We Were Always Here: Queer Historical Icons Worth Celebrating

It’s no secret that history hasn’t been kind to those who exist outside heteronormativity’s confines. Yet despite this, queer people have always survived – many even making history along the way. In fact, much of today’s culture simply wouldn’t exist without talented and courageous individuals from the LGBTQ+ community. Let’s take a moment to give these incredible queer historical icons their flowers – and celebrate them unapologetically for who they are!

queer historical icons alan turing — Image courtesy of The Alan Turing Institute

Alan Turing – Father Of Theoretical Computer Science

In the modern age of computers and AI, the name Alan Turing has become more significant than ever. After leading a section of Bletchley Park codebreakers to crack the Nazi Enigma Machine ciphers during World War II, the English mathematician, cryptanalyst, and computer scientist became a foundational pioneer of theoretical computer science. His ‘Turing Test’ notably foresaw the potential of artificial intelligence, while his conceptual ‘Turing Machine’ laid the groundwork for modern computers.

Unfortunately, his career was cut short in 1952 when he faced prosecution for homosexual acts. After undergoing tortuous chemical castration, Turing was stripped of security clearances and eventually found dead from cyanide poisoning in 1954 – a death widely speculated as a suicide. His story remains a tragic example of how even once-in-a-lifetime minds were not spared from violent queer persecution.

Learn more:

‘The Imitation Game’ (2014)
‘Alan Turing: The Enigma’ by Andrew Hodges (2014)
‘The Essential Turing by Alan Turing’ (edited by B. Jack Copeland; 2004)

queer historical icons sylvia rivera and marsha p johnson — Image courtesy of The Film Collaborative

Marsha P. Johnson & Sylvia Rivera – ‘Stonewall Era’ Transgender Activists

While neither Marsha P. Johnson nor Sylvia Rivera is credited with ‘throwing the first brick at Stonewall,’ these amazing activists can definitely be credited for their invaluable work fighting for transgender individuals and people of colour. Johnson (a self-described drag queen) and Rivera (a transgender woman) emerged as prominent queer liberation activists following the Stonewall Inn uprising in 1969 – co-founding the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR).

While advocating for bodily autonomy for transgender people, as well as free education, healthcare, and housing, STAR House was founded in 1970 to provide shelter, food, and resources for transgender youth. Though the organisation operated briefly, Johnson and Rivera’s work created one of the first trans political groups – a legacy that powerfully highlighted intersectionality in LGBTQ+ activism long before the term gained mainstream recognition.

Learn More:

‘The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson’ (2017)
‘Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR): Survival, Revolt, and Queer Antagonist Struggle’ (2013)

queer historical icons sally ride — Image courtesy of NASA

Sally Ride – First American Woman In Space

That’s right – the gay agenda can’t be contained to Earth! During the tense Cold War ‘Space Race,’ Sally Ride applied for NASA’s first women’s recruitment programme – outlasting thousands of applicants to become one of the first six female astronaut candidates in NASA Astronaut Group 8. Ride eventually became the third woman to go to space and the first female American astronaut, a feat that made her an instant celebrity in 1983.

Ride later went on to work as a physicist, lead public-outreach programmes for NASA, co-found Sally Ride Science for children interested in science, and more. While Ride briefly married fellow astronaut Steven Hawley during her NASA years, she spent the rest of her life with her partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy. It wasn’t until Ride passed away in 2012 that her 27-year relationship with O’Shaughnessy was revealed, making Ride the first known LGBTQ+ astronaut. O’Shaughnessy went on to accept Ride’s posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom – bringing their enduring love story wholly into the light.

Learn More:

‘Sally’ (2025)
‘To Space And Back’ by Sally Ride & Susie Okie’ (1989)
‘Sally Ride: America’s First Woman In Space’ by Lynn Sherr (2015)

leslie cheung in once upon a thief — Image courtesy of Golden Princess Amusement

Leslie Cheung – Legendary Hong Kong Entertainer

Nicknamed ‘Gor Gor’ (‘elder brother’ in Cantonese) by his fans, Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing is a seminal figure in both Cantopop and the Hong Kong film industry. Throughout his 26-year career, Cheung proved to be a versatile and immensely talented artist, starring in hit films like ‘Days of Being Wild’ (1990) and ‘Farewell My Concubine’ (1992) while releasing iconic music like the perpetual earworm ‘Monica.’ Cheung’s fearlessness extended to his personal life as well, first making mention of his bisexuality in a 1992 interview.

In a still largely homophobic world, Cheung defied all convention – even starring as a complicated gay man opposite Tony Leung in the legendary gay film ‘Happy Together’ (1997). In one of his most daring works, the 1996 album ‘Red,’ Cheung explored androgyny, self-expression, gender norms, while strutting across stages in full glam during his Passion Tour (all initially met with heavy criticism).

It was on stage in 1997 when Cheung publicly acknowledged his partner of 20 years, Daffy Tong – boldy dedicating the song ‘The Moon Represents My Heart’ to him. The couple remained together until Cheung’s tragic suicide in 2003, a death following his struggle with severe depression. He left behind a legacy of unabashed self-expression and impeccable artistry.

