Philadelphia LGBT History Project, 1940-1980, by Marc Stein

Transcripts of interviews on Philadelphia LGBT history from the 1940s to the 1970s, along with an introduction by the interviewer, who completed much of this work as part of his Ph.D. dissertation research at the University of Pennsylvania. The interviews are discussed in City of Sisterly and Brotherly Loves: Lesbian and Gay Philadelphia, 1945-1972 (University of Chicago Press, 2000). First published on OutHistory in 2009; last update June 26, 2021.

Queer Youth: On Campus and in the Media, by Sharon Ullman and Her Students

This exhibit focuses on LGBTQ+ activism on college and high school campuses and representations of queer youth in the media. The project was researched by Bryn Mawr and Haverford students for a class on the history of sexuality in America, taught by Sharon Ullman. First published by OutHistory in 2012.

Stonewall Riot Police Reports, June 1969, by Jonathan Ned Katz

To honor the 40th anniversary celebration, in June 2009, of the Stonewall Riots, OutHistory for the first time published nine pages of New York City Police Department records created early on the morning of the rebellion’s starting date, June 28, 1969. These were obtained by Jonathan Ned Katz via a New York Freedom of Information Law request. In June 2019, Tim Fitzsimmons, a reporter for NBC News, published one completely new and other old but differently redacted documents based on a FOIL request for Stonewall police reports. They are all republished here.

Photographs of Gender-Bending Women, 1910s-1940s, by Sharon Weinman and Lauren Gutterman

Collector Sharon Weinman gathered this groups of photographs of women in masculine clothing from the early twentieth century. The photographs are introduced by historian Lauren Gutterman.

Polk Street History Project, 1950s-2010s, by Joey Plaster

Polk Street’s history through the lens of neighborhood change in the early twenty-first century. Polk Street was San Francisco’s premier gay male center in the 1960s and 1970s. First published on OutHistory in 2012.

Edward Field: Autobiographical Reflections, 1924-2009, by Edward Field

Edward Field's autobiographical entries about life, love, and his escapades around the world. This is a considerably revised version of Field's entry in Contemporary Authors, Autobiography Series, Volume 27 (published in 1997 by Gale).

Coming Out Into Come Out!, 1969-1972, by Perry Brass

Gay activist Perry Brass tells of his work with the Gay Liberation Front in New York City in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including his story of coming out of the closet publicly through the GLF's newspaper Come Out!.

Subway Sex Idols: New York City, 2008, by Anthony Gonzales

A collection of twenty works by New York artist Anthony Gonzales depicting the varieties of life that could be found in New York City's subway tunnels in 2008. Published originally on OutHistory in 2012.

Leo Adams: A Gay Life in Letters, 1928-1952, by Michael S. Miller

An exhibit based on original research in the extensive archive of a gay man who saved his correspondence. Adams (1903-1995) was born in Menominee, Michigan, moved to Chicago for several years, and then lived in New York for most of his life.

Queer Bronzeville, 1900-1985, by Tristan Cabello

The history of African American gays and lesbians on Chicago's South Side. First published on OutHistory in 2012.

An Early Conversation about Gay and Lesbian Archives: From the Pages of The Gay Insurgent, 1979, by Jim Monahan and Joan Nestle

A conversation between Jim Monahan and Joan Nestle on preserving gay and lesbian history.

Teaching "Straight" Gay and Lesbian History (2007), by Nancy C. Unger

This essay, which reflects on teaching gay and lesbian history at San Francisco State University and Santa Clara University, was first published in The Journal of American History 93, no. 4 (March 2007): 1192-1199. Copyright Organization of American Historians. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

Postcards of Masculine Women and Feminine Men from the Early Twentieth Century, by Marshall Weeks and Jonathan Ned Katz

Postcards collected by Marshall Weeks and dating to the early twentieth-century present satirical images of women who wore "mannish" shoes, shirts, collars, ties, and coats, who smoked, went to bars, and who moved independently in the world. Other cards portray effeminate men and, specifically, those then called "fairies" and "pansies." With an introduction by Jonathan Ned Katz. First published on OutHistory in 2012.

The Christopher Street Liberation Day March, 1970-1985, by Suzanne Poli and Cecelia Martin

Explore fifteen years of the New York City Pride Parade through Suzanne Poli's exceptional photographs. Published originally on OutHistory in 2012.

The Lesbian Herstory Archives Button Collection, by Kam Yan (Teresa) Lee

A selection of 58 buttons from the Lesbian Herstory Archives in New York City. Published originally on OutHistory in 2012.

Out and Elected in the USA: 1974-2004, by Ron Schlittler

A survey, through black and white portraits and texts, of many pioneering openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals elected to public office in the United States beginning in the 1970s. For information on a touring exhibit version of the collection, contact Ron Schlittler at rlschlittler@verizon.net.

Come Out! Newspaper, 1969-1972

This exhibit presents digital copies of Come Out!, the newspaper of New York City's Gay Liberation Front.

Groovy Guy Contest, Los Angeles, 1968-1991, by Jeff Auer

Brief history (with many pictures) of a gay pageant that ran from 1968 to 1991 in Los Angeles.

Mr./Miss David Contest, 1971-1975, by Jeff Auer

The Mr./Miss David contest was founded in 1971-1972 in Jacksonville, FL. First published on OutHistory in 2012.

New York City Pride Parade Photographs, 1994, by Jonas Kulikauskas

Photographs of the June 1994 Pride Parade in New York City celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots of June 1969. Copyright © Jonas Kulikauskas 2010. All rights reserved.

Native American LGBTQ+ Americans, 1528-1976, by Jonathan Ned Katz

These documents about LGBTQ+ Native Americans present years of testimony from a wide variety of observers: military men, missionaries, explorers, trappers, traders, settlers, and later, medical doctors, anthropologists, homosexual emancipationists, and LGBTQ+ activists. In a few rare instances the voices of LGBTQ+ Native Americans are heard. This is adapted from Jonathan Ned Katz, Gay American History: Lesbians and Gay Men in the U.S.A. (NY: Crowell, 1976). The notes to these documents contain numbers of additional sources. Last edit: May 31, 2021.

Lesbians in the Twentieth Century, 1900-1999, by Esther Newton and Her Students

"Lesbians in the Twentieth Century" was created by Professor Esther Newton and the graduate and undergraduate students in the seminar on "Lesbian History" that she taught in fall of 2006 at the University of Michigan. Newton and her students agreed to contribute an extended version of the site to OutHistory and develop it further in the fall of 2008, the second time that Newton taught her lesbian history course. Newton's original "Lesbians in the Twentieth Century" site is preserved at http://queerhistory.womens.lsa.umich.edu/

"Chosen Girl," 2003, by Faith S. Holsaert

A short story set in 1950s Greenwich Village about the love between two women--one white, one black--as observed by the white woman's daughter. Reprinted with the permission of Faith S. Holsaert. Copyright (c) 2003 by Faith S. Holsaert.

The Campaign for a Gay Rights Bill in New York City: Documents and Photographs, 1971-1986

This exhibit provides a glimpse of events and documents that helped to change New York City laws as they relate to the LGBT communities. The documents and photographs shown here are housed at the La Guardia and Wagner Archives, La Guardia Community College. You can explore the holdings of the La Guardia and Wagner Archives here: http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu

Gender Benders, 1782-1920, by Jonathan Ned Katz

Primary documents about the lives of persons identified at birth as female, who later lived and sometimes identified as male. Documents reprinted from Jonathan Ned Katz, Gay American History: Lesbians and Gay Men in the U.S.A. (NY: Crowell, 1976). Note by Jonathan Ned Katz added March 6, 2019 and revised March 4, 2022: In regard to people in the past, it seems to me now that we best honor them (and our own present desire to understand them) by trying to discover the changing historical terms and concepts by which they understood themselves over their lifetimes as well as the changing historical terms and concepts by which others understood them over time. It now also seems important to ask how all those terms and concepts expressed social judgments and were implicated in the power relations of individuals and classes, social systems, structures, and institutions.

