The Importance Of LGBT History | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Importance Of LGBT History

It is time to pay our respects to those who came before, in order to encourage those who come next.

93
The Importance Of LGBT History
Simeon Solomon

"Someone will remember us, I say, even in another time."

It's a fragment of poetry by the Greek poet Sappho of Lesbos, the woman from whom the words "Lesbian" and "Sapphic" originate. She's famous for her love poems to other women, which we, "even in another time" remember.

I learned about Sappho a few weeks after I learned that I was a lesbian. Call it poetic irony or a cosmic sign, but I became obsessed with her. As tragic as it is to fall in love with a poet for whom only one complete poem and a handful of fragments survive to this day, Sappho did something incredible for that little teenage queer pouring over her words-- she let her know that she wasn't alone.

Of course, I knew I wasn't the only woman who loved women in the entire world. By this time, Glee was in full swing, the legalization of same-sex marriage had been slowly making its way across the United States, and there were at twelve kids who had already come out in my high school. But as far as I knew, LGBT people only came into existence in the late nineties. There was only one gay person that I knew over the age of forty. We were a product of our time, millennials who wanted to be edgy and separate themselves as much as they could from Baby Boomers. So we kissed our best friends, the girls wore suits and the guys wore dresses, and we covered ourselves in rainbow glitter.

But this woman, from thousands of years ago, changed everything for me. She made me realize that we weren't a fad, a form of rebellion-- we were a group of people with a rich history going back as far as love itself. Once I found Sappho, I became hungry for more "proof" that LGBT people have always been here. Oscar Wilde, Marsha P Johnson, Natalie Clifford Barney; each one of them felt like a hand reaching from the past to say "You are real. We know how you feel."

Even when LGBT historical figures are taught about in schools, like Leonardo da Vinci and Virginia Woolf, their sexual orientations are largely ignored. On one hand, I understand that speaking of historical figures using anachronistic terms for sexuality and gender identity presents some issues. But there is no denying that there are some things that transcend time. To the LGBT children who do not have a community that supports them, hearing that they share something with some of the greatest figures in history may be the thing that helps them learn that they are not freaks. They are beautiful.

Going forward in this troubling and uncertain time for the LGBT community, I think that one of the most important things we can do is celebrate and educate others about our history. It is time to pay our respects to those who came before, in order to encourage those who come next.


Have a LGBT historical figure that inspired you? Comment down below, and stay proud.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2391
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1435
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200682
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21208
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments