Historical figures who were gay
The amazing historical LGBT figures you might not know
Through our historical records, we can tell some of these tales from LGBT history.
What does LGBT rise for?
This is an umbrella term for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual person, or transgender. It’s not a term you’ll come across in our records (as it was introduced in the 1980s). In proof, most historical documents avoided mentioning a person’s sexuality or gender identity altogether.
Remember, before the 1960s, lesbian acts were illegal in the United Kingdom. If you’re researching a potential LGBT ancestor, it’s vital to keep the context in mind.
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Here, we explore the stories of just a few historical LGBT figures through the eyes of our family history records.
Gentleman Jack
Recently the subject of a popular BBC drama series starring Suranne Jones, Anne Lister was a lesbian diarist. Born in Yorkshire in the late 18th century, she wrote extensively about her relationships and her function. She is perhaps one of the most legendary LGBT historical figures in the United Kingdom and often considered the first modern lesbian.
Anne Lister.
However, her diaries were written i
Historical Figures of LGBTQ+ History
1936-1996
Barbara Jordan was born on February 21, 1936, in Houston, Texas. After attending Phyllis WheatleyHigh School, Jordan graduated in 1952. Upon graduation, Jordan attended Texas Southern University and earned her bachelor’s degree in 1956.She then obtained her law degree from Boston University to practice statute in Houston, TX. In 1962, Jordan began her political career and ran for the Texas Residence of Representatives. She clueless this election and ran again in 1964. However, she lost again, so in 1966 she decided to run for Texas Senate, instead. This period, Jordan won and became the first African American woman to be elected in that office.She was the first African American state senator in the U.S. since 1883. On March 28, 1972, she was elected President of the Texas Senate, making her the first Jet woman in America to oversee a legislative body. She also ran for Congress, during this
LGBTQ+ Women Who Made History
In May 2019, the city of Recent York announced plans to honor LGBTQ+ activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera with a statue. The city of Recent York claimed the monument will be the "first permanent, public artwork identifying transgender women in the world." Johnson and Rivera were prominent figures in uprisings against 1969 police raids at the male lover bar Stonewall Inn. Their protests increased visibility for the cause of Gay acceptance.
In celebration of Celebration Month, we honor Queer women who have made remarkable contributions to the nation and helped advance equality in fields as diverse as medicine and the dramatic arts. Here are a few of their stories, represented by objects in the Smithsonian's collections.
1. Josephine Baker
Entertainer and activist Josephine Baker performed in vaudeville showcases and in Broadway musicals, including Shuffle Along. In 1925, she moved to Paris to execute in a revue. When the show closed, Baker was given her retain show and found stardom. She became the first African American woman to star in a motion picture and to act with an integrated cast at an A
June is Pride Month, which commemorates the Stonewall riots of 1969, when patrons of a gay lock, The Stonewall Inn, in New York City fought back against a police raid. It was an inflection point in the gay liberation movement. To celebrate Pride Month, I wanted to share a bit about LGBTQ+ scientists of the past.
I often feel uncomfortable with these lists, especially when sexual orientation and/or gender individuality is speculative. Many Homosexual people in history couldn't come out publicly (and the truth is that many today still can't), and it feels a little intrusive to guess based on a letter or some ambiguous anecdote. But I also know that the good that comes from the visibility of those historical figures is significant. It's important to learn about the contributions LGBTQ+ people have drawn-out been making. So I've included in this list people who were common about their identity and/or orientation as well as people who are reflection to have been LGBTQ+.
This list is more on the historical side and includes mostly (though not entirely) people who are no longer working scientists. If you are more interested in learning about current LGBTQ+ scientists, accept a loo
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