Colonial America: The Age of Sodomitical Sin, 1607-1783, by Jonathan Ned Katz

The years from 1607 to 1783 constitute the founding era of what became the United States. In the early years of this era, in these American colonies, the penalty for sodomy was death, and a number of executions are documented. Sodomy was usually conceived of then as anal intercourse between men. But why was sodomy thought of as treason against the state and punished so harshly? And what do we know of sexual and intimate relationships between women in these years, and the laws and responses to such intimacies? This feature presents or references the original documents that Jonathan Ned Katz collected in his books Gay American History (1976) and Gay/Lesbian Almanac (1983), along with evidence that others subsequently discovered.

Coming Out! A Documentary Play, 1972, by Jonathan Ned Katz

A collection of items about a gay liberation play, including 2013 reflections by the author (OutHistory's founder), reviews, and excerpts.

The Lesbian in Literature, 600 B.C.-1981, by Barbara Grier

A searchable edition of Barbara Grier's 1981 bibliography The Lesbian in Literature. Republished in 2013 with the permission of Barbara Grier.

New York City Transgender Rights Law, 2000-2002, by Pauline Park

A historical account of the campaign for a transgender rights law in New York City that occurred from 2000 to 2002. This exhibit was created by Pauline Park, co-chair and co-founder of the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA). This exhibit builds on Pauline Park, "The Making of a Movement: The Story of the Successful Campaign for a Transgender Rights Law in New York City," The 8th Annual Mark E. Ouderkirk Lecture, The Museum of the City of New York, June 27, 2002. Copyright (c) 2008 by Pauline Park. All rights reserved.

Chicago Stories, 2008, by John D'Emilio

A series of articles by John D'Emilio written for the Windy City Times about Chicago's gay history and his own career as an historian of sexuality. Published on OutHistory February 5, 2013.

Jennie June/Ralph Werther/Earl Lind: The Riddle of the Underworld, 1921, by Randall Sell

An introduction to the 2010 discovery by historian Randall Sell of Riddle of the Underworld (1921), a long-missing trans memoir by Jennie June/Ralph Werther/Earl Lind, with thanks to Ted Faigle for his transcription work. See also Who Was Jennie June?, by Channing Regard Joseph and Jennie June/Ralph Werther/Earl Lind, 1870-1950: Researching the Author. Published originally on OutHistory in 2013.

Historical Musings, 2008, by Joan Nestle

A series of "musings on lesbian history" originally contributed as "Blog on History" by Joan Nestle, co-founder of the Lesbian Herstory Archives.
Copyright © Joan Nestle 2008. All rights reserved.

Queen City Comes Out: Exploring Seattle's Lesbian and Gay History, by the Northwest Lesbian & Gay History Museum Project

Highlights of LGBT history in Seattle, drawn from the History Project members’ collective research conducted over fifteen years. An overview of the early history of taverns in Pioneer Square, the formation of early organizations that led to the flourishing of lesbian and gay community in the 1970s, and the early responses to the challenges of the 1980s and 1990s. First published on OutHistory in 2013.

The Lesbian Mothers National Defense Fund, 1970-2000

An overview of the history of a lesbian parenting advocacy group founded in Seattle. Published originally on OutHistory in 2013.

History in Houston, 40 Years After Stonewall, 1969-2009

An exhibit on the post-Stonewall LGBT history of Houston, Texas.

FIERCE: Empowering LGBT Youth of Color, New York City

FIERCE is a membership-based organization building the leadership and power of LGBTQ youth of color in New York City. Text by FIERCE, compiled by Andre Banks, Thomas J. Lax and Ellen Vaz. Photographs courtesy of FIERCE © 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Forty Years of History in the Heartland: UNL and Lincoln, Nebraska, 1967-2010, by Pat Tetreault

An exhibit about the University of Nebrasks, Lincoln, and Lincoln, Nebraska, compiled from organizational minutes and files, personal communications, and media articles. Some of the online research of the Daily Nebraskan archives was conducted by Jacy Farris.

The History of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, San Francisco, California, 1971-2004, by Nathan Purkiss

This is a short history of the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Club, published originally on OutHistory in 2013. This history explains how the club got started in San Francisco, California as the first registered LGBT Democratic Club in the nation. The history recounts the decades-long struggle of the LGBT community to influence public policy at the local, state and national level by making inroads within the Democratic Party in one of the nation's most important Democratic strongholds. Unless otherwise noted, all source material for this history came from the Alice Reports newsletter, interviews with longtime Alice members, and the Gay Vote Newsletters of the Harvey Milk Democratic Club. The 1971 section on Jim Foster establishing Alice is sourced from Out for Good: The Struggle to Build a Gay Rights Movement in America by Dudley Clendinen and Adam Nagourney.

Man-i-fest: FTM Mentorship in San Francisco, 1976 -2009, by Megan M. Rohrer

Man-i-fest follows the letters of Lou Sullivan to David, highlighting the topics and mentors that shaped the FTM community in San Francisco from 1976 to 2009. The central items in the exhibit appeared in Gateway: the newsletter of Golden Gate Girls/Guys, and FTM, supplemented by Lou Sullivan’s photographs of his transition. The exhibit was curated by Megan M. Rohrer in partnership with the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco.

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C., 1971-2010

The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C., is the oldest continuously active gay rights organization in the United States. Founded on April 20, 1971, as the Gay Activists Alliance, the group dedicated itself to securing the "full rights and privileges" of citizenship for the gay community through "peaceful participation in the political process."

Idaho LGBT History Since Stonewall: Out in America's Conservative Mecca, 1969-2010, by Ellwood Howard

Even in conservative corners of the United States such as Idaho, there is a history of LGBT community and political organizing. This exhibit, first published on OutHistory in 2013, offers a brief glimpse into that history.

"Where Perversion Is Taught": The Untold History of a Gay Rights Demonstration at Bucks County Community College, May 9, 1968, by Marc Stein

An exhibit on a 1968 student protest at Bucks County Community College after the college president cancelled an event featuring Mattachine Society New York leader Richard Leitsch. Published originally on OutHistory in 2021.

Rainbow Richmond: LGBTQ History of Richmond, VA, 1625-2010, by Cindy Bray

Richmond is an old place, at least in American terms. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people have always been a part of its history. This exhibit, published originally on OutHistory in 2013, is dedicated to all those who challenged the norms of society, who lived free and honest lives, and who moved us forward--maybe just a little, but always forward.

LGBT Identities, Communities, and Resistance in North Carolina, 1945-2012, by David Palmer and His Students

A project produced by thirty-three students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of their requirements for the advanced undergraduate seminar U.S. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Histories. The project was developed with the intent to enrich popular understandings of modern American LGBTQ histories through the lens of a state underrepresented in this area of scholarship. Entries are grouped topically. For more information about the collection, the course, or individual entries, contact the course instructor David Palmer at palm@email.unc.edu.

The Gorilla Was Gay: Remembering Ronald Tavel's "Gorilla Queen," March 1967, by David Kerry Heefner

David Kerry Heefner's reflections on a much loved off-off-Broadway play of the 1960s. Published originally on OutHistory in 2013.

