LGBTQ HISTORY

A smattering of Mary Renault's bestsellers

Mary Renault, the Bestselling Gay Novelist in the Age of McCarthyism

In 1953, Renault penned the UK's "first openly homosexual novel by a serious writer"—and that was just the beginning of her groundbreaking career.

The singular 'they' is far from a recent development.

The 600-Year History of the Singular 'They'

The singular form of 'they' has been endorsed by writers like Jane Austen and William Shakespeare.

Ellen DeGeneres made television history in 1997.

When Ellen DeGeneres Came Out on TV—and in Real Life

The stand-up comic-turned-actress was warned not to disclose her sexuality. She did it anyway.

Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey in ‘Cabaret.’

12 Classic LGBTQ+ Movies You Shouldn't Miss

Here are 12 must-see LGBTQ+ films from 1990 and earlier that deserve a spot on your binge-watching list during Pride season.

Why Was June Chosen As LGBTQ Pride Month?

Answering “When is Pride Month?” takes one word: June. Why it’s June, on the other hand, is more of a short story.

Here's how you can lend a helping hand to the LGBTQ community.

10 LGBTQ Organizations to Support

It’s important to create lasting impacts by supporting, empowering, and funding LGBTQ initiatives.

Rita Mae Brown at the Lambda Literary Awards in New York City in 2015.

7 Fascinating Facts About Rita Mae Brown

Rita Mae Brown wasn’t even 30 when her debut novel, 'Rubyfruit Jungle,' was published, but she had already made her mark in the realm of feminist and LGBTQ activism. Here’s what you should know.

11 Things You Should Know About Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde’s poems, speeches, and books helped write the future of feminism. Here are some facts about the woman behind the work.

A Same-Sex Penguin Couple Recently Welcomed a Chick at a New York Zoo

Elmer and Lima, two gay penguins who coupled up last fall, are now proud foster parents of a healthy baby chick.

Celebrate Pride Month With LEGO's "Everyone Is Awesome" Set

LEGO's latest Everyone Is Awesome set was designed specifically for Pride Month and commemorates the LGBTQIA+ community.

Frieda Belinfante (left) and Henriëtte Hilda Bosmans, her then-partner.

When Europe's First Female Orchestra Conductor Foiled the Nazis While Defying Gender Expectations

Frieda Belinfante realized she wasn’t destined to be a part of the orchestra—she was meant to lead it. But the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands during World War II put her career on hold.

Online dictionaries can add words a little more quickly than their printed counterparts.

More Than 650 New Words Have Been Added to Dictionary.com—Here Are 50 of Them

With a total of about 15,000 new words, definitions, and other revisions, it’s Dictionary.com’s biggest update of all time.

A photo of Marsha P. Johnson from the 2017 documentary The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson.

New York Just Renamed Brooklyn’s East River State Park After LGBTQ+ Icon Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P. Johnson was present at the Stonewall Riots of 1969, but that’s just part of her very important legacy.

Rioters outside of San Francisco City Hall on the night of May 21, 1979, reacting to the voluntary manslaughter verdict for Dan White, which ensured White would serve just five years for the murders of Harvey Milk and George Moscone.

10 Facts About the White Night Riots

In May 1979, one of the most violent protests in San Francisco history broke out when the lenient verdict for Dan White, the man who killed Harvey Milk, was revealed.

The IAAF has required Olympic gold medalist Caster Semenya to take medication to lower her testosterone levels—a demand she has actively fought against.

What's the Difference Between Sex and Gender?

Though 'sex' and 'gender' are often used interchangeably, each word has its own distinct meaning and applications.

Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix star in Gus Van Sant's My Own Private Idaho (1991).

17 Essential LGBTQ Movies You Should Watch Right Now

Celebrate all that is queer with a headfirst dive into the incredibly rich history of LGBTQ cinema.

Hope in a Box is giving kids the chance to balance out their Brontë with some Baldwin.

This Organization Is Bringing LGBTQ+ Representation to Rural Schools One Box of Books at a Time

Books range from the classic (James Baldwin’s ‘Giovanni’s Room’) to the contemporary (Adam Silvera’s ‘They Both Die at the End’).

In Key West, rainbow crosswalks aren't just for Pride Month.

Key West Has Installed Permanent Rainbow Crosswalks

Key West's colorful crosswalks prove that it doesn’t have to be Pride Month in order to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

You can celebrate New York City Pride and other iconic events from your living room this year.

Pride Festivals Are Going Virtual This Year—Here Are 10 Events to Check Out

Several major Pride parades have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the celebrations are still happening online.

10 Heroic Facts About Harvey Milk

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, and one of the first openly gay politicians elected to office in all of America. He also had a major issue with dog poop.

Carlos Alberto Kunichek/iStock via Getty Images

Illinois Will Soon Require All Public Schools to Teach LGBTQ History

That makes five states overall, and this year’s 50th anniversary of Stonewall will hopefully motivate others to follow suit.

Alan Turing, WWII Codebreaker Who Was Persecuted for Being Gay, Is the New Face of England's £50 Note

Alan Turing, the World War II codebreaker whose life was spotlighted in the film 'The Imitation Game,' is being honored with a prominent spot on the Bank of England's £50 banknote.

Queer Icon The Babadook Is Getting a Pride-Themed Blu-Ray

The Babadook, an unofficial mascot of the LGBT community, is getting a special rainbow flag Blu-ray cover to celebrate Pride Month.

Suranne Jones stars as Anne Lister in HBO's Gentleman Jack.

The True Story Behind Gentleman Jack: 10 Facts About Anne Lister

Anne Lister was a businesswoman, a mountaineer, a world traveler, and a science enthusiast. But it’s her love life that she’s mainly remembered for today.

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