In every era, there have been queer women pushing the boundaries of what society deemed acceptable, breaking through barriers and paving the way for future generations. Despite the lack of language for queer identity and the risks of being openly queer, these women found ways to live their lives on their own terms, leaving a lasting impact on the world. Here are some of the trailblazing queer women who changed history:
Anne Lister
Anne Lister, also known as “Gentleman Jack,” was a wealthy English landowner who kept extensive diaries chronicling her life and relationships with women. Her womanizing reputation earned her the nickname “Gentleman Jack,” the latter part being a slur for lesbian at the time.
Dr. Margaret ‘Mom’ Chung
Dr. Margaret ‘Mom’ Chung, the first Chinese American woman to become a physician, attracted a clientele of lesbian couples and women seeking birth control. She was known for her support of U.S. troops during the 1930s and 1940s, “adopting” hundreds of them, sending care packages and hosting soldiers for Sunday dinners at her home in San Francisco.
Djuna Barnes
Djuna Barnes was an avant-garde writer and journalist who tackled political issues of her day. Her reporting stood out for being sensationalist and immersive, and she often tackled the political issues of her day. Barnes is best known for her 1936 title “Nightwood,” one of the earliest lesbian novels to be published by an American writer.
Gluck
Gluck, a British painter born Hannah Gluckstein, defied expectations of her day by wearing men’s suiting, keeping a dagger hanging off her belt and referring to herself as “Peter” among close friends, or as “Tim” by a female lover. She had relationships with several women, including a playwright and society woman named Nesta Obermer.
Gladys Bentley
Gladys Bentley was a singer, piano player and entertainer who performed in the 1920s and 1930s during the Harlem Renaissance. She did not conceal her sexuality but celebrated it, flirting with women in the crowd and incorporating a more masculine identity into her performances.
Chavela Vargas
Chavela Vargas, one of Mexico’s best-known female singers, achieved dominance in the world of canción ranchera. While rumors long swirled about her being a lesbian, she didn’t come out until she was 81 years old, in an interview from the 1990s.
Rosalie ‘Rose’ Bamberger
Rosalie ‘Rose’ Bamberger had the idea to form a secret society for lesbians in the 1950s, which morphed into the first lesbian rights group in the United States. Though the club was Bamberger’s idea, she only lasted as a member for about six months, after a disagreement on the direction of the organization concerning her own safety as a working-class woman of color.
Lorraine Hansberry
Lorraine Hansberry, best known for her play “A Raisin in the Sun,” was a Black playwright and activist who tackled issues of racial equality, feminism and queer identity in her work. Hansberry lived in New York’s Greenwich Village, which enabled her to have a more expansive life than was typically possible for women in the 1960s.
Barbara Gittings
Barbara Gittings, often referred to as the “mother of the LGBTQ civil rights movement,” founded the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis and edited The Ladder, the first nationally distributed lesbian publication in America. She was key in the 1973 decision by the American Psychiatric Association to end its classification of homosexuality as a mental illness, which was a huge milestone for the LGBTQ+ community. Gittings was a tireless advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility, and her impact can still be felt today.
Esther Newton
Esther Newton is another trailblazing woman on this list who made a significant contribution to LGBTQ+ history. As an anthropologist, Newton’s work challenged societal expectations of gender and sexuality, and she became a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community through her groundbreaking research. In her 1968 dissertation, titled “The Drag Queens: A Study in Urban Anthropology,” Newton studied drag bars in the Midwest in the 1960s, providing a rare glimpse into a queer community during a time when there was little research on the subject.
Newton’s work paved the way for future LGBTQ+ scholars and activists and has had a lasting impact on our understanding of queer history and culture. Her first book, “Mother Camp: Female Impersonators in America,” further explored the world of drag bars and helped to break down stereotypes about LGBTQ+ people. Newton’s work continues to be celebrated and studied today, and she is recognized as a pioneer in LGBTQ+ anthropology.
From Anne Lister in the 19th century to Esther Newton in the 20th century, these women have made significant contributions to LGBTQ+ history and culture. Their stories serve as a reminder that queer women have always been a part of our society, even when their voices have been silenced or erased. As we celebrate Pride Month and the progress that has been made in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, it’s important to remember the women who paved the way and continue to inspire us today.