Corvallis and Oregon State University Gay Activism, 1969-2004, by Thomas Kraemer

This exhibit describes post-Stonewall gay activism at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon and events that motivated the formation of the first officially recognized gay student group at OSU in 1976.

Challenging Gender Boundaries: A Trans Biography Project by Students of Catherine Jacquet

A collection of biographies written by the students in Catherine Jacquet's Fall 2012 class at the University of Illinois, Chicago. The class was titled "Gender Non-Conformity in Historical Perspective."

Marching For Jobs and Freedom: Bayard Rustin and Cheryl Clarke at the March on Washington, August 28, 1963, by Claire Potter and John D'Emilio

This proud moment in civil rights activism is also a moment to reflect on how LGBT civil rights strategies have overlapped with, drawn strength from, and patterned themselves on a century and a half of anti-racist struggle in the United States.

Aspects of Queer Existence in 19th-Century America, by Rich Wilson

Containing unique items from the personal collection of Rich Wilson, this exhibit focuses on 19th-century queer experience in the United States.

A Gay Youth Group, the FBI, and the Community, 1984, by Mitchell Halberstadt

An exhibit on Gay and Lesbian Youth of New York and its relationship to the FBI in the 1980s.

Bleeding Blue, White, and Rainbow in State College, PA, 1969-2010

The author of this feature on LGBTQ life at Penn State asked to remain anonymous. Published October 23, 2013.

Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965): A Museum Show and Opening the Archive, by Kaitlyn Greenidge and Kevin Mumford

An exhibit on the queer intersectionality of African American writer Lorraine Hansberry, focusing on a 2013-2014 museum exhibit, an overview of Hansberry's life and work, and copies of Hansberry's correspondence with The Ladder.

"Sunshine, this is Mr. Horowitz": The Flame, the Gay Bar of Ann Arbor, MI, 1949-1998, by Rostom Mesli and Brian Whitener

An exhibit on the history of The Flame, a gay bar in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Published originally on OutHistory in 2013.

Looking Out of the Frame: Camelot’s Gay Court, 1933-1963, by Claire Bond Potter

President John F. Kennedy was famous for his vivid, and some might say almost compulsive, heterosexuality. But straight men can have a gay side, and JFK’s life was filled with prominent gay men. First published on OutHistory in 2013.

Ruth Peter Worth, 1915 -1997, by Jonathan Ned Katz

Ruth Peter Worth, originally Ruth Wertheimer, was a Jewish Holocaust survivor, a U.S. immigrant, a lesbian, and a long-time home owner in Cherry Grove, Fire Island, New York. Published originally on OutHistory in 2011.

Moreau de Saint-Méry and the "Unnatural Practices" of American Women, 1793-1798, by Jonathan Ned Katz

A French lawyer and politcian, Moreau de Saint Méry, who lived in the United States from 1793 to 1798, mostly in Philadelphia, provided one of the earliest comments on sex between women in the new American nation. First published on OutHistory in 2013.

Profiles of Ten LGBT Activists for Social Justice, 2013/2017, by Rich Wilson

Profiles of ten LGBT social justice activists by Rich Wilson. First published December 10, 2013. Last edited: May 28, 2017.

LGBTQ Life in Iowa City, Iowa, 1967-2010

A timeline of events, pictures, and documents chronicling the evolution of LGBTQ life in Iowa City.

Gay Liberation in New York City, 1969-1973, by Lindsay Branson

An exhibit focusing on the strains of activism that dominated the LGBT political scene in New York City and across the country from 1969 to 1973.

Carl Schlegel: Pioneering U.S. Gay Activist, 1906-1907, by Jonathan Ned Katz

The proselytizing of one of the earliest U.S. homosexual emancipation activists, the Rev. Carl Schlegel, was documented for the first time and published June 1, 2019, on OutHistory to honor the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. Last edit: Oct. 18, 2022.

LGBT African Americans (2014), by Kali Henderson and Dionn McDonald

A collection of biographies to celebrate Black History Month, first published on OutHistory on January 23, 2014.

Constructing the Heterosexual, Homosexual, Bisexual System, by Jonathan Ned Katz

This feature explores the human production of the terms and concepts "heterosexual," "homosexual," and "bisexual," which are presented here as evidence of the construction of a historically specific social order or regime. This is the social-historical institution or system that divides people, identities, desires, acts, relationships, and groups into heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual with profound subjective, objective, psychological, social consequences. The chronology includes scholarly works dating to the 1980s, when historians began to develop what is now called "critical heterosexual history," analysis that interrogates the historically specific discourses and institutions that comprise the hetero, homo, bi system. First published on OutHistory in 2014. Last edit: April 15, 2021.

Sara Josephine Baker: Public Health Pioneer, 1873-1945, by Karisa Butler-Wall

An exhibit on the life of Sara Josephine Baker, a pioneering figure in the history of public health. Published originally on OutHistory in 2014.

Queer Newark, 1885-present, by Timothy Stewart-Winter and Whitney Strub

An exhibit on the often overlooked queer history of Newark, New Jersey, a history that is "tragic at times, but also bold, defiant, and resistant." First published on OutHistory in 2014.

Transgender Children in Antebellum America, 1776-1861, by Jen Manion

This exhibit, published originally on OutHistory in 2014, explores a series of stories published in children’s books and magazines in antebellum America. Some portray children being punished for transgressing gender roles, others expose the range of traits, actions, habits, and expressions that were associated with masculinity or femininity. For contemporary readers interested in the history of gender, these stories provide rich accounts of the possible ways that people could live across or between genders.

Educator Juliette Derricotte (1897-1931): Interpreting Evidence About Same Sex-Love, by Lauren Kientz Anderson

An exploration of the brief but significant life of African American educator Juliette Derricotte.

Gay History in Nevada and Las Vegas, 1969-2009, by Dennis McBride, Crystal Van Dee, and Paul Ershler

The Las Vegas OutHistory project. This exhibit was a winner of OutHistory's 2010 Since Stonewall community history contest!

Harry Hay: Founding the Mattachine Society, 1948-1953, by Jonathan Ned Katz

A 1974 interview with Harry Hay about founding the Mattachine Society in California.

Lorraine Hansberry: An Interview with Documentary Filmmaker Tracy Heather Strain by Judith Smith

An interview with a documentary filmmaker who received a National Endowement for the Humanities grant in support of the first full-length documentary feature on Lorraine Hansberry. The interview was conducted by a consulting humanities scholar on the Lorraine Hansberry Documentary Project team.

Karl Heinrich Ulrichs (1825-1895) and the United States, by Jonathan Ned Katz

The story of the German sexual emancipation pioneer and his references to the United States. Adapted from Jonathan Ned Katz's column, "Katz on History," The Advocate, April 25, 1989, pages 47-48. The essay was titled "The First Gay Revolutionary, Karl Heinrich Ulrichs: A Daring Pioneer of Sexual Emancipation." Last edit: February 24, 2023.

James Baldwin and the FBI: "Isn't James Baldwin That Well Known Pervert," 1960-1974, by Douglas Field

An exhibit about the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's surveillance of African American writer and activist James Baldwin in the 1960s and 1970s. First published on OutHistory in 2014.

Allen Bernstein's Defense of Homosexuality: “Millions of Queers (Our Homo America),” 1940, by Jonathan Ned Katz and Randall Sell

Researchers have discovered a previously unknown 149-page manuscript defending homosexuality. The scholars have also documented the remarkable life of its author, a gay Jewish World War II veteran, Allen Bernstein.

