A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Van Ness, smiling in a white suit with a purple clutch bag, with the text "born March 28, 1987. American activist, actor, author, and television personality" beneath it. The main text reads: "Jonathan Van Ness, or JVN, is best known as the grooming expert on the Netflix series Queer Eye, for his work on the web series parody Gay of Thrones, and for hosting the Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness podcast. Openly gay throughout his life, Van Ness experienced bullying for his "femininity and natural flamboyance," and received death threats. Of the time, Van Ness said, "Growing up I definitely put on every nail polish, every heel, every scarf – I definitely had my mom's knockoff Hermès scarves in my hair and around my waist – those were my skirts, and I loved it.” He identifies as non-binary and is comfortable with all three pronouns. On June 23, 2020, Van Ness and Queer Eye co-star Bobby Berk praised the U.S. Supreme Court decisions that ruled that LGBT employment discrimination was a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, describing the ruling as "a great step in the right direction." However, both of them still urged the United States Congress to pass the proposed Equality Act."

For the last day of LGBTQ+ History Month: Jonathan Van Ness

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Lil Gas X, smiling in a head-to-toe couture fuchsia Versace suit with a pink harness, with the text "born April 9, 1999. Rapper, Singer, Songwriter" beneath it. The main text reads: "Lil Nas X is a gay and non-binary rapper and singer who has won two Grammy Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, two BET Hip Hop Awards, two iHeartRadio Music Awards and two American Music Awards. He came out as gay in June 2019, and has been an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. He uses both he/him and they/them pronouns, and has said that he wants people to use whichever pronouns they feel comfortable with when referring to him Known for his queer visuals and social media presence, Lil Nas X's success caused him to become the first person of colour and the first openly gay performer to be listed in Forbes 30 Under 30. Lil Nas X is also the first openly LGBT Black artist to win a Country Music Association award and the first openly LGBTQ+ person to win an MTV Video Music Award for Song of the Year In 2021."

Lil Nas X

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A rainbow bordered image with a photo of The Vivienne, smiling in a blonde wig, sunglasses, and a blue dress, with the text "2 April 1992 -- 5 January 2025. Drag artist" beneath it. The main text reads: "James Lee Williams, known professionally as The Vivienne was a Welsh drag queen and winner of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, and the first drag performer to compete in Dancing on Ice. As well as appearing on and presenting TV shows, they released music and acted on stage, playing the Wicked Witch of the West in the UK tour of The Wizard of Oz in 2024. The Vivienne was well-known for their support of charities, particularly Sahir House, a Liverpool-based LGBTQ+ and HIV charity. After their tragic death earlier this year, tributes flowed in from celebrities and the public, praising their talent, kindness, and generosity. RIP"

The Vivienne ❤️

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Nkom, in an intricately patterned cerise, blue and white dress and headscarf, with the text "Born January 14, 1945. Lawyer" beneath it. The main text reads: "A Cameroonian lawyer well known for her advocacy towards decriminalisation of homosexuality in Cameroon, she studied law in Toulouse and has been a lawyer in Douala since 1969. At the age of 24, she was the first black French-speaking woman called to the bar in Cameroon. She has represented clients in a variety of cases, including young victims of police violence, but she became best known for her defence of people accused of homosexuality - criminalised in Cameroon. In 2003 she founded ADEFHO: the Association for the Defence of Homosexuality. For her achievements in the fight against an "anti-gay crackdown", she was listed number two in The New Yorker's "The Eight Most Fascinating Africans of 2012"."

Alice Nkom

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A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Fashanu, kneeling down and smiling on his football strip, with the text "19 February 1961 -- 2 May 1998. English footballer." beneath it. The main text reads: "Content warning: the following discusses suicide. Justin was an English footballer who played for a variety of clubs between 1978 and 1997. Known by his early clubs to be gay, he came out publicly later in his career, becoming the first professional footballer to be openly gay. After moving to the United States, in 1998 he was questioned by police after an accusation of sexual assault. He was charged, and an arrest warrant was issued in Howard County, Maryland on 3 April 1998, but he had already left his flat. According to his suicide note, fearing he would not get a fair trial because of his homosexuality, he fled to England, where he killed himself in London in May 1998. His note stated that the sex was consensual. In 2020, Fashanu was inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame."

