Queer timeline
Related: queer - history of sadomasochism - history
List
Author Unknown
About 2500 B.C.
> The Epic of Gilgamesh - a tale of love between two "friends"; the harsh king of
Uruk, Gilgamesh; and a stranger, Enkidu, sent by the gods to temper the king.
About 1900 B.C.
> Sodom and Gomorrah - According to Chapter 19 of the Book of Genesis, the cities
are destroyed by fire and brimstone. Centuries later, this story was interpreted
by Philo of Alexandria and other religious writers as an angry God's punishment
for the homosexuality of the inhabitants.
594 B.C.
> Solon rules Athens - Empowered to write new law code, Solon declares the death
penalty for any unauthorized adult male who mingled in a schoolyard with boys below
the age of puberty. He apparently had no problem with relationships between
adult men and post-pubescent youth... his own poetry includes such unmistakably
homoerotic lines as "Boys in the flower of their youth are loved."
580 B.C.
> Sappho's School for Girls - Situated on the Greek isle of Lesbos, Sappho's
school for girls flourished, as did the exquisitie love poems she wrote to her students.
About 393-387 B.C.
> During this decade long period, Plato wrote The Sumposium, Phaedrus" among
other works in which he spoke of the free expression of love between adult males.
About 371 B.C.
> The Sacred Band of Thebes - A military unit formed in Greece consisting of some 150
male couples, believing that men fight alongside their lovers would die together
rather than shame one another. The Band was annihilated by Philip of Macedon and
his son, Alexander the Great, during the Battle of Chaeronea.
About A.D. 60
> Saint Paul's writings to the Romans - several biblical passages, especially
Romans 1:26-27 and I Cor. 6-9 have been used to support homophobia. Scholar
John Boswell points out the tranlations which lead to this interpretation probably
do not reflect the real intent of the writer.
53
> Emperor Justinian I - Combining Roman law and Christian morality, the emperor
decrees homosexuality and blasphemy as equally to blame for the famines, earthquakes
and pestilence. He orders offenders of these 'crimes' castrated.
About 650
> The Cummean Penitential - A manual used by preist to provide guidelines for homosexual
sin. The nature of the offense and age of the offender were taken into account.
"simple kissing" by two males under the age of 20 called for six special fasts;
kissing "with emission or embrace" required ten. Mutual masturbation by men over
20 made the offenders liable to twenty days penance; for anal intercourse
the period jumped to seven years.
1073
> Sappho's poems, the earliest lesbian writings, are burned by ecclesiastical authorities
in Constantinople and Rome. As a consequence, we have only one twentieth
of her total works. What we do have were found in an archaeological dig in 1897.
1210-15
> The Council of Paris declares sodomy a capital offense.
1252
> St. Thomas of Aquinas begins teaching - Declares that God created the sex organs
specifically and exclusively for reproduction, homosexual acts were thus "unnatural"
and heretical. He was not the first to take this stand, but because of his enormous
influence with the church, Aquinas' statments did much to increase intolerance.
About 1260
> Law Codes from Orleans - The legal school of Orleans orders women guilty of lesbian
acts have their clitoris removed for the first offense; that they by further mutilated
for a second; and burned at the stake for a third.
1310
> Order of Templers arrested - King Philip orders the arrest of all French members of
the Order of Templars (October 12), they are charged with heresy, sodomy and being
in league with the Moslems. Many were tortured and then executed. Benefits
to Philip by the arrest included confiscating property belonging to the members.
Modern scholars still disagree on the accuracy of the allegations.
1450-53
> Spanish Inquisition - Pope Nicholas empowers the Spanish Inquisition to investigate
and punish homosexuality.
1513
> Balboa in the New World - From his explorations of modern day Panama, Balboa reports
"the most abominable and unnatural lechery is practiced by the King's brother
and many other younger men in women's apparel." Forty offenders were reportedly
thrown to his dogs. Balboa's observations was echoed by others throughout
the rest of the century. One anonymous conquistador reported in 1519 he found the
Mayan people to be "great sodomites"; a later explorer wrote to Europe everyone in
the New World seemed to practice sodomy. Homosexuality was accepted in the Mayan
civilization, often portraying anal intercourse between men in its art. Male
homosexuality and lesbianism was practiced, but not accepted by the Aztec and
Incas. These cultrues were known, on occasion, to punish such acts by death.