"An Understanding...Held Them Together": John Sterling and James Bloss, 1870-1918, by Jonathan Ned Katz

In 1864, John William Sterling graduated from Yale College. About 1870, in his mid-twenties, Sterling met James Orville Bloss, who was three years younger. The two formed a relationship of almost 50 years, and lived together in New York City for most of that time. What kind of relationship was this? Answering that question is a work in progress. Katz's pioneering work on Sterling and Bloss is supplemented by the voluminous research of several volunteer content creators Claude M. Gruener and Rich Wagner at: http://outhistory.org/exhibits/show/gruener-wagner

Ma Rainey's "Prove It On Me Blues," 1928, by Jonathan Ned Katz

An introduction to Gertrude "Ma" Rainey's resistance anthem. First published by OutHistory in 2014.

John Wesley Carhart: “Norma Trist; or Pure Carbon: A Story of the Inversion of the Sexes,” 1895, by Jonathan Ned Katz

This exhibit introduces Carhart's 1895 novel, with a title character who utters the most affirmative defense of genital-orgasmic love relations between women published in English in the nineteenth century.

On Bullying: A Gay Teacher Remembers, 1959-2014, by Hunter O'Hara

A gay teacher, born in 1959, recalls the bullying he suffered as a child, and how he came through it.

Alice Mitchell Murders Freda Ward in Memphis, 1892

On January 25, 1892, on a riverfront railroad track, in Memphis, Tennessee, Alice Mitchell slit the throat of Freda Ward. Mitchell explained: "I killed Freda because I loved her, and she refused to marry me." The murder and subsequent trial brought new, national attention to intense, passionate, romantic and sometimes sexual (and soured) intimacies between women. This feature includes reprints of two major scholarly analyses of Mitchell and Ward's intimacy, the murder, and its aftermath. It also reprints reports about an African American woman, Emma Williams, murdering another African American woman, Eleanor Richardson, in Mobile, Alabama. The papers compared this to Alice Mitchell's murder of Freda Ward.

Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens, 1779-1782, by Jonathan Ned Katz

An exhibit on eighteenth century U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and his relationship with John Laurens. Multiple historians consider how to interpret the intimacy between Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens during the American Revolution. In 1976, Jonathan Ned Katz, in a first book documenting what he then called "Gay American History," presented letters between Hamilton and Laurens. Those letters are presented on OutHistory as Katz presented them in 1976. Since then Katz has studied what other historians have said about Hamilton's and Laurens' relationship and he presents excerpts from those historians here on OutHistory, along with his own later essay "Alexander Hamilton's Nose."

Picturing African American Men with Men, 1918-1942, by John Ibson

A collection John Ibson's images of African American men with other men that appear in his 2002 book, Picturing Men: A Century of Male Relationships in Everyday American Photography. First published on OutHistory in 2015.

Edna Thomas ("Mary Jones"): "A Tenderness I Have Never Known," 1937, by Jonathan Ned Katz

An introduction to the 1937 case history of “Mary Jones,” who scholars have identified as African American actress Edna Thomas. First published on OutHistory in 2015.

Angela Calomiris (1916-1995): A Spy in the Lesbian Herstory Archives, by Lisa E. Davis

An introduction to and overview of the story of Angela Calomiris, a working-class lesbian who was a key informant for the FBI in the 1940s against the Communist Party.

An 18th Century Transsexual, 1788, by Clair Kronk

A brief introduction to an 18th century medical account of a trans person in a Paris hospital.

Denver's Battle Against Public Sexual Activity, 1940s-1970s, by Keith L. Moore

An exhibit on sexuality in Denver, focusing on crackdowns on "sexual immorality" and the rise of a flourishing gay culture. First published on OutHistory in 2015.

Larry Kramer's The American People, Vol. 1 (2015): Responses

Larry Kramer's The American People, Volume I, Search for My Heart, A Novel (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2015) is a fictional meditation on history, especially on gay and lesbian history. Kramer and other activists founded the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) in New York in 1987. He is also known for his novel Faggots (1978), the play The Normal Heart (1985), and as a Pulitzer Prize finalist for The Destiny of Me (1992). OutHistory solicited and published responses to The American People by historians, other scholars, and the public.

Scared and Confused to Gay and Elected, 1949-2015, by Gary Miller

A memoir detailing the struggles of Gary Miller's childhood and youth in San Diego and Kansas City before turning to his subsequent political and community service in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Roseville, CA. Published originally on OutHistory in 2015.

Dewey's Sit-in in Philadelphia, 1965, by Marc Stein

In 1965 Drum magazine called it “the first sit-in of its kind in the history of the United States.” To honor the fiftieth anniversary of this major act of LGBT resistance, Marc Stein presented reports of the sit-in at Dewey’s restaurant in Center City, Philadelphia, which began on April 25, 1965. Staged by three teenagers, it protested discrimination against "homosexuals,” “masculine women,” “feminine men,” and “persons wearing non-conformist clothing.” First Published on OutHistory on April 20, 2015.

Almeda Sperry to Emma Goldman, 1912, by Jonathan Ned Katz

A collection of love letters to Emma Goldman, the anarchist leader, vividly conveys the emotions and varied life experience of Almeda Sperry, their complex author. The letters detail and evoke Sperry's tender-brutal relationship with her husband Fred; her bitter-funny cash relationship with Carnegie Steel Company boss "Newt"; her loving relationship with Florence, a graphically described woman friend; her own poor working-class childhood, and her passionate, would-be affair of the heart with Emma Goldman. Adapted from Gay American History: Lesbians and Gay Men in the U.S.A. (1976) by Jonathan Ned Katz. Republished on OutHistory April 29, 2015.

Margaret Haig Thomas (1883-1958): Lusitania’s Queer Cargo, by Christianne Anastasia Gadd

In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Luisitania on May 7, 1915, OutHistory presented an original research report on one of its fascinating women passengers. First published on OutHistory on May 4, 2015.

Barbara Gittings: Founding the New York Daughters of Bilitis in 1958, by Jonathan Ned Katz

Barbara Gittings interviewed by Jonathan Ned Katz in 1974 about her development as a Lesbian, and about the founding and early history of the New York Daughters of Bilitis.

TRANSforming Randy Wicker: A Documentary Film, 2015, by Michael Kasino, music by Moby

OutHistory presented the first public showing of a documentary film about long-time gay activist Randy Wicker. The 50 minute film, produced and directed by Michael Kasino, uses interviews, movies, and still photos to detail the life of this ornery, eccentric gay pioneer. OutHistory is grateful to Kasino for giving the site the chance to premier his film during LGBTQ Pride Month, 2015. The film has music by Moby. Randy Wicker describes himself as a trans-aged male (young man trapped in an old body) who has been a LGBT activist since 1958, and a sex freedom activist since 1962. He was also an anti-Vietnam-War button merchant (1965-1971), the founder of LeMar (legalize marijuana) in 1964, the world's first cloning activist since 1997, and a transgender fashion activist since 2007.

Annual Reminders in Philadelphia, July 4, 1965-July 4, 1969, by Marc Stein

This exhibit was originally published to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the demonstrations for gay and lesbian rights that began at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall on July 4, 1965, and continued as Annual Reminders on July 4 in 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969.

Mary Casal, pseudonym of Ruth Fuller Field (1864-1935): The 1930 Autobiography of an American Lesbian, by Jonathan Ned Katz

The Stone Wall, the autobiography of Ruth Fuller Field, was published under the name "Mary Casal" in Chicago in 1930. The text presents the extraordinarily frank sexual and affectional life history of an American lesbian. OutHistory presents an introduction to the memoir, a long excerpt from it, a bibliography of sources about Field, and a chronology of her life by Francisco Araujo da Costa. Last Edit November 23, 2020.

