1979: Martin Sherman‘s Bent, about the Nazi persecution of homosexuals, starring Richard Gere and David Dukes, opens on Broadway. It runs for 241 performances.  It goes on to be Tony nominated for Best Play and Best Featured Actor in a Play (David Dukes).  Richard Gere goes on to win the 1980 Theatre World Award for his acting work in this production.

1988: The first World AIDS Day, organized by the World Health Organization, is held.  Today we honor and remember those we’ve lost to the AIDS Crisis and those that are still fighting.

1977: Gay playwright Terence Rattigan, known for The Winslow Boy (1946), The Browning Version (1948), The Deep Blue Sea (1952), dies in Bermuda at the age of 66.

1984: West Hollywood, the first city in the U.S. to have a city council with a majority of LGBTQ members, is incorporated in Los Angeles County.

1978: Harvey Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone are assassinated by former City Supervisor Dan White. 1980: Bosom Buddies-a sitcom about two young broke New York men having to dress in drag to live in a low rent (but all girl) hotel, premieres on ABC. It stars Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari.

1978: ABC airs “A Question of Love“, a made-for-TV movie about lesbian lovers who find themselves in a custody battle over their children.  It stars Gena Rowlands, Jane Alexander and Ned Beatty.  ABC airs the movie complete with ‘parental discretion advised’ warnings (for subject matter).

1967: Craig Rodwell opens the first bookstore devoted to gay and lesbian authors in the United States, the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop at 291 Mercer Street in New York City.  (It moved to 15 Christopher Street in 1973.)  Despite a limited selection of materials when the bookstore was first established, Rodwell refused to stock pornography and instead … Read More