Content warning: suicide

Justin Fashanu

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A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Hirst, mid-game in a pink rugby strip, with the text "born 13 February 1988. Professional rugby league player" beneath it. The main text reads: "Hirst became the first British professional rugby league player to came out as gay in August 2015, in an interview with the Sunday Mirror. He played for the Hunslet Hawks in 2008 National League Two, and the Dewsbury Rams in 2009 Championship 1 and the Championship. Hirst also played for the Batley Bulldogs in two separate spells and for Featherstone Rovers in the Championship. He played for Wakefield Trinity in the Super League, and spent time on loan from Wakefield at Dewsbury and Halifax in the second tier. After the abandonment of the 2020 Championship season, Hirst signed for a third spell with Batley but in October 2020 announced his retirement from the game. As of 2022, Hirst is in a relationship with British YouTuber Joel Wood. He works as a coach for gay men."

Keegan Hirst

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A rainbow bordered graphic entitled "Oban Pride Launch Event. February 22nd 2019." There's a photograph from the launch event, showing a room decorated with pride flags, with the centrepiece being a tower of balloons in rainbow colours, with a black balloon at the top with the words "Oban Pride 2019" printed on it. The main text reads "On this day in LGBTQ+ history: Oban Pride was officially launched! Dragaoke, a DJ, and a fantastic party in the Lorne Bar, and the announcement of our programme of events for the year - including the date of our first Oban Pride: May 18th!"

A very special date for #LGBTQHistoryMonth today - the launch of Oban Pride! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

On this day in 2019 we held our official launch event in the Lorne Bar with music and Dragaoke. From there look how far we have come!

Thank you to everyone who has supported us since ❤️

#ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Moore, in a black shoulderless dress, with the text "born January 17, 1995 American actor and model" beneath it. The main text reads: "Known for playing the role of Angel Evangelista in the FX television series Pose, Time magazine named them one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019. Moore is transgender and non-binary, and uses they/them pronouns. Moore has spoken openly about their lifelong struggles with the bullying and transphobia that caused them to leave home at 14 and drop out of school in the 10th grade. In an interview with Pose co-star, Mj Rodriguez, Moore discussed how, despite identifying as non-binary, being seen as a woman means they are still subjected to the same "surveillance and scrutiny" as women, and to a desire to use fashion to take back that power.."

Indya Moore

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A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Cox, smiling in a green yellow and black dress, with the text "Born May 29, 1972. American actress and LGBTQ+ advocate" beneath it. The main text reads: "As Sophia Burset on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, she became the first openly transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy in any acting category; the first to be nominated for any Emmy Award since composer Angela Morley in 1990. In 2015, she won a Daytime Emmy in Outstanding Special Class Special as executive producer for Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word, making her the first openly transgender woman to win the award. In 2017, she became the first transgender person to play a transgender series regular on broadcast TV as Cameron Wirth on CBS's Doubt. In April 2014, Cox was honoured by GLAAD with its Stephen F. Kolzak Award for her work as an advocate for the transgender community, and that June became the first openly transgender person to appear on the cover of Time magazine. Cox is the first openly transgender person to appear on the cover of a Cosmopolitan magazine, with her February 2018 cover on the South African edition. She is also the first openly transgender person to have a wax figure of herself at Madame Tussauds."

Laverne Cox ❤️
@lavernecox.bsky.social

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Sir Derek, smiling in a white shirt, dark blue tie with small white dots on it and black coat, with the text "Sir Derek Jacobi CBE. Born 22 October 1938. English actor" beneath it. The main text reads: "Known for his work at the Royal National Theatre and for his film and television roles, he has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Olivier Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Tony Award. He was given a knighthood for his services to theatre by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994. Jacobi's talent was recognised by Laurence Olivier, who invited the young actor back to London to become one of the founding members of the new National Theatre, even though at the time Jacobi was relatively unknown. In March 2006, four months after civil partnerships were introduced in the United Kingdom, Jacobi registered his civil partnership with Richard Clifford, a theatre director, his partner of 27 years. They live in West Hampstead, northwest London. Along with his Vicious co-star Ian McKellen, he was a Grand Marshal of the 46th New York City Gay Pride March in 2015."