The Subject Speaks: An Interview with Jimmy Paul, by Svetlana Kitto

The subject of a famous Nan Goldin photograph, Jimmy Paul, speaks about his life, and about encountering an inaccurate caption on that photograph in a major queer history art show. Published originally on OutHistory in 2015.

Americans in Württemberg Scandal, 1888, by Jonathan Ned Katz

This four-part entry, based on Jonathan Ned Katz's original research, details a scandal that erupted in Württemberg, Germany, in 1888, involving its king and three American men, Richard Mason Jackson, Charles Woodcock, and Donald Hendry. This remarkable story is vividly told based on documents representing three opposed viewpoints: (1) that of the popular American press; (2) the report of German detectives approved by the first chancellor of the modern German Empire, Otto von Bismarck; and (3) the perspective of Woodcock and Hendry, in a novel titled A Lady in Waiting. Last edit: March 11, 2022.

Miss Willson and Miss Brundage, 1800-1825, by Jonathan Ned Katz

An introduction to artist Mary Ann Willson and her farmer partner Miss Brundage, who lived together in Greenville, New York. Their relationship became the basis of the novel Patience and Sarah by Alma Routsong/Isabel Miller. First published on OutHistory in 2015.

Picturing a Lesbian Feminist Household: A 2015 Interview with Cathy Cade by Stephen Vider

Cathy Cade is a photographer who has been documenting the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities since the 1970s. Based in Berkeley, California, she is the author, publisher and photographer of A Lesbian Photo Album: The Lives of Seven Lesbian Feminists (Oakland, Ca: Waterwomen Books, 1987). Her work is archived at the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. Her website is cathycade.com.

Stephen Vider is a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at the Museum of the City of New York. From 2013 to 2015, he was the Clay Postdoctoral Fellow in the History of Sexuality at Yale University. He completed his PhD at Harvard in History of American Civilization in 2013, with a secondary field in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. His book Queer Belongings: Gay Men and the American Home After World War II will be published by University of Chicago Press. His essay “The Makings of Home,” appears in the catalog for “On the Domestic Front: Scenes of Everyday Queer Life,” curated by James Saslow at the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art. His website is stephenvider.com.

First published on OutHistory in 2015.

Researching Hoover’s War on Gays: Exposing the FBI’s “Sex Deviates” Program, by Douglas M. Charles

OutHistory is pleased to publish an original essay by historian Douglas M. Charles discussing the research for his 2015 book Hoover’s War on Gays: Exposing the FBI’s “Sex Deviates” Program (University Press of Kansas).

The Black Drag Queens Who Fought Before Stonewall, 1880-1900, by Channing G. Joseph

During Black History Month in 2016, OutHistory presented original research discoveries about parties organized by cross-dressed African American men in Washington, D.C., in the 1880s and 1890s.

Jews, Blacks, and Lesbian Teens in the 1940s: Jo Sinclair’s "The Changelings" and “The Long Moment,” by Elly Bulkin

An essay by Elly Bulkin about Jo Sinclair, pen name of Ruth Seid (1913-1995), a working-class Jewish lesbian writer. Sinclair's positive portrayals of 1940s lesbians and norm-breaking teen, her fictional explorations of Jewish identity, and her depictions of white racism and interracial relationships were risk-taking and ahead of her time. Seid’s “humanizing artistic vision” was shaped by the radical politics of her youth. First published January 29, 2016.

Prison Sex and Solitary Confinement in Pennsylvania, 1790-1829, by Jen Manion

On the publication of Jen Manion’s book Liberty's Prisoners: Carceral Culture in Early America (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015), OutHistory featured an original essay by Manion. It discusses how sex between men in early Philadelphia prisons was used as a rationale for solitary confinement.

Alma Routsong, Author of "Patience and Sarah" (1967): A 1975 Interview by Jonathan Ned Katz

For Women's History Month in 2016, OutHistory republished an interview by Jonathan Ned Katz with Alma Routsong. On January 20, 1975, the author of Patience and Sarah spoke to Katz about discovering her lesbianism and her development as a novelist. The interview was originally published in Katz's Gay American History (1976).

Hunting Homosexuals at Southern Miss, 1955-1965, by Jonathan Ned Katz, Douglas Bristol, and Andrew Israel Ross

OutHistory presents 92 pages of previously unpublished documents on the hunt for homosexuals, sex “deviates,” and “perverts,” 1955-1965, by the president and deans of Mississippi Southern College (now the University of Southern Mississippi), Hattiesburg. The documents are analyzed by two historians at the university, Douglas Bristol and Andrew Israel Ross, after an introduction by Jonathan Ned Katz. Published originally by OutHistory in 2016.

Zapping the New York Academy of Medicine, April 6, 1976, by John D'Emilio and Jonathan Ned Katz

On April 6, 1976, two gay liberation organizations "zapped" (demonstrated at) the New York Academy of Medicine, in New York City, which was hosting a panel on homosexuality sponsored by the Association for Psychoanalytic Medicine, and featuring three anti-homosexual psychiatrists, Irving Bieber, Charles Socarides, and Lionel Ovesey. This exhibit, originally published on OutHistory in 2016, introduces the zap.

Reed Erickson, Pioneering Transgender Activist and Philanthropist, 1917-1992, by Ada Bello

Reed Erickson used the wealth which his class privilege provided to support public education and activism about transgender lives and issues at a time when very little public attention was focused on the topic. Ada Bello, who wrote this account of Erickson’s life and work, was motivated to do it because she knew Erickson earlier in life when Erickson was part of the Philadelphia lesbian community. Bello has supplemented her own knowledge of Erickson with a good deal of research to offer us an accessible biographical portrait of this key figure in the transgender freedom movement in the United States. Published originally by OutHistory in 2016; last edited in 2020 by Jonathan Ned Katz, with changes indicated by words in brackets [ ].

Horacio N. Roque Ramírez (1969-2015): Presente!, by Nan Alamilla Boyd

Following the death of historian Horacio N. Roque Ramírez in December 2015, OutHistory published a memorial by Nan Alamilla Boyd.

John Sterling and James Bloss, 1870-1918, by Claude M. Gruener and Rick Wagner

In 1864, John William Sterling graduated from Yale College. About 1870, in his mid-twenties, Sterling met James Orville Bloss, who was three years younger. The two formed a relationship of almost 50 years and lived together in New York City for most of that time. A four-person team of volunteer community-based researchers provided OutHistory with the results of their voluminous research into the lives of Sterling and Bloss. Their work, published originally by OutHistory in 2016, supplements and continues the research begun by Jonathan Ned Katz on OutHistory in the feature "An Understanding. . .Held them Together."

No Red-Baiting! No Race-Baiting! No Queen-Baiting! by Allan Bérubé

This is a 90-minute illustrated talk narrated by Allan Bérubé (1946-2007) on the Marine Cooks and Stewards Union. Introduced by historians John D'Emilio and Estelle Freedman, the talk tells the surprising and inspiring story of how ship stewards and other workers on luxury cruise liners banded together and overcame racial, sexual, and other divisions to create a militant union in the 1930s. First published by OutHistory in 2016.

Arthur Kingsley Porter, 1883-1933

This exhibit introduces Arthur Kingsley Porter, an American archaeologist, art historian and medievalist who chaired Harvard University's Art History Department.

