April 2, 2013 — Uruguayan Senate Approves Same-Sex Marriage
The 23-8 vote makes the South American country the fourteenth in the world to legalize marriage equality.
April 3, 1895 — Opening of Wilde v. Queensberry Trial
The Marquess of Queensberry had left a calling card at Wilde's club, the Albemarle, saying "For Oscar Wilde, posing as somdomite [sic]." Wilde sued Queensberry for criminal libel. Since sodomy was a crime, the note accused Wilde of criminal activity. The Marquess had to prove the allegation was true in order to escape conviction. The court decided the sodomite accusation was "true in substance and in fact" and Queensberry was aquitted. Wilde had to pay the Marquess's legal fees, which left him bankrupt.
April 4, 1972 — Inception of First LGBTQ Jewish Synagogue
The idea for the first ever synagogue for gay and lesbian Jews, Beth Chayim Chadashim in Los Angeles, flourishes at a meeting of the Metropolitan Community Church. The four people who attended this meeting were discussing their alienation form Jewish life and came up with the idea to form their own, welcoming, house of worship.
April 5, 1965 — “My Fair Lady” wins Academy Awards for Best Picture & Director
The film's director, George Cukor, has been the unofficial head of Hollywood's gay subculture for decades. For “My Fair Lady” he wins not only the Academy Award for Best Director but also the Golden Globe Award for Best Director and the Directors Guild of America Award.
April 6, 2007 — Alexander James Adams's First Performance Using New Name
The transgender musician (formerly known as Heather Alexander) performs in Seattle, Washington for the first time as Alexander James Adams at Norwescon 30.
April 7, 1837 — The Little Mermaid Is Published
Rictor Norton theorizes that "The Little Mermaid" was written as a love letter by Hans Christian Andersen to Edvard Collin. This is based on a letter Andersen wrote to Collin, upon hearing of Collin’s engagement to a young woman, around the same time that "The Little Mermaid" was written. Andersen wrote, ”I languish for you as for a pretty Calabrian wench [. . .] my sentiments for you are those of a woman. The femininity of my nature and our friendship must remain a mystery.”
April 8, 2013 — Zambian Gay Rights Activist Paul Kasonkomona Arrested
The prominent gay rights activist is arrested in Zambia after appearing on a live television calling for same-sex relations to be decriminalized.
April 9, 1986 — Bayard Rustin Gives Speech “The New N*ggers Are Gays”
The civil rights leader was arrested more times for being homosexual than for his civil disobedience. In this speech he says, "Today, blacks are no longer the litmus paper or the barometer of social change. Blacks are in every segment of society and there are laws that help to protect them from racial discrimination. The new 'niggers' are gays. [. . .] It is in this sense that gay people are the new barometer for social change. [. . .] The question of social change should be framed with the most vulnerable group in mind: gay people."
All of the information above has been reprinted with permission from Quist, an LGBT mobile history app that can be found on iOS and Android devices. Visit HYPERLINK "http://www.quistapp.com/"www.Quistapp.com for more information. The app was created by Sarah Prager and launched in July of 2013.
