#TodayInQueerHistory
Oct 11 (1954, 1987)
1954: Clever Jones, the person behind the AIDS Memorial Quilt was born #OTD.
1987: the AIDS Memorial Quilt made its first appearance on the National Mall in Washington. Over half a million people visited the quilt while it was on display.

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October 10 (1990)
After writing a letter to management of London bar of Brief Encounters in September, asking them to rethink the "no gay kissing" policy, which was ignored, activist group Outrage hold a kiss in in protest.

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October 9 (1988)
Nintendo release Super Mario Bros 2 for the US market. The game has a new character for the Mario Mythology: Birdo.
Birdo is widely considered one of the earliest trans characters in videogame history.

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October 8 (1971)
Campaign Against Moral Persecution (or CAMP) held Australia's first Gay Rights rally outside the Liberal Party's HQ in Sydney.
They were supporting Tom Hughes who has spoken in favour of reforming law, one banner said these reforms "might help.".

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Oct 7 (2020)
Pussy Riot, the Russian Feminist Punk Collective hung Pride Flags from government buildings in Moscow. They said "the flags are our gift to Putin as a symbol of missing love and freedom" for queer people.
The activists were arrested and fined for their actions.

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Oct 6 (1989)
Having grown to 10848 panels, and covering 14 acres of land, the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt is displayed in its entirety at the Ellipse in Washington D.C.
Today, the UD AIDS memorial quilt numbers over 50,000 panels, remembering over 110,000 people.

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Oct 5 (1994)
Sandi Toksvig is the definition of cosy TV & Radio. After coming out, not just as a lesbian AND a Mum, she was dropped by charities Save the Children and the Children's Society as a host for an event. The Lesbian Avengers protested #OTD & the charities apologised .

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Oct 4 (1913)
E.M. Forster finishes his manuscript for Maurice. Due to anti-homosexual legislation, it won't be published until 1971.
I'll let you work out the time difference.
Maurice offers something very rare for queer fiction at this time: an optimistic outlook.

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Oct 3 (2012)
"I want to be true to myself. I want to try to be the best role I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and professional career." - Orlando Cruz, who came out #OTD, becoming the 1st boxer to come out while competing. A huge milestone for boxing.

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Oct 2 (1985)
Today we are remembering Rock Hudson, whose death #OTD from AIDS related complications, spurred Elizabeth Taylor to raise millions for HIV/AIDS research.

Rock Hudson was a Hollywood heartthrob, starring in romcoms opposite Doris Day.

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Oct 1 (1994)
History is a powerful tool. It connects us with those who came before us and helps us create the world we need to see.
Educator Rodney Wilson starts the 1st LGBTQ+ History month #OTD. Oct was chosen in the USA to commemorate gay rights marches and coming out day.

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Sept 30 (1897)
Charlotte Wolff (born #OTD) was a physician, psychotherapist & sexologist.
Her work on lesbianism (Love Between Women, 1971) and bisexuality (Bisexuality, 1977) was groundbreaking at the time. She also wrote novels & a biography of Magnus Hirschfeld.

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Sept 29 (1992)
Paul Jabara wrote some EPIC bangers. His discography includes the oscar award winning disco track Last Dance, the Donna Summer/ Barbara Streisand duet No More Tears (Enough is Enough) & the ICONIC It's Raining Men. He died of AIDS related complications #OTD.

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Sept 28 (1993)
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City premieres on Channel 4 in the UK, introducing Barbary Lane to a new generation. A critic in 2005 said it was "a time capsule that treats its characters with humor, respect [...]would be politically impossible there today."

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Sept 27 (1961)
Gay rights campaigner and AIDS activist Samson Chan was born #OTD. He went to the US in the 1980s and set up Asians and Friends - Chicago and fundraised for AIDS causes.
When he returned to Hong Kong in the 1990s he continued his activism work.

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Sept 26 (1087)
William II was crowned #OTD in Westminster Abbey. William never married nor had children - unusual for a monarch!
Contemporaries tell us he filled his court with fashionable young men who wore their hair long and shoes pointed. There is speculation he was bi.

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Sept 25 (1975)
DONT DREAM IT, BE IT.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show was released in US cinemas #OTD. A critic reflected that upon release it was "ignored by pretty much everyone, including the future fanatics who would eventually count the hundreds of times they'd seen it".

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Sept 24 (1951)
Trans pioneer Christine Jorgensen underwent her first gender affirming surgery #OTD at the Gentofte Hospital in Copenhagen.
She soon made headlines as "ex GI becomes blonde bombshell", and she used her platform to advocate for trans rights and visibility.

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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.

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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."