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🏳️🌈 Oy Gay!
Allen Bennett was the first openly gay rabbi in the United States. He came out in 1978 in California as one of many LGBTQ voices opposing the Briggs Initiative (which I might discuss in a future history lesson). In 1979,…
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🏳️🌈 Death Becomes Us
Ever wonder why so many LGBTQ characters die in movies and on TV? It’s not a coincidence. For many years, written and unwritten censorship laws prohibited the depiction of LGBTQ characters unless they were punished for their orientation. (You can…
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🏳️🌈 Them’s Fightin’ Words
For a long time now, the word “homosexual” has been considered highly offensive. For decades, gay men have gay men have referred to themselves as gay while anti-gay forces continued to use the word “homosexual.” GLAAD (The Gay and Lesbian…
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🏳️🌈 Don’t Leave the T out of LGBTQ
There were times when lesbians, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people did not stand united as one group. These will remembered as the darker moments in LGBTQ history. The most egregious example of this came in 2007. The LGBTQ community…
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🏳️🌈 Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!
LGBTQ people across the United States should credit their civil rights and social acceptance to one woman: Marsha P. Johnson. While the history of the Stonewall riots isn’t quite clear, it’s believed that Johnson — an African-American trans woman —…
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🏳️🌈 Raising the Bar
In 1966, three gay men in New York, inspired by the sit-ins in the South, protested anti-gay laws with a “sip-in” at a Manhattan bar. At the time, it was illegal for bartenders to serve LGBTQ people. Of course, this…
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🏳️🌈 Karl-Maria Kertbeny Gives Gays a Name
The term “homosexual” was created in 1868 by journalist Karl-Maria Kertbeny. Before that, there wasn’t really a nonjudgmental word (at least in the Western world) that described gay people, which meant we couldn’t define ourselves or create communities. (Consider how…
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🏳️🌈 Welcome to Gayskool
June is the most rainbow-tactic, glitteriffic, fabulous month of the year! It’s when we in the LGBTQ community celebrate Pride. Every year, I post daily LGBTQ History Lessons all month long on Facebook. This year, I’ll be doing it on…
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B-Ball for the F-Four Q-Questions
What is Dave wearing today? Dave is going all out today — a USA Men’s Soccer Team T-shirt and a pair of shorts. He’s ready for any and all formal events the day may bring. How does Dave feel today? Dave feels…
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The Four Questions Are Sad Today
What is Dave wearing today? Dave is wearing his gray Mickey Mouse polo shirt and a pair of shorts. How does Dave feel today? Dave is devastated. What are the factors affecting Dave’s mood today? Dave learned today that one…
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Have You Ever Danced With the Four Questions in the Pale Moonlight?
What is Dave wearing today? Dave is wearing an armored black latex bodysuit with a cowl and a cape. How does Dave feel today? Dave is exhausted. What are the factors affecting Dave’s mood today? Dave is worn out because…
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Hoop-De-Do!
The Complimentary Spouse and I went to an NBA game Saturday night. It was my first basketball game in more than two decades — my brother and I went to an Orlando Magic game sometime in the ’90s, but I…