June 23rd

06-23-1912 – 06-07-1954 Alan Turing – Born in Maida Vale, London, England. He was a British pioneering computer scientist, mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, and marathon and distance runner. He was highly influential in the development of computer science. Turing is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence. During WWII he devised a number of techniques to break the German code. He played a pivotal role in cracking intercepted coded messages that enabled the Allies to defeat the Nazis in many crucial engagements. In 1952 Turning was prosecuted in the UK for homosexuality. He accepted treatment with estrogen injections (chemical castration) as an alternative to prison. Turning died in 1954 from cyanide poisoning. An inquest determined his death a suicide, but it was also noted that the known evidence is equally consistent with accidental poisoning. In 2009 Prime Minister Gordon Brown made an official public apology on behalf of the British government for “the appalling way he was treated.” Queen Elizabeth II granted him a posthumous pardon in 2013.

06-23-1994   August Getty – Place of birth unknown. August is the great-grandson of J. Paul Getty. He is an American fashion designer and founder of the fashion brand August Getty Atelier. In March 2018 Getty opened a boutique in Beverly Hills. He has dressed celebrities including Gigi Gorgeous (who is engaged to his sister), Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Bebe Rexha, and Rachel McAdams. August is openly gay. August’s mother, Ariadne Getty (b.1962), is passionate about LGBT rights, climate change, and women’s rights. Her foundation donated $15 million to GLAAD in 2018. 

06-23-1975   Lotte Kiærskou – Born in Frederikshavn, Nordjylland, Denmark. She is a former Danish handball player and two times Olympic champion. Kiærskou is openly lesbian and was involved with teammate Rikke Skov. She has retired from handball and is now a teacher.

06-23-1977 Ji Wallace – Born in Lismore, Victoria, Australia. He is a former Australian gymnast and Olympic trampoline champion. In 2005, he came out publicly as gay and was the first Australian to be named a Gay Games Ambassador. He was a cast member with the Cirque du Soleil in their show ZAIA in Macau, China. On Out’s 3rd Annual 100 Most Eligible Bachelors (2013).

06-23-1961 David Leavitt – Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is an American writer of novels, short stories, and non-fiction. The New Yorker magazine in 1982 published his short story Territory. It was the first story the magazine had ever published that was overtly about gay life. In 1984 Leavitt became known on the literary scene with a collection of gay short stories titled Family Dancing. He is considered the first modern fiction writer to bring gay themes to mainstream literature. He is openly gay.

06-23-1979 Marilyn Agliotti – Born in Boksburg, South Africa. She is a field hockey player that now represents the Netherlands. Her team won gold in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and won gold in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Agliotti is married to another woman. In an interview with a Dutch magazine, she said that the hockey community should be more open about homosexuality.