Browse Items · OutHistory

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.
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.
Poems by Jonathan Ned Katz

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