Sir Derek Jacobi

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A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Sir Ian, smiling in a dark blue shirt with small white dots on it and a cream coloured brimmed hat with a rainbow ribbon round it, holding a pride flag, with the text "Sir Ian McKellen CH CBE. Born 25 May 1939. English actor" beneath it. The main text reads: "Achieving worldwide fame with his film roles, his career spans Shakespearean theatre to sci-fi movies. He is the recipient of seven Laurence Olivier Awards, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, a SAG Award, a BIF Award, two Saturn Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, and two Critics' Choice Awards. He has been nominated for two Academy Awards, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and four BAFTAs. The actor and LGBTQ+ activist first publicly said he was gay in 1988 during a BBC Radio discussion on the infamous Section 28. Asked whether he would like to see it abolished, Sir Ian replied: “I certainly would. It’s offensive to anyone who is - like myself - homosexual, apart from the whole business of what can and cannot be taught to children.” That April, he helped to found the LGBT rights charity Stonewall. Knighted in 1991 for services to the performing arts, he was made a Companion of Honour for services to drama and to equality in 2008."

The magnificent Sir Ian McKellen ❤️
@iamianmckellen.bsky.social

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Visage hands on hips in a black dress, with the text "born 20th September 1968. American singer, broadcaster, producer, actress and TV personality" beneath it. The main text reads: "Born Michelle Lynn Shupack in Perth Amboy, New Jersey USA, she first gained recognition as a member of the musical group Seduction, who charted five singles on the Billboard Hot 100. She later served as lead vocalist of another group, The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M., who reached the top of the dance charts with the single "It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day" in 1993 Michelle has been a permanent judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race and its spin offs since 2011 for which she has received 3 Primetime Emmy Awards. Michelle and RuPaul met in 1989 when Visage was performing at ‘Love Ball’ which was organised by Susanne Bartsch as a benefit for the Design Industries Foundation for AIDS. She has received many awards, including an Ally Award from Attitude Awards."

Michelle Visage
@michellevisage.bsky.social

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with two photos of RuPaul, one looking dapper in a light blue suit and dark blue shirt, and one looking gorgeous in drag in a black dress with red flowers attached down the length, with the text "born 17th November 1960. American drag artist, TV personality, actor, singer, producer and writer" beneath it. The main text reads: "RuPaul was raised in San Diego and studied performing arts in Atlanta before becoming a popular fixture on the LGBTQ+ scene in New York. His debut single Supermodel' in 1993 shot him to fame as a drag artist, and in 1994 he became the first drag artist to become a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics and raise funds for Mac AIDS Fund. He went on to produce and host RuPaul's Drag Race, which was created in 2009 and is still going strong. Ru has received many awards including 14 primetime Emmy Awards, 3 GLAAD Media awards and 2 Billboard Music Awards. RuPaul has been an active supporter of voter registration in the LGBTQ+ community as only 1 in 5 adults in this community actively voted. With MTV and World of Wonder producers, in response to the Tennessee Adult Entertainment Act in March 2023, he began to fund opposition to anti-drag initiatives. He has been credited with creating wider exposure for drag queens beyond LGBTQ+ culture in the mainstream society."

RuPaul

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with a smiling photo of Davies, with the text "Russell T Davies OBE FRSL. Born 22nd April 1963. Screenwriter and Television producer" beneath it. The main text reads: "After graduating from Oxford University, Davies joined the BBC children's department, where he created various series including Dark Season. In 1994 he left to go to Granada Studios where he started writing adult dramas, mainly exploring the concepts of religion and sexuality. He created Queer as Folk using his experiences with the Manchester gay scene. He revived Doctor Who between 2005-2010 and then again from 2023. His series Banana, Tofu and Cucumber all looked at LGBTQ+ issues, as did It's a Sin, starring Olly Alexander, which looked at the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s. Davies has received many awards over the years and in 2008 received an OBE for Services to Drama, and an honorary fellowship by Cardiff University. The Pink list in the Independent on Sunday has recognised Russell for his contributions to the public for 7 consecutive years, with him being voted most influential gay person in 2008."