Esther Eng (1914-1970): Filmmaker, Restaurateur, Gender Rebel, by Christianne A. Gadd

Esther Eng made a name for herself as the world's first female Chinese American filmmaker, a successful restaurateur, and—rejecting social expectations—a woman who felt little need to hide her romantic and sexual relationships with other women. First published on OutHistory in 2016.

Sexuality and the Modern American Gossip Magazine, 1879-1950s, by Christopher Michael Elias

The growth of gossip magazines and tabloids during the first half of the twentieth century was partially fueled by the industry's embrace of sensational topics such as murder, violence, crime, and corruption. But no subject seemed to attract more attention than sexuality, especially sexual practices constructed as "abnormal" by the publications' authors and editors. As a result, gossip magazines and tabloids became a cultural spotlight that helped expose a variety of sexual identities, practices, and subcultures previously hidden from public view. First published on OutHistory in 2017.

Boutilier v. Immigration and Naturalization Service (1967), by Marc Stein

This was originally published to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1967 ruling in Boutilier v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, which upheld the deportation of Clive Michael Boutilier, a Canadian citizen and U.S. permanent resident classified by the INS as “afflicted with psychopathic personality” based on his homosexuality. First published by OutHistory on May 22, 2017.

Bars and the Queer Economy, 2017, by Jeffrey Escoffier and Christopher Mitchel

Writing about queer bars and drag culture in the 1972 classic Mother Camp, Esther Newton observed that queer communities had “an economics but no economy.” In this exhibit, Jeffrey Escoffier and Christopher Mitchell address the economics of gay bars for the early "closeted" LGBT community.

Peter Sewally/Mary Jones, June 11, 1836, by Jonathan Ned Katz and Tavia Nyong'o

Two historians, Jonathan Ned Katz and Tavia Nyong’o, present and analyze the story and visual depiction of Peter Sewally/Mary Jones, a Black transgender person in New York City, in 1836. First published on OutHistory in 2017.

Gene Pearson: The Canadian Nightingale, 1899-1932, by Donald W. McLeod

An exhibit on the rediscovery of female impersonator and singer Gene Pearson. Published originally on OutHistory in 2020.

Atlanta Since Stonewall, 1969-2009, by Wesley Chenault

Atlanta Since Stonewall, 1969-2009: A Local History brings to life a segment of the city’s LGBTQ past, highlighting nationally recognized and little-known personalities, places, and events. Through photographs, printed materials, ephemera, and links to digital content, it presents diverse narratives of a marginalized people's lived experiences in the South’s gay epicenter. Animated by visual elements, these stories -- of adversity and triumph, struggle and pride, and loss and hope -- are inseparable from the history of the city itself and highlight the ways LGBTQ Atlantans found a political voice and personal fulfillment and dignity.


Atlanta Since Stonewall, 1969-2009: A Local History is a collaborative project between the Atlanta History Center and the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History. Located in the Buckhead area, the Atlanta History Center includes one of the largest history museums in the Southeast, a research library and archives, historic homes, gardens, and a nature trail. Anchoring the west end of the Sweet Auburn historic district, the Auburn Avenue Research Library is the first public library in the Southeast to offer specialized reference and archival collections dedicated to the study and research of African American culture and history and of other peoples of African descent.

Blue-Collar Queers, an Introduction to Steel Closets, 2014, by Anne Balay

Anne Balay provided OutHistory with an original introduction to her book, Steel Closets: Voices of Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Steelworkers, published by the University of North Carolina Press, in 2014.

Carroll Smith-Rosenberg and "The Female World of Love and Ritual," A 2021 Interview by Matthew Hauptman

An interview with the author of a groundbreaking 1975 essay on lesbian history.

Comrades and Lovers, A Documentary Play, by Jonathan Ned Katz

A theater piece, first performed in 1989-1992 and authored by OutHistory's founder, about love between men in the life of Walt Whitman, adapted from the words of Whitman, John Addington Symonds, and others, condensed from their letters, diaries, essays, interviews, and poems, with a synopsis, character list, and production history first shared on OutHistory in 2020.

COVID Quarantine Meditation, May 13, 2020, by Anne Balay

Anne Balay, professor, trucker, and union organizer, meditates on Matt Brim's Poor Queer Studies in an original OutHistory feature.

Discovering a Trove of Magnus Hirschfeld Documents, 2009-2012, by Donald W. McLeod

An exhibit on the discovery of documents related to the life and times of German Jewish sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld (1868-1935). Published originally on OutHistory in 2020.

Doctors Treat LGBTQ+ People: A Troubled History, 1866-2020, by Jonathan Ned Katz

An excerpt of Jonathan Ned Katz, Gay American History: Lesbians and Gay Men in the U.S.A. (T.Y. Crowell, 1976), 129-34, along with a bibliography and sample document.

“We Were The Movement": Lesbian Activism in the Boston Reproductive Rights Movement, by Sara Slager

A 2023 essay by Sara Slager, a Boston-based researcher who graduated in May 2022 from Simmons University with a BA in Women's and Gender Studies and a double minor in History and Education. In May 2023, she will graduate with a Masters of Arts in Teaching: Elementary and Special Education and hopes to incorporate LGBT history into the school curriculum.

Envisioning the World We Make, 2016-2021, by Jonathan Ned Katz

See also: The Standard Model of the Social-Historical Universe, by Jonathan Ned Katz

Eve Adams Archive, by Jonathan Ned Katz

This feature presents the following six sections: Eve Adams Chronology; Eve Adams Corrections; Eve Adams Documents; Eve Adams Pictures; Eve Adams Research Suggestions; Eve Adams Teaching Topics and Materials

Founding Google's Gayglers in 2004, by Bennet Marks

An account of the founding of Google's LGBT employee group in 2004 and an article about the founder and his partner. Published originally on OutHistory in 2019.

Fraternities, Sex Between Men, The Closet, 1993, by Thomas Glave

Thomas Glave was a student at Bowdoin College when he published what turned out to be an inflamatory essay in the Bowdoin student newspaper, The Bowdoin Orient, on February 19, 1993 (p. 15). OutHistory reprinted that essay with Glave's permission in 2017.

Gore Vidal/Jonathan Ned Katz Correspondence, 1982-2001

Transcribed texts of novelist Gore Vidal’s brief and humorous thirteen letters to historian Jonathan Ned Katz, often on the theme of heterosexuality and, sometimes, homosexuality.

Great Moments in Fort Lauderdale LGBT History: The First Gay Cruise, 1974, by Fred Fejes

An introduction to a 300-person gay cruise, organized by the Islanders Club of New York, that set sail from Fort Lauderdale in 1974. Published originally by OutHistory in 2020.

Herbert Spiers, 1945-2011, by Jonathan Ned Katz

A biography and obituary of an AIDS activist.

Homophile Movement Oral Histories, 1950-1969, by John D'Emilio

A collection of twenty-three LGBTQ oral histories completed by John D'Emilio in the 1970s.

Homophobia in Mississippi, 1958, by Jonathan Ned Katz

In 2015, OutHistory published this original document discovery, a homophobic 1958 report by the President of Mississippi Southern College (now the University of Southern Mississippi) in Hattiesburg. The exhibit includes the memoir of Anne Nunnally, a young female student called into a dean's office and asked about friends' sex lives. A fictionalized version of Nunnally's story is presented by Cindy Crohn.

Jim Oleson, 1938-2015, by Yasmin Nair

Jim Oleson, the longtime partner of historian John D'Emilio, passed away April 4, 2015. To honor Oleson, OutHistory republished his obituary by Yasmin Nair. Reprinted with permission of the Windy City Times, April 5, 2015. Published originally by OutHistory in 2015.