Learn More:

‘Happy Together’ (1997)
‘Firelight of a Different Colour: The Life and Times of Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing’ by Nigel Collet (2014)
‘Farewell My Concubine’ (1992)

queer historical icons bayard rustin — Image courtesy of Patrick A. Burns via Getty Images

Bayard Rustin – Openly Gay Civil Rights Leader

Bayard Rustin’s name wasn’t widely-known to many until decades after his death, despite his role as a key organiser of the 1963 March on Washington. Much of Rustin’s contribution to civil rights advocacy remained under-the-radar primarily because he was living openly as a gay man since 1953. Unashamed of his sexuality, Rustin nonetheless chose to take behind-the-scenes roles while working with groups like the American Friends Service Committee and advising Dr. King – doing so to prevent critics of the movement from using his sexuality against it.

Although several conservative members of the Civil Rights Movement pushed to have Rustin removed from leadership entirely, staunch support from Dr. King, Black labour leader A. Phillip Randolph, and others prevailed. Rustin later co-founded the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, serving as its president from 1965 to 1979, where he advocated for economic justice and civil rights.

Later in life, Rustin focused on LGBTQ+ activism, especially after meeting his partner Walter Naegle in 1977 – working on HIV/AIDS advocacy and intersectionality. Naegle eventually accepted Rustin’s posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013 – commemorating an openly lived life now celebrated publicly.

Learn More:

‘Rustin’ (2023)
‘Lost Prophet: The Life And Times Of Bayard Rustin’ by John D’Emilio (2004)
‘I Must Resist: Bayard Rustin’s Life In Letters’ by Bayard Rustin (edited by Michael G. Long; 2012)

chi chia-wei speaking at a rally — Image courtesy of Sam Yeh via AFP

Chi Chia-wei –Taiwanese Gay Icon

Chi Chia-wei holds a unique honorific that few others share – he’s the first person to come out on national TV in Taiwan, doing so in 1986. This moment had significant meaning, not only because Chi was the first to publicly come out, but also because it was part of a campaign to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to advocate for the recognition of same-sex unions in Taiwan.

In 1988, Chi became the sole AIDS activist in Taiwan, operating a halfway home for those suffering from the disease. During this time, he continued to call for the government to recognise same-sex unions. Amazingly, his persistence paid off. Thanks to Chi’s tireless advocacy, Taiwan became the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019. Today, Chi can enjoy another important title: Taiwanese Gay Icon.

Learn More: ‘Your Name Engraved Herein’ (2020)

andre leon talley paris photoshoot — Image courtesy of Jonathan Becker via Vogue

André Leon Tally – Titan Of Fashion

No comprehensive book on the modern fashion industry would be complete without at least a few chapters dedicated to the King of Dandy himself, André Leon Talley. From discovering a ‘Vogue’ magazine at a local library in the Jim Crow-era South to becoming a giant (at 6’6″, literally) of fashion journalism in New York City, Talley smashed through many locked doors as a Black man starting a career in fashion during the 1970s and 80s. Although he became Vogue’s first Black creative director from ‘88 to ‘95, Talley was much more than simply the ‘Nigel’ to Anna Wintour’s ‘Miranda Priestly’.

While Talley faced obstacles due to his race, his sexuality was seemingly a nonissue – he described himself as having a fluid sexuality in 2018. As he eventually returned to Vogue – this time as editor-at-large – in 1998 (where he remained until 2013), Talley also spent time advising the Obamas on fashion, styled Melania Trump’s 2005 wedding dress, and (of course) judged several seasons of the unhinged reality masterpiece, ‘America’s Next Top Model.’ Throughout his career, Talley continuously pushed for more Black models to be featured, supported emerging designers, and championed greater diversity in the fashion world.

Learn More:

‘The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir’ by André Leon Talley (2021)
‘The September Issue’ (2009)
‘The Gospel According To André’ (2018)

queer historical icons edith windsor and thea spyer — Image courtesy of Edith Windsor via The Cut

Edith Windsor & Thea Spyer – A Powerful Love

Have you ever experienced a love so powerful that you’d take on your government and country to defend it? That was the case for Edith ‘Edie’ Windsor, who fought to have her marriage to her late wife, Thea Spyer, recognised by the US government. When Windsor, an IBM technology manager, began dating psychologist Spyer in 1965, Spyer proposed just two years later in 1967 – though they had to keep their relationship secret. The couple finally married in Canada in 2007, 40 years after their engagement, but Spyer tragically passed away in 2009.

While grieving, Windsor faced a hefty federal estate tax bill after inheriting Spyer’s estate – a tax she wouldn’t have owed had their marriage been federally recognised. Though both had been involved with various LGBTQ+ organisations before, Windsor’s lawsuit against the US government over the spousal tax exemption propelled her activism onto the national stage. Her eventual victory in 2013 marked a landmark ruling in the quest for nation-wide same-sex marriage to be legalised in 2015.

Learn More:

‘Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement’ (2009)
A Wild And Precious Life’ by Edie Windsor & Joshua Lyon (2019)

Min Ji Park

Editor | + posts

Born in Korea and raised in Hong Kong, Min Ji has combined her degree in anthropology and creative writing with her passion for going on unsolicited tangents as an editor at Friday Club. In between watching an endless amount of movies, she enjoys trying new cocktails and pastas while occasionally snapping a few pictures.