• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cade Hildreth

Everything You SHOULD'VE Been Taught in School.

MENUMENU
  • Blog
  • Finance
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Real Estate
    • Gold and Silver
    • Investing
    • Increasing Income
    • Financial Q&A
  • Real Estate
  • Health
    • Fitness
    • Nutrition
    • Confidence
  • LGBTQ+
  • Podcast
    • "What You Should've Been Taught"
    • Audio Feed of the Website
    • Ask a Podcast Question
  • About
    • Testimonials
    • About Cade
    • Rugby Bio
    • Instagram
    • Contact
You are here: Home / LGBTQ+ / 7 LGBT Historical Figures Who Changed History Forever
7 LGBT Historical Figures Who Changed History Forever

7 LGBT Historical Figures Who Changed History Forever

May 31, 2020 By Cade Hildreth 1 Comment

It’s now a huge source of pride to be part of the LGBTQ+ community — but it hasn’t always been that way.

Today, we can celebrate our identity with rainbows, parades, and freedom, but history hasn’t always been so kind to members of our community. Even now, it can be hard to belong to a part of society that’s often misunderstood.

But time and time again, LGBTQ+ people have stood up for what they believed in and left their mark on the world, showing everyone how to make a positive difference. So let’s celebrate our identities and the people who pioneer change.

LGBT Historical Figures

Over the years, thousands of LGBTQ historical figures have had an impact, but in my opinion, these seven deserve an extra dose of recognition. If you don’t already know these leaders, you really should so enjoy!

1. Barbara Gittings

Born in 1932, Barbara Gittings is one of the historical LGBT figures who paved the way for our freedom. She was open about her sexuality and a huge advocate for the rights of homosexuals.

She has a lengthy list of work, including heading up the USA’s first every lesbian civil rights organization and fighting with the American Psychiatric Association (APA) to stop classing homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder. She’s an absolute queen and was even given the first every civil rights award from the APA.

When it comes to our rights, we owe Barbara Gittings a whole lot.

Barbara Gittings

2. James Baldwin

Born in 1924, James Baldwin struggled growing up as an African-American gay man in an America that was both racist and homophobic. If you ever feel like an outsider, look to Baldwin for inspiration.

But, rather than letting the countries attitudes crush him, he ran to France where he took on their opinions. Using the power of words, he wrote incredible essays that shone a light on how life was for black and LGBTQ+ people at the time. He looked at sexuality, race, and class, highlighting the challenges for everyone to see.

His bravery to stand up for who he was is something we should all take inspiration from.

James Baldwin

3. Alan Turing

If you haven’t heard of Alan Turing, you need to look him up. This man was a legend who was treated cruelly by the world, but whose work we should always remember.

During the Second World War, Turing’s code-cracking skills helped the Allies defeat the Nazis. He intercepted their secret messages and was able to unveil their plans, saving countless lives. A man from humble beginnings saved so many, and he was never even acknowledged for his work.

Turing was also a gay, which at this time was a big problem. When it was found out Turing was forced to undergo chemical castration. He later took his own life.

In 2013, Turing was officially pardoned and in a BBC public vote he was awarded ‘The Greatest Person of the 20th Century’. To me, he will always be one of the greatest LGBT people in history.

Alan Turing - LGBT Hero

4. Magnus Hirschfeld

When it comes to people who changed the world for the better, no list is complete without Magnus Hirschfeld. He’s believed to have invented the term ‘Transvestitism’ and led the way for queer and gender non-conforming (GNC) people around the world.

Living as an openly gay man in the late 1800’s, Hirschfeld researched sexuality and campaigned endlessly for gay rights. But his work went further than that. He opened the world’s first-ever gender identity clinic, allowing people to become the gender they truly are. He even helped Einar Wegener to become Lili Elbe, as seen in The Danish Girl.

He pioneered rights for gender non-confirming (GNC) individuals and supported the ability to change gender. For anyone who wants freedom for gender and sexuality, Hirschfeld should be considered an icon.

Magnus Hirschfeld

5. Colette

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette was often known simply as “Colette”, and she became an icon for queer ladies in the 20th century. As a very openly bisexual woman, she was proud of who she was and often defied what was ‘normal’ at the time.

She switched between masculine and feminine clothing, had relationships with many other women — including the niece of Napoleon, Mathilde de Morny — and kissed them in public. In one famous event, she even kissed Mathilde, also known as Missy, on stage at the Moulin Rouge, prompting the police to be called.

Unabashed, unashamed, and incredibly talented, she wrote incredible novels and lived as herself. If we could all be a little more like Colette each day, the world would be a better place.

Colette

6. Audre Lorde

When it comes to famous LGBT activists, Lorde is an icon. Fearless, legendary, and a self-described Black lesbian mother warrior poet, you can’t do anything but love her.

She worked as a librarian before turning her attention to poetry. In 1968, she published her first volume, First Cities. In her poetry, she spoke strongly about sexuality, civil rights, and what it was like to be a black lesbian woman living in America.