Jennie June/Ralph Werther/Earl Lind, 1874-1950: Researching the Author

An overview of a research project in progress, created by a group effort to identify the birth name and other information about the pioneering author who went by the names Jennie June, Ralph Werther, and Earl Lind. Published originally on OutHistory in 2018; updated in 2022. For a related exhibit, see "Jennie June/Ralph Werther/Earl Lind: The Riddle of the Underworld, 1921," by Randall Sell. For the most recent exhibit, which concludes that Jennie June was most likely the journalist Mowry Saben (1870-1950), see "Who Was Jennie June?," by Channing Gerard Joseph, published in 2022.

Jonathan Ned Katz on Fruit Punch Radio, March 23, 1977

In 1976, Jonathan Ned Katz published Gay American History: Lesbians and Gay Men in the U.S.A., the first comprehensive book of documents on U.S. homosexual history, drawing on primary sources ranging from 1566 to 1972. In 1977, on a publicity tour for his book, Katz lectured in San Francisco, offering to his non-academic audience dramatic and humorous excerpts from his book's collection of documents. The Fruit Punch Collective, a gay men’s radio program based in San Francisco, recorded Katz’s lecture and created an hour long version. Thanks to Pacifica Radio Archives, the original radio broadcast of March 23, 1977 is available to the public. You can listen to the original Fruit Punch program here: https://archive.org/details/pra-AZ0102

Jonathan Ned Katz: Resumé

A resumé and overview of the works of OutHistory's founder, an independent scholar, self-taught historian and visual artist.

LGBT Direct Action Bibliography, Chronology, and Inventory, 1965-1973, by Marc Stein

An introduction to more than 600 LGBT direct action demonstrations and protests in the United States from 1965 to 1973, with an overview report, annotations, bibliographic references, and tags. Published originally by OutHistory and Queer Pasts in 2023.

LGBTQ Life in Watauga County, North Carolina, 1969-2009, by Kathryn Staley

This exhibit is adapted from Staley, Kathryn. “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Life at Appalachian State University.” Master’s Thesis, Appalachian State University, 2009.

Lillian Winters Lived as Man in St. Louis, 1900-1909, by Jonathan Ned Katz

First published on OutHistory in 2020.

Lucien Price: Homosexual Emancipation Pioneer (1883-1964), by Jonathan Ned Katz

An introduction to Junius Lucien Price, whose series of novels, All Souls, make him a pioneering homosexual author and resistor. Born in Kent, Ohio, Price attended Harvard University, worked as a journalist in Greater Boston, and began writing gay-themed novels in 1919.

Melville's Secret Sex Text: Decoding His 1849 Novel Redburn, by Jonathan Ned Katz

Adapted from an essay about Henry Melville's novel in The Village Voice Literary Supplement, April 1982, pages 10-12. Copyright Jonathan Ned Katz. First published on OutHistory in 2020.

Memories of the Revolution: A Home For Wayward Girls, 2016, by Holly Hughes

Excerpted from Memories of the Revolution: The First Ten Years of the WOW Cafe Theatre, co-edited by Holly Hughes, Jill S. Dolan, and Carmelita Tropicana (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2016).

Michelle: San Francisco Drag Performer, 1960s and 1970s

Michelle, also known as Mike Michelle, was a popular and well known drag performer during the late 1960s and early 1970s in San Francisco. First published on OutHistory in 2022.

Miss Gay Atlanta, 1970-present

The Miss Gay Atlanta contest was first held on Halloween 1970 at Chuck's Rathskeller. It moved in 1972 to the Sweet Gum Head. In 1975 the event had become such an institution that it was moved to June, when it has been held ever since. First published on OutHistory in 2015.

Adam Badeau (1831-1895): Civil War Officer and Presidential Biographer

This exhibit features notes from an anonymous OutHistory contributor about a Civil War officer and biographer of U.S. President Ulysses Grant.

My Beloved Friend Carol Joyce (1926-2020), by Jonathan Ned Katz

Forced by the coronavirus pandemic to vacate the safe-house she occupied with her husband, Bob, Carol Joyce moved with him and a beloved cousin, Isabel Soffer, to Soffer’s country home. There, Carol, who had withdrawn in old age into herself, was agitated. She died of cardiac arrest on March 22, 2020, at the age of 93. This exhibit features a remembrance by OutHistory founder Jonathan Ned Katz.

Neil Derrick (1931-2018), by Edward Field

An introduction, by his long-time partner, to the life and work of a gay writer who specialized in "soft-porn." Born in Visalia, California, raised in Exeter, California, and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Derrick spent much of his adult life in New York City, where he lost most of his sight in his 40s.

New Preface to Gay American History, 1992, by Jonathan Ned Katz

From the "revised" edition of Gay American History (Meridian/New American Library, a division of Penguin Books, 1992). The only revision was this new preface, written in 1991.

Patricia Highsmith/Jonathan Ned Katz Correspondence, 1980

In June 1980, OutHistory founder Jonathan Ned Katz wrote to Patricia Highsmith, asking her about her book The Price of Salt (1952), perhaps the first novel about lesbians that ended happily. This exhibit, first published on OutHistory in 2019, reproduces Katz's letter and Highsmith's reply.

Phyllis Lyon (1924-2020): Feminist Lesbian Icon, Human and Civil Rights Advocate, Friend, Mentor, by Marcia Gallo

A historian recalls the life of an early lesbian activist. First published on OutHistory in 2020.

Poems by Jonathan Ned Katz

A series of poems written by OutHistory's founder over many years. Published originally in 2023.

Proud to be Working Class and Queer in 2020, by Anne Balay

Pride month opens in 2020 at a moment of crisis for the USA and for its unions.

Queer History of Colleges and Universities

A collection of links to OutHistory projects and other materials on LGBT history in higher education, along with a timeline on Columbia University and a bibliography of sources. First published on OutHistory in 2021.

Queer Workers I Have Known, June 16, 2020, by Anne Balay

An essay by a queer labor historian.

Queering African American History: A Bibliography, by Kevin J. Mumford

OutHistory is grateful to historian Kevin J. Mumford for creating this bibliography, and for research assistance he sends special thanks to Olivia Hagedorn, a doctoral candidate in history at the University of Illinois at Urbana—Champaign. First published November 11, 2020.

Religion and Homosexuality in the United States, by John D'Emilio and His Students

An essay by historian John D'Emilio "On Teaching Religion and Homosexuality in the U.S.," and six chronologies on religion and homosexuality in the United States. First published on OutHistory in 2014.

Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA] Celebrates the Contributions of All LGBTQ+ Black Americans in U.S. history, February 26, 2021, by Barbara Lee

A resolution introduced by a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Black History Month in February 2021.

Revolution: American Colonial Settlers Make a New Nation, 1775-1860, Jonathan Ned Katz

Links for exhibits on Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens and Moreau de Saint Méry, along with profiles of Frederick von Steuben and Deborah Sampson, published originally on OutHistory in 2020.

Rose Cleveland and Evangeline Simpson, 1846-1918, by Jonathan Ned Katz

An essay, originally published in The Advocate in 1989, about U.S. President Grover Cleveland's sister Rose and her partner.

Sexuality and Biological Determinism, 1995, by Jonathan Ned Katz

Two 1995 letters to the editor by OutHistory founder Jonathan Ned Katz.

Society for Human Rights, 1924, by Jonathan Ned Katz

The original charter for the Society for Human Rights in Chicago, Illinois, with information about its founder, Henry Gerber, republished from Jonathan Ned Katz, Gay American History (1976).

