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On This Gay Day: Drag star Divine died aged just 42

Divine found success around the globe in film and music  Harris Glenn Milstead was better known by his stage name Divine. The Baltimore native became friends with filmmaker John Waters in the 1960’s and they collaborated together on many film projects. After appearing in several short films, Divine took a lead role in Waters feature […]

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On This Gay Day: Bob Brown was elected to federal parliament

Bob Brown became the first openly gay politician in Australia’s federal parliament Australian went to the polls on 2nd March 1996 bringing an end to to the Keating Labor government and bringing John Howard to power. The Hawke-Keating government has been in power for five terms since 1983. Elected to the parliament on that day […]

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On This Gay Day: E.M. Forster finished writing Maurice

On This Gay Day: E.M. Forster finished writing his novel Maurice On this day in 1913 author E.M. Forster finished work on the first draft of his novel Maurice. The book tells the tale of Maurice Hall a young man who develops a romantic relationship with his university friend Clive Durham. His heart is broken when […]

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On This Gay Day: In 1880 Anna Rüling is born in Hamburg

Journalist Anna Rüling, was born on this day in 1880. In 1904 she gave a speech to the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee in Berlin, the first known public statement of the socio-legal problems faced by lesbians. Her actual name was Theodora “Theo” Anna Sprüngli. One of the first modern women to come out as homosexual, she has been described as […]

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On This Gay Day: In 1986 New Zealand decriminalises homosexuality

In 1986 New Zealand decriminalised homosexuality On this day in 1986 New Zealand passed the Homosexual Law Reform Act that decriminalized homosexuality removing British colonial laws. The country had adopted English laws in in 1840 which made homosexual acts punishable by death. In 1893 the laws were broadened so that even consensual sexual activity between […]

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On This Gay Day: Greg Louganis wins gold at the LA Olympics

In 1984 Greg Louganis won his first gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics On this day in 1984 American diver Greg Louganis won his first Olympic gold medal for the Men’s 3-metre springboard at the Los Angeles Olympics. A few days later he went on to win another gold for the 10-metre platform. The […]

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On This Gay Day: Author James Baldwin was born

Author James Baldwin was born in 1924 James Baldwin was born on this day in 1924 in Harlem New York City. Baldwin would become a celebrated author whose characters often sought acceptance into society. He included gay and bisexual men as characters in many of this works. Baldwin wrote essays, plays, and novels, often embracing […]

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On This Gay Day: In 1981 the first mainstream media report about AIDS was published

In 1981 the first mainstream newspaper report about HIV appeared In 1981 the New York Times ran the first article in the mainstream media that covered that would later be recognised as HIV/AIDS. On the 18th May 1981 a news article has been published in the gay press, and on 5th June 1981 the US Centre for […]

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On This Gay Day: The Pride flag was raised for the first time

The Pride flag was flown for the first time in 1978 The rainbow flag that is a symbol for the LGBTI+ communities was created by designer Gilbert Baker for San Francisco’s Freedom Day celebrations in 1978. Originally the flag had eight colours but since 1979 it has usually had six colours. The colors were determined to […]

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On This Gay Day: The first report about AIDS is published

On This Gay Day: The first report about HIV/AIDS was published in 1981 It’s often reported that the first information about what would later be identified as HIV/AIDS was when on 5 June 1981 the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention published a notice about gay men who had died from rare, and usually […]

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