Russell T Davies

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A rainbow bordered image with a smiling photo of Nalder, with the text "born 1961. Welsh actress and activist" beneath it. The main text reads: "Nalder was brought up in Neath, Wales. In 1980 she moved to London and graduated in 1982 with a qualification in acting and musical theatre. While there she became involved in HIV/AIDS activism at the height of the crisis. With other members of the West End theatre community, she participated in fundraising campaigns, including cabaret shows and performances in Soho, to raise money to support AIDS awareness and research. Nalder also supported gay men suffering from AIDS and made numerous visits to patients in hospitals around London. In 2021, screenwriter and producer Russell T Davies based the character of Jill Baxter in his Channel 4 television miniseries It's A Sin on her life during the 1980s. Nalder and Davies first met at the age of 14 while performing in youth theatre in West Glamorgan in Wales and remained friends. She shared her life stories with Davies as he was developing his script; the Hampstead flat Nalder shared with three fellow students during the 1980s inspired the "Pink Palace" flat in the series. The character based on her is played by Lydia West, whilst Nalder plays her mother, Christine."

Jill Nalder

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Alexander, smiling in a grey jacket and polo neck, with the text "born 15th July 1990. English singer and actor" beneath it. The main text reads: "Olly rose to fame as lead singer of the band Years & Years in 2021, then as an actor, he gained critical acclaim with a nomination for a British Academy Television Award for best actor for his portrayal of Ritchie Tozer in the 2021 series It's a Sin. Olly has been an advocate through his charity work for Safer Sex, HIV Screening and LGBTQ+ bullying initiatives. He has spoken openly about his struggles with depression, anxiety, self-harm and eating disorders since the age of 13. In 2018 he was a part of Sport Relief and won GQ's award 'Live act of the year.' He performed at Glastonbury in 2016 with his band wearing rainbow attire in celebration of Pride Week, and he made headlines with a speech after the Orlando nightclub shootings. He represented the UK at Eurovision in 2024 and continues to advocate for mental health and other issues within the LGBTQ+ Community.

Olly Alexander
@ollyalexander.bsky.social

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Rivera, smiling in a yellow dress, with the text "July 2, 1951 -- February 19, 2002. American gay liberation and transgender rights activist" beneath it. The main text reads: "Sylvia Rivera was an American gay liberation and transgender rights activist who was also a noted community worker in New York. Rivera's older friend Marsha P. Johnson had been her protector and friend since Rivera arrived in the city, and the two were close friends from 1961 through 1973. In 1970, Rivera and Johnson co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). STAR offered services and advocacy for homeless queer youth, and fought for the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) in New York. SONDA prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodation, education, credit, and the exercise of civil rights."

Sylvia Rivera

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Wilde, seated in a suit holding a cane and looking intensely at the camera, with the text "16 October 1854 -- 30 November 1900. Irish poet and playwright" beneath it. The main text reads: "Writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is best remembered for his epigrams and plays, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, and his criminal conviction for gross indecency for homosexual acts. At the height of his fame and success, while An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest were still being performed in London, Wilde issued a civil writ against John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry for criminal libel. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel hearings unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and criminal prosecution for gross indecency. The jury was unable to reach a verdict and so a retrial was ordered. In the second trial Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison he wrote De Profundis, a long letter that discusses his spiritual journey through his trials and is a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure."

The great Oscar Wilde

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with two photos -- one of O'Grady in a suit, and one Character as Lily "14 June 1955 – 28 March 2023" beneath it. The main text reads: "He achieved notability during the 1980s with his drag persona Lily Savage at the Vauxhall tavern. Lily was well known for speaking her mind about gay rights and took part in the gay pride marches speaking out about Section 28 and the AIDS epidemic. Working at the Edinburgh Fringe and alongside other established TV artists brought him the opportunity to openly show Lily to the mainstream public who took her into their hearts. He regularly had slots on Richard and Judy, and Friday night shows on Channel 4, and was offered a slot on the Big Breakfast (as Lily), and finally his own shows on Channel 4 and ITV. He also presented on radio. He published several books, including a four-volume memoir, and worked for several charities including Save the Children and the RSPCA. Paul was awarded an MBE in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to entertainment. In 2020 he became president of the British Music Hall Society, taking over the role from Roy Hudd. On 31 October 2022, he was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Kent, where he lived for many years."