Stepping-Off for the First March, New York City, June 1970, by Fred Sargeant

Remembering the first pride march in New York City. First published on OutHistory in 2019. Updated in 2023.

The Gay Academic Union: The Proceedings of Its First National Conference in New York City, 1973, by John D'Emilio

OutHistory presents the proceedings of the November 25, 1973 Gay Academic Union Conference, with a new introduction by John D'Emilio, who was also a GAU founder. "The Universities and the Gay Experience," this 105-page document, includes keynote addresses by Barbara Gittings and Martin Duberman. Published on OutHistory on April 22, 2016.

The Hidden Queer History Behind “A League of Their Own,” 1940-2018, by Frankie de la Cretaz

The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League did everything it could to keep lesbians off the diamond. Seventy-five years later, its gay stars finally opened up. OutHistory excerpt, along with related links, published on April 23, 2020.

The Homosexual at Williams College, 1971-2021, by Daniel R. Pinello

On the fiftieth anniversary of Daniel R. Pinello's coming out in an essay on the front page of the Williams College student newspaper, OutHistory republished, with the author's permission, Pinello's work.

The Marlin Beach Affair: From Homosexual "Presence" to Gay "Community," by Fred Fejes

The 1976 controversy over the Marlin Beach, a beachfront hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that openly sought a gay clientele, demonstrates the social, political and media dynamics that shaped the emergence of that community. Published originally on OutHistory in 2020 and updated in 2023.

The Standard Model of the Social-Historical Universe, by Jonathan Ned Katz

Two versions of a theoretical essay by OutHistory's founder. See also: Envisioning the World We Make, 2016-2021, by Jonathan Ned Katz.

Tish, Female Impersonator: A 2012 Interview by Silvia Sanza

Tish (Joseph Touchette) has had a long career as a professional female impersonator. In 2012 he was interviewed by his Greenwich Village neighbor, Silvia Sanza. OutHistory is grateful to Ms. Sanza for permission to reproduce her interview. First published on OutHistory on October 28, 2019. Photograph added November 8, 2019.

Transmasculine People in the U.S. Press, 1876-1939, by Emily Skidmore, with Marissa Brameyer

An introduction to approximately sixty individuals who were assigned female at birth and lived as men from the 1870s to the 1930s in the United States. Published originally on OutHistory in 2022 and updated in 2023.

U.S. Homophile Internationalism: Archive and Exhibit, 1953-1964, by Marc Stein, Tamara de Szegheo Lang, Shlomo Gleibman, Sage Milo, Dasha Serykh, Carly Simpson, Healy Thompson, and Dasha Serykh

What Are We For? Harry Hay and the Left, 1953-1964, by Ben Miller

OutHistory presents Ben Miller's adaptation of his senior honors thesis, Children of the Brain: The Life, Theory, & Activism of Harry Hay, 1953-1964, written for the New York University Department of History in 2014. Originally published on OutHistory in 2015.

Who Was Jennie June (1870-1950)?, by Channing Gerard Joseph

An exhibit that describes the work done to identify the author of groundbreaking memoirs from the early 1900s. Originally published on OutHistory in 2022.

William Stringfellow and Anthony Towne, 1962-1985, by Heather White

Two men's life together shows how Christian traditions of spiritual brotherhood could shelter same-sex love from social scrutiny. Originally published on OutHistory in 2020.

Timeline: Working-Class LGBTQ+ U.S. History, 1836-2020

This chronology on U.S. LGBTQ+ working-class history has been created with the help of Miriam Frank's book Out in the Union: A Labor History of Queer America (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2014), with the permission of the author. Citations to sources are provided in Frank's book. The timeline is a collaborative work-in-progress that has had many contributors over a long period of time. Some of the language used and concepts referenced, influenced by colonialism, imperialism, racism, sexism, and anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs and practices, might have been considered offensive or otherwise problematic by the individuals discussed in the historical documents; some might be considered offensive or otherwise problematic by LGBTQ+ people today or in the future. All of this is part of LGBTQ+ history. We welcome new contributions; please contact outhistory@gmail.com. First published on OutHistory in 2016; last edited in 2023.

Timeline: Walt Whitman and Same-Sex Sex Intimacy, 1848-2021

A chronology of references to same-sex desire and sexual activity in the life of Walt Whitman and in the works of Whitman's biographers and critics. This timeline is a collaborative work-in-progress. Some of the language used and concepts referenced, influenced by colonialism, imperialism, racism, sexism, and anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs and practices, might have been considered offensive or otherwise problematic by the individuals discussed in the historical documents; some might be considered offensive or otherwise problematic by LGBTQ+ people today or in the future. All of this is part of LGBTQ+ history. We welcome new contributions; please contact outhistory@gmail.com. First published on OutHistory in 2020; last edited in 2023.

Timeline: Transgender U.S. History, 1528-2020

This timeline is a collaborative work-in-progress that has had many contributors over a long period of time. Some of the language used and concepts referenced, influenced by colonialism, imperialism, racism, sexism, and anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs and practices, might have been considered offensive or otherwise problematic by the individuals discussed in the historical documents; some might be considered offensive or otherwise problematic by LGBTQ+ people today or in the future. All of this is part of LGBTQ+ history. We welcome new contributions; please contact outhistory@gmail.com. First published on OutHistory in 2016; last edited in 2020.

Timeline: Transgender History

This timeline is a collaborative work-in-progress that has had many contributors over a long period of time. Some of the language used and concepts referenced, influenced by colonialism, imperialism, racism, sexism, and anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs and practices, might have been considered offensive or otherwise problematic by the individuals discussed in the historical documents; some might be considered offensive or otherwise problematic by LGBTQ+ people today or in the future. All of this is part of LGBTQ+ history. We welcome new contributions; please contact outhistory@gmail.com. First published on OutHistory in 2016; last edited in 2023.

Timeline: The History of Sexuality and Gender History, 1811-1983

A chronological list of research on the history of sexuality and gender with a focus on the United States and England. This timeline is a collaborative work-in-progress. Some of the language used and concepts referenced, influenced by colonialism, imperialism, racism, sexism, and anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs and practices, might have been considered offensive or otherwise problematic by the individuals discussed in the historical documents; some might be considered offensive or otherwise problematic by LGBTQ+ people today or in the future. All of this is part of LGBTQ+ history. We welcome new contributions; please contact outhistory@gmail.com. First published on OutHistory in 2015; last update in 2023.

Timeline: Terminology (Fairy and Light in the Loafers), 1892-1993

This timeline is a collaborative work-in-progress that has had many contributors over a long period of time. Some of the language used and concepts referenced, influenced by colonialism, imperialism, racism, sexism, and anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs and practices, might have been considered offensive or otherwise problematic by the individuals discussed in the historical documents; some might be considered offensive or otherwise problematic by LGBTQ+ people today or in the future. All of this is part of LGBTQ+ history. We welcome new contributions; please contact outhistory@gmail.com. Published originally on OutHistory in 2020.

When Henry Wrote to Jim: The Letters of Henry Gerber to Jim Egan, 1951, by Donald W. McLeod

An essay and primary source exhibit on the 1951 correspondence between Henry Gerber, an early U.S. gay rights leader, and Jim Egan, an early Canadian gay rights advocate. Published originally on OutHistory in 2023.

Sally: A 2023 Interview with Documentary Filmmaker Deborah Craig, by Julie R. Enszer

A 2023 interview about the documentary film-in-progress Sally, which focuses on lesbian feminist author and activist Sally Gearhart.