#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 23 (1984)
Originally 'Megahood', the 1st Folsom Street Fair happened #OTD. Inspired by Harvey Milk, Kathleen Connell & Michael Valerio set it up to support locals, fight gentrification & celebrate the queer community, with the leather miracle mile at the heart of it all.

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 22 (2010)
It gets better.
Dan Savage uploads the first It Gets Better videos to YouTube, in response the alarming rate of suicide by queer teens bullied at school. Dan said he wanted to share that "however bad things were, however isolated and alone [...], it gets better."

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 21 (1998)
NBC airs the pilot episode of Will & Grace. Initially it ran from 1998-2006, but had a comeback from 2017-20.
Over the course of its run it won 18 Primetime Emmys and the show's impact on queer culture has been recognised by The Smithsonian.

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 20 (2013)
👑👑👑
16 year old Cassidy Lynn Campbell was crowned Home Coming Queen, winning the popular vote.

She made history as the 1st trans homecoming queen. Cassidy described her win as surreal, and "the ultimate joy".

Her fellow students calleded her win "really cool".

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 19 (1985)
"Tonight is the start of my own personal war against this disease, AIDS." So said Elizabeth Taylor as she hosted the first Commitment to Life Dinner, a fundraiser for AIDS causes.
The 2500 guests raised over $1 million that evening and shattered the silence.

#TodayInQueerHistory
September 18 (1913)
Edward Sagarin, aka D. W. Cory, was born #OTD. As a writer his work highlighted what the queer community faced. He also set up the Cory Book Service, the 1st business which sold books to a gay audience. However, it was more of a mailing list than bookshop.

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 17 (1951)
"how's your head?"
"haven't had any complaints"
Elvira's comeback is legendary. Mistress of the dark, actress Cassandra Peterson was born #OTD. In her 2021 biography, she shared she's in a long term relationship with a woman. She "felt lighter" when she came out.

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 16 (2013)
After becoming the most senior gay police officer in the UK at the time, Brian Paddick left the Metropolitan police to start a political career. Although he was unsuccessful in 2008 and 2012 in his London mayoral bids, he was appointed to the House of Lords #OTD.

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 15 (1988)
"LIVING WITH - NOT DYING OF" and "STOP LOOKING AT US, START LISTENING TO US" read the captions of protesters at Nicholas Nixon's MoMA exhibit Pictures of People, which featured photos of people with AIDS which a critic said made them "look like freaks."

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 14 (1998, 2000)
In 1998 Toronto got its 1st all women bathhouse night, dubbed Pussy Palace.
In 2000 Pussy Palace was raided by 6 policemen, while around 350 women were enjoying themselves. No arrests were made that night, but the Courts ruled the raid was "unreasonable."

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 13 (2004)
The Gay and Lesbian Kingdom declared war on Australia #OTD. The war was a form of protest, but official bureaucratic channels were taken. Law-wise sovereignty is ceded to an undefeated nation. Australia did not defeat G&LK, so sovereignty was assured!

#TodayInQueerHistory
September 12 (1680)
Singer, lutenist and tutor to Princess Anne, Arabella Hunt, marries James Howard at St Marylebone Parish Church. They live together for 6 months.
Arabella seeks an annulment. Why? James is actually Amy Poulter. Arabella claims Amy has male & female parts.

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 11 (2001)
Mychal Judge was a Catholic Priest & chaplain to the NYFD. He jumped into action to save lives in the 9/11 attacks. He was the 1st certified fatality.
He was "a phenomenal, warm, sincere man". He advocated for the Church to change its stance on homosexuality.

#TodayInQueerHistory
September 10 (1886)
Poet, memoirist, and novelist Hilda "H.D." Doolittle was born on this day. HD's poetry drew on wartime trauma and Greek mythology.
Hilda was bisexual and had relationships with writers Ezra Pound and Bryher and others too.

#TodayInQueerHistory
September 9 (1992)
"I WAS LESBIAN CHILD" so declared the t-shirts worn by the Lesbian Avengers as they took on their first mission: demanding an inclusive curriculum in schools.
With a full marching band, the group went to PS87 in Middle Village, Queens to be heard.

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 7 (1981)
"Give to Gay Cancer": the simple appeal made by Larry Kramer and friends as they set up a grassroots fund-raiser at the Fire Island Dock.
They raised $124.
Larry raged from the early days of HIV/AIDS, eventually forming ACT UP and writing The Normal Heart.

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 6 (1947)
Sylvester, the Queen of Disco 🪩 was born #OTD. You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) always gets people dancing. Sylvester lived life on their own terms, refusing to conform. Before dying in 1988 they stipulated all future royalties go to support AIDS charities.

#TodayInQueerHistory
Sept 5 (1991)
In an inspired moment of protest, ACT UP inflate a 35 foot tall condom over the home of Senator Jesse Helms. The message on the condom read: “A CONDOM TO STOP UNSAFE POLITICS: HELMS IS DEADLIER THAN A VIRUS".
Astonishingly, no one was arrested for this protest!