic dancer, singer, comedian, and actress. Born in #NewOrleans, she transitioned at a young age with the help of her mother and became actively involved in area nightlife as a young adult. She was active in theContinue reading “Lady Java”