Between 1991 and 1992, the year of her death, Lorde was the Poet laureate for New York State. There’s also an Audre Lorde Award dedicated to honor lesbian poetry.

Audre Lorde

7. RuPaul Andre Charles

Not all people who changed the world are in the past – some are living among us right now. One of those is RuPaul, a legend in the making.

While he isn’t the conventional heroic character, RuPaul has done an amazing job of showing the world that sexuality is a spectrum and gender is a performance. In Rupaul’s own words, “We’re all born naked an the rest is drag.”

His show RuPaul’s Drag Race has become an epic success, normalizing an array of sexual orientations and genders. He has also lifted up 12 seasons of drag queens to heroic levels of fame, with Season 12 completing its run this week.

Plus, the queens he has had on his show are amazing. We could all learn something from their fierce behavior.

Rupaul

Get Inspired by LGBT Historical Figures

There have been countless LGBT historical figures who have changed the world. While there are far too many to mention, I hope the ones highlighted here have provided you with your daily dose of LGBTQ inspiration.

Up Next: American LGBTQ History Timeline and Why It Matters

Are we connected yet on Instagram? If not, let’s make it happen so I can share in your world too.

4.7/5 - (4 votes)

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: LGBTQ+

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cali says

    July 22, 2020 at 1:39 am

    I love this list, but Marsha P. Johnson is conspicuously absent from it. 🙁

    Reply

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok

“As an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, real estate investor, former USA Rugby Player, and fitness fanatic, I’ll teach you what your parents and teachers should’ve taught you, but didn’t know themselves.” -Cade Hildreth

Want to know what I learned making my first few million? Subscribe here.

Or, listen to Cade’s articles on the go as a Podcast.

Happy Pride Month y’all! VISIBILITY. JOY. PERMA Happy Pride Month y’all!

VISIBILITY. JOY. PERMANENCE. 

I am committed to all three. 

As we know from history, you can’t regulate a group of people out of existence. 

Leave a 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ in comments if you’re celebrating Pride this month and let me know how! 🤗 🎉 ⬇️
As we know from history, good people don’t spend As we know from history, good people don’t spend their time harassing marginalized communities. 

Think Hitler, think slave owners, think people who created assimilative boarding schools for Native Americans…

In honor of respecting other people, here are today's truths: 

1. Good people don’t spend their time harassing marginalized communities. 

2. Emotionally mature people don’t require “power over” others to be ok with themselves. 

3. Healthy people allow others to be who they are, not who they want them to be in the name of their own self-comfort. 

4. Diversity is a constant of nature. 

Which one is your favorite?
People will honk if you change lanes. Let them. People will honk if you change lanes. Let them. 

Let me know in comments if you (wholeheartedly) agree. 💙
How to get 400% returns in real estate! Enjoy th How to get 400% returns in real estate! 

Enjoy this clip from my recent podcast, “Kelsey Jang, Army Engineer Officer & Company Commander, on Getting Started In Real Estate“.

Listen to the podcast itself (link below) to hear Kelsey (@kelshjang)share her experience with buying her first rental property priced at only $110K with 10% down.

It will provide you with a real-world example for how to get started in real estate—and start enjoying outsized gains!

Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-you-shouldve-been-taught/id1523094339?i=1000591353528

Have questions? Ask them in comments ⬇️
Credit Scores: Quick tips and tricks for driving y Credit Scores: Quick tips and tricks for driving your credit score up ⬆️

Which tip here was the most helpful? Let me know in comments… 💵🤔

Also, what topic would you like to learn more about next? 🤓
There are many things that bring me great joy, but There are many things that bring me great joy, but here are three of them: 

1. Top surgery, which has helped me to feel deeply present in my body 

2. Beanie’s furry and funny face 🥹

3. My incredible wife, whose uniqueness and spunk I cherish! 

Notice that none of these are professional or financial or even personal accomplishments…

They are simply profoundly beautiful parts of life. The best and most sacred parts, really. 

If this resonates, leave a 💙 in comments … wishing you all deep joy today too ☺️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

Gender Spectrum

Gender Spectrum: A Scientist Explains Why Gender Isn’t Binary

Real estate investment funds

8 Sources of Funds that You Can Use to Invest in Real Estate

Manufactured home community (MHC) investing

Top 5 Reasons to Invest in Manufactured Home Communities

Is a 401k worth it

Why 401K’s Are A Bad Idea

Categories

  • Biohacking
  • Confidence
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Exclude
  • Finance
  • Fitness
  • Gold and Silver
  • Increasing Income
  • Investing
  • LGBTQ+
  • Nutrition
  • Podcast
  • Real Estate

Ask a Podcast Question | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

COPYRIGHT © 2019 · CADEHILDRETH.COM | PHONE: ‪(202) 660-4705‬  | 800 CORPORATE DRIVE, SUITE 301, STAFFORD, VA 22554, USA

 

*Disclaimer: Nothing on this site should be construed as medical, health, or financial advice. Before making any health decisions, you should consult with your doctor. Before making any financial decisions, you should consult with professional adviser, such as a financial planner or CPA.