June 30th

06-30-1919 Different From Others (Anders als die Andem) – A German film believed to be the first pro-gay film in the world. The film was partially funded by Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institute for Sexual Science. Almost all of the copies of the film were destroyed by the Nazis when they came to power in 1933. Only one copy of the film is known to exist. In the late 1970s, it was found in Ukraine and restored by the Stadtmusem München (Museum of Munich, Germany). UCLA Film and Television Archive purchased an original fine-grain master positive of film’s footage, which Hirschfeld inserted in his own film, Lase of Love, from the Russian State Film and Photo Archive. The film was screened at Outfest 2012, and in 2016 it was shown at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, and at New York’s LGBT Film Festival.

06-30-2017 – Lawmakers in Germany voted and passed a bill to allow same-sex marriage. The vote passed 393 to 226, with four abstentions. The measure now goes to the upper house of Parliament for formal approval, and then requires the signature of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Germany’s first same-sex marriages are on track to be celebrated in the early fall.

06-30-2017 – Gloria Carter, Jay-Z’s mom, comes out as a lesbian. On Jay-Z’s new album, 4:44, the song Smile, features both Jay-Z and his mother discussing her sexuality. It is the first time that either of them has publicly addressed her sexual identity.