Paul O'Grady

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Rodriguez smiling in a dark purple dress, with the text "born January 7, 1991 Actress & singer" beneath it. The main text reads: " Formerly known as MJ Rodriguez, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez was born in Newark, New Jersey. She attended several performing arts schools in her youth before being cast in a theatre production of Rent as Angel Dumott Schunard, winning the 2011 Clive Barnes Award for her performance. In 2017, Rodriguez was cast as one of the lead roles in the FX television series Pose, making her part of the largest cast of transgender actresses to be starring as series regulars in a scripted series. Her performance as Blanca Evangelista garnered critical acclaim. In 2021, she became the first transgender woman to earn an Emmy Award nomination in a major acting category; she was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in the third and final season of Pose and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama."

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Harvey Milk giving a joyful smile, with the text "May 22, 1930 -- November 27, 1978. American Politician" beneath it. The main text reads: "Harvey Milk was the first openly gay elected official in California, where he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Although he was the most pro-LGBT politician in the United States at the time, politics and activism were not his early interests; he was neither open about his sexuality nor civically active until he was 40, after his experiences in the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Despite his short career in politics, Milk became an icon in San Francisco and a martyr in the gay community, and in 2002, Milk was called "the most famous and most significantly open LGBT official ever elected in the United States". Anne Kronenberg, his final campaign manager, wrote of him: "What set Harvey apart from you or me was that he was a visionary. He imagined a righteous world inside his head and then he set about to create it for real, for all of us." Milk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009."

Harvey Milk ❤️

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with a photo of Wanda Sykes, smiling in a dark grey jacket, with the text "born March 7, 1964. American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer" beneath it. The main text reads: "First recognized for her work as a writer on The Chris Rock Show, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999, Entertainment Weekly named Sykes as one of the 25 funniest people in America in 2004. In November 2008, she publicly came out as a lesbian while at a same-sex marriage rally in Las Vegas regarding Proposition 8. A month earlier, Sykes married her wife Alex Niedbalski, a French woman, whom she met in 2006. The couple became parents in April 2009, when Niedbalski gave birth to a pair of fraternal twins, a daughter and a son, named Olivia and Lucas. Sykes only came out to her conservative mother Marion and father Harry when she was 40, who both initially had difficulty accepting her homosexuality. They declined to attend her wedding with Alex, which led to a brief period of estrangement; they have since reconciled."

Wanda Sykes
@iamwandasykes.bsky.social

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with an photo of Chaz Bono, in a dark green shirt and blue jeans, with the text "born March 4, 1969 American character actor & activist" beneath it. The main text reads: "Chaz Salvatore Bono was born in Los Angeles, California to singers Cher & Sonny Bono. He is best known for his work on American Horror Story and Curb Your Enthusiasm. An acclaimed author, Bono has written three books, including NY Times Best Sellers Family Outing in 1998, and 2011's Transition; a candid account of a forty-year struggle to match his gender identity. Bono has a rich history of advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, having worked for two national LGBTQ+ organizations, and as a public speaker on college campuses and events around the world. He continues to be a strong voice for the LGBTQ+ community, and is a passionate champion of equality for all Americans, especially those discriminated against and targeted because of race, religion, sex, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity."

Chaz Bono
@chazbono.bsky.social

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with an photo of Annie Wallace, smiling in a black blouse with a sparkly pattern and a lovely dark red jacket over it, with the text "born 6 May 1965, British actress" beneath it. The main text reads: "Annie Wallace is best known for portraying the role of Sally St. Claire in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, a role she has portrayed since 2015. She is the first transgender person to portray a regular transgender character in British soap opera history. On 15 November 2015, she was placed at number 17 on the Rainbow List, published by The Independent on Sunday; an annual list of the most influential openly LGBTQ+ individuals in the United Kingdom. She won The National Diversity Awards "Celebrity of the Year", at Liverpool Cathedral, on 16 September 2016. Three weeks later she was nominated in the BAFTA Scotland Awards in the category of "Best Actress - Television" for her role in Hollyoaks, the first ever British transgender actress to be nominated for a BAFTA award."

