Join us in celebrating Gaypril! Learn about people in the LGBTQ+ community that have changed, or are changing, LGBTQ+ lives for the better. The people represented here include activists, artists, scientists, government officials, authors, sports figures, and entertainers.
Documenting Rebellions
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In Solidarity
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These books are not in our catalog but they can be requested using our Interlibrary Loan Service
Sylvia Rivera fought against the exclusion transgender people and transgender people of color from the gay rights movement. She is also a veteran of the Stonewall Riots.
Photo taken from Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Being dismissed from his calling as a legal advisor for his sexual orientation, in 1867 Karl Ulrichs the first homosexual to speak out publicly in defense of homosexuality to the Congress of German Jurists in Munich.
Photo taken from The Legacy Project
The 'P' in her name standing for "Pay it no mind" in regards to gender. She was prominent in the LGBTQ+ community by helping struggling LGBTQ+ youth, and co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries.
Image taken from Biography
Playing a key role of the Civil Rights Movement, many thought his sexual orientation would distract from the cause. He was part of the Gay Rights Movement stating “It was an absolute necessity for me to declare homosexuality, because if I didn’t, I was part of the prejudice.”
Photo taken from U.S. Department of Labor
In 1973 she helped start the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Gittings was named co-Grand Marshall of the 1997 NY Gay Pride Parade, where she was named "Mother of Lesbian and Gay Liberation."
Photo taken from NBC News
Nkoli was a gay activist and an anti-apartheid leader in South Africa, where he demonstrated that anti-apartheid and gay liberation shared a common goal in the fight got equality.
Image taken from Twitter
Putting her graphic design skills to use she became the leader of Photomontage, where her art touched on gender roles, critiquing of government, and fascism. She advocated for the freedom of women in equality of gender roles.
Photo taken from CR Fashion Book
Frida began painting after an accident that left her in a full body cast, and began her first self portrait. The reasoning of her art being self portraits was that "I paint myself because I am often alone and I am the subject I know best."
Photo taken from New York Times
Andy Warhol became known for his signature style silkscreen prints in the early 1960's. He would be later dubbed "The Zeitgeist Incarnate" for the mark he left on American artwork of the 1960's
Photo taken from Biography
Creator of the Doodle Me Alive project, which is a multifaceted display of drawings, letterings, typographies and triptych pieces that speaks on pride, depression, trauma and joy.
Marcos Chin saw the lack of representation in art for people like him; Asian representation in a serious form and being gay. His art is a reflection of his world and the people he surrounds himself with.
Image taken from Commarts
Keith Haring showed an interest in the graffiti art style he saw, and used the New York City streets as his canvas. Through this he gained notoriety and popularity throughout the city, even being arrested on occasion.
Image take from The Guardian
Sally Ride was the first American woman, and also the youngest person in space on June 18, 1983. Dr. Ride was passionate about improving science education and helping you women and girls foster an interest in math, science, and technology.
Photo taken from The New York Times
Esposito is the co-founder to an education and science non-profit called Islands and Seas, which is committed to providing global access of science tool and education. She runs the visibility campaign 500 Queer Scientists that provides role models for the current generation.
Photo taken from California Academy of Sciences
Barres made numerous landmark discoveries in neurosciences, one of which being the identification of glial-derived factors that promote the formation and elimination of synapses. He was an ardent campaigner for gender equality for women in science.
Photo taken from Mount Sinai
Alan Turing was a brilliant mathematician who played a leading role in breaking German ciphers in WWII. His work is widely acknowledged as foundational research of computer science and artificial intelligence.
Photo taken from Biography
In 2020 Sarah McBride made U.S. history as the first openly transgender state senator. Prior to becoming a state senator, she led the successful effort to pass a landmark non-discrimination law in Delaware, and serves as a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign.
Photo taken from Sarah McBride website
In 2012, Mark became the first openly gay person of color to be elected to Congress. He serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and as a member of the Education and Labor Committee.
Image taken from KVCR News
In 2018, Sharice was elected to represent Kansas’ Third District, becoming the first gay Native American woman to serve in Congress. She spent her first term tackling the issues most important to Kansas families, making sure the government worked for the people and not special interests.
Image taken from her Twitter
Pete Buttigieg currently serves as the 19th Secretary of Transportation, having been sworn in on February 3, 2021. He served two terms as mayor of South Bend, Indiana where he worked to transform and improve the people's every day lives.
Photo taken from Mass Transit
In 2012 Tammy Baldwin made history as the first woman Wisconsin sent to the U.S. Senate and first openly LGBTQ+ Senator. She has been a steadfast voice for LGBT and women’s issues, including gay marriage and anti-discrimination policies.
Photo taken from Wikipedia
Harvey Milk was the first known openly gay man elected to public office in the United States in 1977 when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. After his assassination in 1978 he became an icon in San Francisco and "a martyr for gay rights" worldwide.
Photo taken from Britannica
Oscar Wilde has come out with volumes of poetry, but he is most known for his only novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. In 1895, he was imprisoned for 2 years for "gross indecency" upon having an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas.
Photo taken from Time Magazine
Poet, and writer Nancy Cardenas was the first person to come out in Mexico on live television. She was a respected individual throughout the global community. In her travels she was able to discuss queerness and advice from the people she met.
Photo from Making Queer History
Being a copyboy for New York Magazine, Capote eventually began writing full time, and grew in popularity for his short stories. The stories that launched his career being Mademoiselle, and A Tree of Light.
Photo taken from Biograpghy
Virginia Woolf is considered one of the most innovative writers of the 20th century. While she had 3 previous novels released, it wasn't until 1925 that the publication of Mrs. Dalloway would become her signature writing style.
Photo taken from Biography
Audre Lorde dedicated her life and creativity addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia. She was central to many liberation and activist circles, including second-wave feminism, civil rights and Black cultural movements, and struggles for LGBTQ equality.
Image taken from Vocal Media
Billie Jean King became a pro tennis player in 1959, and through her career she fought for women to receive the same pay as male tennis players. In 1981 she was publicly outed as a lesbian, and lost her endorsements. Through it all she still continued her fight against inequality in all forms.
Photo taken from The Guardian
Michael Sam is first the openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL. He made his announcement about his sexual orientation known because he knew what a big deal this information was. The contents of his life was his story to tell and no one else's.
Photo taken from Keppler Speakers
Anastasia is a Canadian speed skater who competed in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. She is an ambassador for Athlete Ally, which is a non-profit organization focused on ending homophobia in sports.
Photo taken from Goethe Institute
In 2013 Jason Collins became the first active professional basketball player to come out as gay. Collins hoped that his coming out would open many more doors for other athletes, and know that it's okay to be who you are.
Photo taken from Just Jared
Megan Rapinoe is a professional soccer player for the women's league, and plays for the OL Reign. Rapinoe is an advocate for equal rights whether it be gender, race, or sexual orientation.
Photo taken from U.S. Soccer
Most famous for his portrayal of Mr. Sulu on Star Trek, his acting career span five decades. He's also a community activist, fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, being the spokesperson for The Human Rights Campaign.
Photo taken from The Guardian
SOPHIE was the first openly transgender artist to be nominated for a Grammy. They were known as one of the most in demand artist and trailblazer in electronic music and in the representation of trans artists.
Photo taken from The Guardian
With her role in Orange is the New Black Laverne is the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for an Emmy. With many firsts under her belt, Laverne is an advocate of moving beyond gender expectations and living authentically.
Photo taken from Vulture
Elliot Page, who recently came out as transgender, has felt a tremendous weight off his shoulders to finally be the person he is. Many on set the set of The Umbrella Academy have seen more confidence and comfort in his surroundings now.
Photo and information taken from TIME Magazine
Freddie Mercury was the front man for the band Queen. He captured the attention of his audience whenever he was on stage. He continued to write and compose music up until his death in 1991. He died due to complications from AIDS.
Image taken from UDiscover Music