1553
> "buggery" law passed, English law decrees a penalty of death for "the detestable
and abominable Vice of Buggery committed with mankind or beast." This was the
first time the crime was covered under civil law; previously a church matter.
1583
> Third Provincial Council of Lima, Peru, in promulgating Christitanity to the native
populace, tells them "sodomy, whether with another man, or with a boy, or a beast...
carries the death penalty... and the reason God has allowed that you, the Indians,
should be so afflicted and vexed by other nations is because of this vice that
your ancestors had, and many of you still have."
1585
> Earlist known case of masochism. Sister Mary Magdalene de Pazzi begs other nuns
to tie her up and hurl hot wax at her. Also has a novice thrash her.
1596
> Christopher Marlowe writes first play dealing with homosexuality in Britain.
1610
> Anit-Sodomy laws in the new world - The Virginia colony becomes the first colony of
the new world to pass legislation against sodomy, condemning offenders to death.
1624
> First Sodomy Trial in the new world - Richard Cornish is tried and the first to be
conviceted of sodomy, in spite of "flimsy" evidence. He his hanged.
1641-42
> The Massachusetts Bay Colony incorporates the language of Leviticus 20:13 into its law:
"If a man lyeth with mankinde, as he lyeth with a woman, both of them have committed
abomination, they both shall by surely put to death." Other New England colonies soon
follow.
1649
> Mary Hammon and Goodwife Norman are charged with "lude behavior upon a bed" in
Plymouth, Massachusetts. The charges against Hammon are dropped, but Norman is
convicted and ordered to make a public confession. The first woman in America
known to be convicted of lesbian activity.
1655
> Definition of sodomy is expanded - The colony of New Haven expands it's definition
of sodomy - a capital offense - to include sexual relations between women.
1682
> Tale of lesbian nuns published. Venus in the Cloister, or the Nun in her Smock,
is published in France, creating a scandal. The work, on reading, seems to have
been written to titillate male readers rather than portray real life.
1730-31
> Authorities in Amsterdam announce the discovery of a homosexual network, resulting
in 300 prosecutions and 70 executions.
1778
> Lt. Gotthold Frederick Enslin is dismissed from the military after being found in
bed with another soldier, making him the first known person discharged from the U.S.
Army for homosexuality.
1810
> The mother of schoolgirls accuse Marianne Woods and Jane Pirie, mistresses
at the school, of "improper and ciminal conduct" with each other. The british
courts debate whether a sexual relationship between women is even possible.
Lillian Hellman used this tale as the basis for her play, The Children's Hour.
1828
> Enlighs Parliament closes a loophole in the definition of the capitol crime of
buggery. It is no longer necessary to demonstrate "the actual Emission of Seed"
to convict of buggery or rape. "Carnal knowledge shall be deemed complete
upon Proof of Penetration only."
1848
> The first Women's Rights Convention by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Passes a "Declaration
of Sentiments and Resolutions" (based on the U.S. Declaration of Independence).
This convention is seen as the precursor of the modern feminist movement,
and provides support and communication for many lesbian and bisexual women.
1860
> Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman is released in its second edition.
The homoeroticism of his poetry is more evident than the first edition. The book
provoked much public debate about Whitman's sexuality, and inspired other gay
people in years to come.
1861
> England dropped the death penalty for male homosexual acts; subjecting offenders
instead to 10 years to life imprisonment. The change was a rethinking of capital
punishment, not homosexuality.
1863
> Karl Ulrichs, speaking at a conference of Jurists in Munich, becomes the first person
in modern times to declare himself homosexual. Although he used the term, "Urning,"
Ulrichs continued to speak out for gay rights.
1869
> Term "homosexuality" is first published by Karoly Maria Kertbeny
1870
> First gay periodical "Urnings" is attempted but fails
> Bayard Taylor publishes, Joseph and His Friends, the first American gay
novel. It is dedicated "to those who believe in the truth and tenderness
of man's love for man, as of man's love for woman."
1891 > John Addington Symonds's, A Problem in Modern Ethics offers a systematic
review of scholarly literature on homosexuality.
1895
May
> 27th - Oscar Wilde is imprisoned for sodomy after a tiral for "unnatural
acts" committed with the young Lord Alfred Douglas. This caused a public
sensation. The playwright was condemned to two years hard labor and the ensuing
antigay hysteria provided a serious setback for the nascent English gay movement.
