December 24th

12-24-1920 – 05-24-2014 Stormé DeLarverie – Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to a white father and a black mother, she was a lesbian whose scuffle with the police was one of the defining moments of the Stonewall riots, spurring the crowd to action. Some have referred to her as “the gay community’s Rosa Parks.” During the 1950s and ‘60s she toured the black theater circuit as the only drag king of the Jewel Box Revue, America’s first racially integrated female impersonation show. In the 1980s and ‘90s Stormé worked as a bouncer for several lesbian bars in New York City. In addition to her work for the LGBT community, she also organized and performed at benefits for battered women and children. On April 24, 2014, DeLarverie was honored along with Edith Windsor by the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, “for her fearlessness and bravery.”

12-24-1959 Lee Daniels – Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is an openly gay African-American actor, film producer, and director. Daniels was the director of Precious and The Butler, among other films. Monster’s Ball, the debut production of Lee Daniels Entertainment, was a critical and box office success. He lives in New York City. He and his then-partner, casting director Billy Hopkins, adopted Daniels’ biological niece and nephew, Clara and Liam. Hopkins and Daniels later separated. On January 7 2015, Empire, a television series created by Daniels premiered. In 2015, he was listed as one of the nine runners-up for The Advocate’s Person of the Year.

12-24-1946 – 06-28-2005 Brenda Howard – Born in The Bronx, New York City, New York. She is an American bisexual rights activist and feminist. She is known as the “Mother of Pride” for her work in coordinating a rally, and then the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots. She also originated the idea of a week-long series of events around Pride Day, which was the beginning of the annual LGBT Pride celebrations that are now held around the world every June. Additionally, she along with fellow LGBT activist Stephen Donaldson and L. Craig Schoonmaker, are credited with popularizing the word “Pride.” She died of colon cancer on June 28, 2005.

12-24-1971 Ricky Martin – Born in San Juan, Puerto, Rico. He is a Puerto Rican pop singer, actor, and author. After five years with the group Menudo, he released several Spanish-language solo albums throughout the 1990s. He also acted on stage and on TV in Mexico. In 1994 he starred on the American TV soap opera General Hospital, playing a Puerto Rican singer. In late 1999 Martin performed The Cup of Life at the 41st Grammy Awards show, which became a catalyst in bringing Latin pop to the forefront of the U.S. music scene. Martin has also expressed support for same-sex marriage in an interview with Larry King, and commented on his experience of being closeted and coming out. “Everything about saying that I am gay feels right…”, Martin stated, adding “if I’d known how good it was going to feel, I would have done it ten years ago.” Ricky Martin’s autobiography, Me, was published on November 2, 2010. In 2016, Martin announced on the Ellen DeGeneres Show that he was engaged and going to marry artist Juan Yosef. Martin and Yosef married in 2017.

12-24-1950 Deborah J. Glick – Place of birth unknown, probably New York City, New York. She is an American politician from New York and a member of the New York State Assembly. She was the first out LGBT member of the New York Legislator. Her political activity began in college and her involvement in grass roots organizing continues today. She has focused on areas relating to civil rights, reproductive freedom, LGBT rights, environmental improvement and preservation, and the arts. She has lived in Greenwich Village for over 40 years.

12-24-1981 Chris Kluwe – Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a straight ally and supporter of LGBT rights. Kluwe was an NFL Minnesota Vikings Punter. After he was released from the Vikings, he signed with the Oakland Raiders on May 15th, 2013. On January 3, 2014, he retired from football. He was an outspoken advocate for same-sex marriage and gay rights, and was considered to be one of the NFL’s more controversial figures. On January 18, 2013, Kluwe appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show to discuss his support of same-sex marriage. On April 16, 2013, in recognition of his steadfast support of same-sex marriage and for starting a conversation about LGBT issues in athletics, Kluwe was named Grand Marshal of the 41st annual Twin Cities Pride festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota.