Historically, Activism within the LGBTQ+ community is has been and remains the forefront of promoting equality, acceptance, and legal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals. Activism plays a crucial role in combating discrimination, the fight for legal protections, and challenges the societal norms that marginalize LGBTQ+ people. Moreover, it raises awareness, fosters community support, and empowers members of the LGBTQ+ community to live authentically without fear of persecution or prejudice.
In celebration of Pride Month, discover some of history's most distinguished LGBTQ+ figures and their lasting impacts throughout the world of yesterday and today.
Marsha P Johnson was an eminent LGBTQ+ activist, and drag queen for almost three decades, model for Andy Warhol, and known for her distinguished role in the gay liberation movement fueled by the Stonewall Uprising of 1969. Johnson lived a tumultuous life, battling severe mental illness and homeless for most of her life. After her death at only the age of 46, interest in her legacy has soared and is praised for her courageous calls for social and economic justice, for working on behalf of homeless street youth ostracized by their families for being gay or not conforming to traditional ideas about gender; and later for her advocacy on behalf of AIDS patients. Some have deemed her a saint.
Josephine Baker was a well-known entertainer of the Jazz Age and identified as bisexual. She was one of the most successful African-American performers in French history and used her platform as an entertainer to advocate for desegregation, refusing to perform in segregated venues and even speaking at the 1963 March on Washington. Baker also served as a spy for the French during World War II, passing along secrets she heard while performing for German soldiers.
Bayard Rustin is known for his work during the Civil Rights Movement and a lasting legacy for championing social justice. He was a close friend and advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. and played a crucial role in the 1963 March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have A Dream Speech." Despite his acclaimed contributions, Rustin often worked behind the scenes because he was an openly gay man and did not receive wide recognition for his pivotal contributions during the Civil Rights Movement. Despite controversy, Bayard remained a political and gay activist, paving the way to bring the AIDS crisis to the NAACP's attention.
