On This Day in Queerstory: Britain debates the Sexual Offences Act

We continue through May with a look at the nurturer and the jester. May 12th is the birthday of the woman who invented modern nursing and a man who turned the “sissy” stereotype into a comedy goldmine.

1820: The Birth of Florence Nightingale

Born on this day, the “Lady with the Lamp” is a complex figure in queer history. While she is the patron saint of nursing, modern scholars have highlighted her intense, passionate relationships with women, specifically her “beloved” Marianne Nicholson. Nightingale’s rejection of marriage and her devotion to a “sisterhood” of service provide a historical template for the lesbian “woman-identified woman.” On her birthday, we recognize that the foundations of modern healthcare were laid by a woman who refused to be defined by a husband.

1978: The Birth of Jason Biggs and the “Straight Ally” Era

While Jason Biggs (born May 12, 1978) is straight, his role in the 1990s and early 2000s helped usher in a specific kind of “New Ally” comedy. More importantly, May 12th is often associated with the career of Bruce Vilanch, the queer comedy writer whose birthday falls nearby. Vilanch is the man behind the jokes of every major award show, proving that the “Queer Wit” is the engine that keeps Hollywood running.

1967: The UK decriminalization debate heats up

On May 12, 1967, the UK Parliament was in the thick of debating the Sexual Offences Act. This was a tense, “adult” moment in British history where queer men’s lives were being haggled over in wood-paneled rooms. We honor the activists who stood outside those rooms, waiting for the world to finally admit that what happened in their bedrooms was none of the government’s business.