LGBT Pride Month: 12 Moments to Remember
We spotlight a few notable moments in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pop culture. First stop: ancient Rome.
By Katie Arnold-Ratliff and Zoe Donaldson
Photo: Universal History Archive/Getty Images
A.D. 64
Roman emperor Nero marries male buddy Pythagoras. (Aw!) Then marries male buddy Sporos, but only after having him castrated. (Ew.)
Photo: Leemage/Getty Images
1600
Shakespeare writes third play in which cross-dressing female is central to plot; confusing, given that all female parts already played by male actors.
1860
153 years of orientation speculation launched by Walt Whitman's sweet lines "We two boys together clinging, / One the other never leaving."
Photo: Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images
1927
Firebrand Mae West writes play—The Drag—about life in closet. Broadway premiere foiled by NYPD; visionary play still performed today.
Photo: Courtesy of Cleis Press
1950
Lesbian pulp novels start to heat up publishing landscape; saucy titles (Anything Goes; We, Too, Must Love; The Girls in 3B...) abound.
1978
Robin Tyler releases first comedy album by out lesbian; later quips, "If homosexuality is a disease, let's all call in sick to work." Zing!
Photo: Pierre-Franck Colombier/AFP/Getty Images
1994
Pro: Ikea runs groundbreaking TV ad featuring two gay men. Con: Ikea customers of all orientations still forced to assemble own furniture.
Photo: ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images
1997
Ellen DeGeneres reveals sexuality in
Time magazine, discusses decision on—what else?—
The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Photo: Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
1998
NBC sitcom Will & Grace helps mainstream TV come out of closet; bestows Sean Hayes, Megan Mullally on grateful world.
Photo: Courtesy of Big Gay Ice Cream Truck
2009
Big Gay Ice Cream Truck charms New Yorkers with the "Bea Arthur" (vanilla with dulce de leche and Nilla Wafer crumbs, for the Bea-curious).
Photo: Courtesy of Blake M. Oakey
2010
Sex advice columnist Dan Savage creates the "
It Gets Better Project" web campaign; thousands inspired to record videos of support for LGBT youth.
Photo: Dana Edelson/NBC/ NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
2012
Saturday Night Live hires first openly lesbian cast member, Kate McKinnon (she of the spot-on Ann Romney impression). Bless her.
Next: 5 things we can't stop smiling about this month
From the
June 2013 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine
