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Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Americans
In 1935, Sigmund Freud received a letter written by an American Mother
seeking a "cure" for her gay son. Freud responded: "Homosexuality
is assuredly no advantage, but it is nothing to be ashamed of, no
vice, no degradation. It cannot be classified as an illness...............
Many highly respectable individuals of ancient and modern times have been
homosexuals, several of the greatest men among them (Plato, Michelangelo,
Leonardo da Vinci, etc.). It is a great injustice to persecute homosexuality
as a crime, and cruelty, too." (Source: Out of the Past - 400 years
of Lesbian and Gay History in America)
Though out history, gay/lesbian/bisexual people played a major
role. They count among their number many great military, political,
and religious leaders. As well as many renowned poets, philosophers,
artists, and so on. They have played a major role in the development
of the American Culture in the past and present and will continue making
contributions in the future. Often in the past, their sexual orientation
was kept private but that is changing with the increasing acceptance of different
sexual orientations. As you can see from the examples given below,
gay/lesbian/bisexual americans can be found in all aspects of our culture
including but not limited to professional athletes, politicians, entertainers,
and academics. Several sources even indicate that a former U.S. President
was gay.
Learn more about these people and others by clicking on the pictures
for reference links or explore the links and suggested reading listed at
the bottom of the page.
World History
Alexander The Great
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Richard The Lionheart
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Joan of Arc
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Leonardo da Vinci
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Michelangelo
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Lawrence of Arabia
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Florence Nightingale
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Paul the Apostle
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Alan
Turing :
Computer Pioneer
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Some Famous Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual-Americans
Mark
Kendall Bingham :
A Hero of United Flight 93
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Oliver
"Billy" Sipple :
thwarted an assassination attempt
on President Ford in 1975
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Rock
Hudson :
Actor
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Greg
Louganis :
Olympic Diver
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Harvey
Milk :
First openly gay official elected in the US (AP photo)
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Herman
Melville :
Writer
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Leonard
Bernstein :
Conductor and Composer
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Walt
Whitman :
Poet
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Kathaine
Lee Bates :
Poet Wrote America the Beautiful
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Dave
Kopay :
Football
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Anna
Eleanor Roosevelt :
First Lady, Social Activist
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Barbara
Jordan :
Congresswoman
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Gertrude
"Ma" Rainey :
"Mother of the Blues"
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Howard
Ashman :
Lyricist
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Billie
Jean King :
Tennis Player
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Robert
Reed :
Actor
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Lily
Tomlin :
Entertainer
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Melissa
Etheridge :
Musician
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Tennessee
Williams :
Playwrite
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Glenn
Burke :
Baseball
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Gertrude
Stein :
Writer
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Johnny
Mathis :
Singer
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Suggested reading if you have a further interest in Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual
Americans and their many contributions to our way of life.
The Gay Almanac
Complied by The National Museum
& Archive of Lesbian and Gay History
A program fo The Lesbian and Gay Community
Services Center - New York
Out of the Past: Gay and
Lesbian History from 1869 to the Present
Miller, Neil ( New York: Vintage
Books, 1995).
The Gay 100
Russell, Paul (Carol Publishing Group,
1996)
Gay Men and Women Who Enriched
the World
Cowan, Tom (Alyson Publications, 1996)
The Gay Book of Lists
Rutledge, Leigh W. (Alyson Publications,
Inc., 1987)
The Gay Fireside Companion
Rutledge, Leigh W. (Alyson Publications,
Inc., 1986)
Out of All Time: A Gay and
Lesbian History
Boughner, Terry (Boston: Alyson Publications,
Inc. 1988)
Gay Men and Women who Enriched
the World
Cowan, Thomas (Boston: Alyson Publications,
Inc. 1992 )
Hidden From History: Reclaiming
the Gay and Lesbian Past
Duberman, Martin, Martha Vicinus,
and George Chauncey, Jr., eds. (New York: Meridian,1990 )
Gay American History: Lesbians
and Gay Men in the U.S.A.
Katz, Jonathan (New York: Meridian,
1992)
Twenty-First Century Challenge:
Lesbians and Gays in Education, Bridging the Gap
McConnell-Celi, Sue, ed. (Red Banks,
NJ.: Lavender Crystal Press, 1993)
Links of interest
PSU Links of interest
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Copyright
© 2005, Last modified: 10/12/06