Queer Ancestor Spotlight: William Stringfellow and Anthony Towne
William Stringfellow and Anthony Towne were charged by the U.S. government in December 1970 for harboring a fugitive - a Jesuit priest named Daniel Berrigan. Father Berrigan was part of a group known as the ‘Catonsville Nine’ who had been charged with destroying federal property for burning hundreds of draft cards during a protest against the Vietnam War. After evading federal authorities for months he was eventually found at Stringfellow and Towne’s home on Block Island, Rhode Island.
Queer Ancestor Spotlight: Siwa Oasis
This post is a bit different because it doesn’t center a particular figure and instead focuses on a location: the Siwa Oasis. This oasis is located in Egypt, near the Libyan border. It is one of the most isolated settlements in Egypt with a distinct culture and language. Settlement at the oasis dates back to ancient Egypt, and it was home to an oracle of Ammon.
Queer Ancestor Spotlight: Piers Gaveston
Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall, was born around 1284 and died on June 19, 1312. He is famous for the impact he had on the royal court of Edward II and the role he played in the kings eventual downfall. Contemporaries of the two, and many scholars since, have had a hard time framing the relationship between these men as anything other than a queer sexual relationship. The “were they/weren’t they” of these men is just one example of how our contemporary understanding of queer identity is hard to apply historically, as well as the frequent straight-washing of history.
Queer Ancestor Spotlight: Frank Kameny
Frank Kameny (May 21, 1925 - October 11, 2011) was an American astronomer and early gay rights activist who was one of the most influential figures in the American gay rights movement. While many early queer liberation movements focused on cultural and social change, Frank Kameny is notable for his early work brining gay rights issues into the US court system.
Queer Ancestor Spotlight: Ma Rainey
Born Gertrude Pridgett on April 26, 1886 in Columbus, Georgia Ma Rainey would grow to become the “Mother of the Blues” and one of the first blues singers to be recorded.
Queer Ancestor Spotlight: Karl Heinrich Ulrichs
Karl Heinrich Ulrichs was born August 28, 1825 in what was at the time the Kingdom of Hanover, part of the German Confederation. He studied law an theology at Göttingen University, graduating in 1846. He then studied history at Berlin University, graduating in 1848. Ulrichs then served as an administrative lawyer until he was dismissed due to his homosexuality in 1857.
Queer Ancestor Spotlight: José Sarria
José Sarria (December 19, 1922 - August 19, 2013) holds the distinction of being the first openly gay candidate for public office in the United States. He ran for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1961. He almost won by default as there were originally not enough candidates to fill all open seats. When voting was done he had amassed 6,000 votes and came in ninth place. While not enough to secure a seat it was a shocking moment in the American political scene and showed the viability of a gay voting bloc.
Queer Ancestor Spotlight: William Dorsey Swann
The purpose of these spotlights is not to provide an exhaustive biography of any one figure, but to introduce you to a Queer Ancestor you may not have heard of and give you some highlights about their life. Also, to the best that I can, I’ll provide links to resources (free and for purchase) if you want to learn more about them.
For the inaugural Queer Ancestor Spotlight I want to focus on someone in my own “backyard”: William Dorsey Swann, and early American queer liberation activist and the first self-proclaimed “drag queen.”