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."
April 10, 1998 -- Golf Player Patty Sheehan Comes Out as Lesbian
She is the second golfer to ever make such an announcement. Sheehan, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, is a winner of six major golf championships.
April 11, 2013 -- French Senate Approves Gay Marriage
The French Senate, in Paris, approves the law for equal marriage and adoption rights for gay and lesbian couples.
April 12, 1932 -- Film “Grand Hotel” Released
Star Greta Garbo originally did not want to the role, but her partner Mercedes de Acosta convinced her to take it. The film goes on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
April 13, 1997 -- Ellen DeGeneres Came Out in TIME Magazine
Comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres appears on TIME Magazine's cover with the words, ʺYep, I'm Gayʺ.
April 14, 1600 -- Tomasso Campanella Jailed
Campanella, a philosopher, is overheard saying to his cellmate: "O Father Pietro, why don't you do something so that we may sleep together, and we may get pleasure?" Pietro replied "I wish I could, and I'd even bribe the gaolers with ten ducats. But to you, my heart, I would like to give twenty kisses every hour."
April 15, 1987 -- ACT UP's First Use of "Silence = Death"
The iconic pink triangle and slogan is debuted to thousands waiting in line at New York City's General Post Office to file their taxes.
April 16, 1061 -- First Recorded Same-Sex Wedding
Pedro Díaz and Muño Vandilaz are married by a priest at a small chapel in Rairiz de Veiga, Galicia, Spain. The records of the wedding were found at the Monastery of San Salvador de Celanova.
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.