1896
> Two actresses on an American stage kiss one another. Immediately after, writes
historian Kaier Curtin, ushers rushed down the aisles offering ice water to patrons
on the verge of fainting. The play had nothing to do with lesbians, but the fanciful
story of a young woman who magically changes into a young man.
1897
> Scientific Humanitarian Committee is esatablished by Magnus Hirshfield, President.
Hirshfield conducts a study showing that at least 2% of Germany is gay
in 1891. He tries to bad paragraph 175 of the Prussian penal code which bans homosexuality.
1905
> Romaine Brooks, portrait painter, begins wearing men's clothing, cuts her hair and
moves to Paris were she begins a fifty-year relationship with Natalie Barney.
1916
> Ira and George Gershwin takeover management of Lafayette Baths in New York City
(I still need to see if this is true.)
1919
> Sodomy alone becomes a felony under the Articles of War in the U.S. Military.
> A sting operation conducted at the naval station in Newport, R.I., leads to the
arrest of 20 sailors on moral charges.
1924
> Inversions, the first French gay journal is published. Produced between 1924 and
1926, it stopped publication after the French government charged the publishers with
compromising public morality.
1928
> The book Well of Lonliness is written by Radclyffe hall banned in Britain for the
following quote that was describing to female characters - "And that night they
were not devided." This was described as obscene when banned.
1933
> Nazi's destory Marnus Hirschfeld's libraries.
1947
> "Vice Versa", the first pulic lesbian publication is produced in the U.S.
1948
> Harry Hay begins a group that would later become the Mattachine Society.
> Alfred Kinsey publishes "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male"
1950
> Mattachine Society is named in Southern California.
1952
> The American Psychiatric Association adds homosexuality to its list of mental disorders.
1953
> Eisenhower bans employment of gays and lesbians into government positions.
1955
> Daughters of Bilitis is formed in San Francisco.
1961
> Illinois becomes the first state to decriminalize homosexuality.
1963
> first gay rights demonstration takes place at Whitehall Induction Center in New York
1967
> first issue of "The Advocate" is released
1968
> first European gay student group, Comite Pederastique de la Sorbonne, is founded.
1969
June
> 27th - Stonewall riots occur in New York.
1975
> Air Force sergeant Leonard Matlovich sues the military for reinstatement after being
discharged because he is gay. This was the first case to start a string of discharge
challenges by gay and lesbian personnel.
1981
> AIDs is discovered and named.
1984
> In Bangor, ME Charlie Howard is thrown over a bridge into the Kenduskeag River
and drowns for being gay.
1993
> The "Don't ask, don't tell" policy is crafted into the U.S. Military
1997
January
> The Indian film fire, starring Shabana Azmi, India's premier actress, was that
country's first feature-length film about lesbianism. When it was shown at the
January 1997 Indian International Film Festival, it sparked a riot among the
predominantly male audience, who shouted death threats at the film's director.
February
> The "Otherside Lounge" is bomed in Atlanta, Georgia
July
> Gay Bar is tear gassed in Washington D.C.
August
> Gay bookstore is vandalized with "KKK", "fag" and "187" spraypainted in pink on front
windows in Minneapolis, MN. "187" is police code for homocide in California.
September
> Christian radio talk show host says on-the-air that homosexuality should be punishable
by death. Station Manager calls comments "honest dialogue"
> Internet provider agrees to host GodHatesFags.com
December
> KKK sympathizers attack gay bar patron in Holiday, FL
1998
January
> Dana International, an Israeli transsexual singer, won the 1998 Eurovision song
contest at the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam.
> Gay bar torched in Abilene, TX
> 71-year-old Thomas Moffat is murdered in Phoenix, AZ
February
> 36-year-old Robert Hernandez is shot by a 15 year old in Phoeniz, AZ
March
> Gay man is attacked by a young man yelling "faggot" in San Francisco. He enters a
coma and dies.
June
> televangelist Pat Robertson warns that Orlando, FL will be punished by god with
hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorist bombings and possibly a meteor for allowing
gay pride flags to fly in the city.
1999
> American Sit-Com Will and Grace is the first to have homosexuality as it's main
theme and succeed.
November
> 3rd - Aaron McKinney found guilty of the murder of Matthew Shepard.
2000
April
> 27th - Vermonts legalization of "Civil Unions" is finalized.
> 30th - March on Washington
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