Annie Wallace
@anniewallace.com

#LGBTQHistoryMonth #ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered image with an photo of Lady Phyll, wearing a cream blouse, orange, maroon and green coloured headscarf, and a large gold ring, with the text "Lady Phyll, born November 1974. British political activist." beneath it. The main text reads: "Phyllis Akua Opoku-Gyimah, also known as Lady Phyll, is co-founder and Chief Executive of UK Black Pride and former executive director of Kaleidoscope Trust. Opoku-Gyimah is well known for her activism on race, gender and LGBT+ rights in the United Kingdom and is considered one of Britain's most prominent lesbian activists. She has raised the issue of racism in the LGBTQ+ community and spoken about the importance of intersectionality. Opoku-Gyimah made headlines when she attended the British Academy Film Awards in 2018 with British actress Andrea Riseborough. She attended the ceremony as a show of solidarity with women who had experienced discrimination as part of a campaign against sexism. She was appointed a Grand Marshall of New York Pride in 2019; the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall riots. She was named one of 100 Great Black Britons in October 2020, as part of the initiative by Windrush campaigner Patrick Vernon OBE and historian Angelina Osborne to celebrate Black British people during Black History Month."

Dr Lady Phyll
@ladyphyll.bsky.social

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A rainbow bordered image with an image of Marsha P. Johnson, smiling and looking gorgeous in a pink dress and large flowery hat, with he text "August 24, 1945 -- July 6, 1992. American gay rights activist." beneath it. The main text reads: "Stonewall Uprising warrior, Andy Warhol model, and the Mayor of Christopher Street; pioneering gay rights activist, AIDS activist and drag mother Marsha P. Johnson was both enigmatic and unforgettable. Multiple documentaries have been made about Johnson, featuring interviews with family and friends, along with what archival footage exists - at protests for gay rights, memorials for friends who've died from AIDS and gaybashing, along with her stage performances with drag troupe Hot Peaches. The best way to know Marsha is through the documentaries where she can be listened to on her own terms. Many have tried to use her to various ends in fictitious works, but thankfully, she sat for several interviews. Seek these documentaries out and learn the truth for yourself."

Marsha P. Johnson
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Stormé DeLarverie. Stormé was an American woman known as the lesbian whose scuffle with police was, according to herself and many eyewitnesses, the spark that ignited the Stonewall uprising, spurring the crowd to action. She was born in New Orleans, to an African-American mother and a white father. She is remembered as a gay civil rights icon and entertainer, who performed and hosted at the Apollo Theater and Radio City Music Hall. She worked for much of her life as an MC, singer, bouncer, bodyguard, and volunteer street patrol worker, the "guardian of lesbians in the Village." She is known as "the Rosa Parks of the gay community."

Continuing our series for #LGBTQHistoryMonth with Stormé DeLarverie

#ObanPride2025 #ObanPrideHistory

A rainbow bordered graphic reading: “LGBTQ+ History Month February This LGBTQ+ History Month, we are showcasing some queer faces, past and present, who have made an impact.”

A rainbow bordered graphic with text reading: “Gilbert Baker June 2, 1951 - March 31, 2017 American artist, gay rights activist Designer of the rainbow flag; a worldwide symbol of LGBTQ+ pride. His flag became widely associated with LGBTQ+ rights causes; a symbol of gay pride that has become ubiquitous in the decades since its debut. California state senator Scott Wiener said Baker "helped define the modern LGBTQ+ movement". Baker served in the United States Army from 1970 to 1972. He was stationed as a medic in San Francisco at the beginning of the gay rights movement, and lived there as an openly gay man. After his honourable discharge from the military, he worked on the first marijuana legalisation initiative in 1972, and was taught to sew by fellow activist Mary Dunn. He used his skill to create banners for gay-rights and anti-war protest marches, becoming friends with Harvey Milk and joining the gay drag activist group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Baker created the Rainbow Flag with a collective in 1978.”

Hello Bluesky! We’re launching our account here just in time for LGBTQ+ history month 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

#lgbtqhistorymonth25 #obanpride2025
#obanpridehistory