November 12th

1828 (Exact date unknown) – 11-12-1909 Harriet “Hattie” E. Giles – Born in New Salem, Massachusetts. She was an American educator. She and her life-long partner, Sophia B. Packard, opened a school for African-American women in Atlanta, Georgia that would eventually become Spelman College. With a gift of $100 from First Baptist Church of Medford, Massachusetts, and a promise of administration and financial support from the Boston-based Woman’s American Baptist Home Mission Society, the two women opened a school in the basement of Friendship Baptist Church, an African-American church in southwest Atlanta. In 1882 the American Baptist Home Mission Society made a down payment on a permanent site for the school. In 1884 John D. Rockefeller paid the balance due. He had been impressed by Packard’s vision. The school was named in honor of Rockefeller’s wife and her parents. Packard remained on the board of trustees and as president of the school until her death in 1891. At the time of her death, the school had 464 students and a faculty of 34. Giles assumed the presidency in 1901, until her death in 1909. The school became Spelman College in 1924, and in 1929 it became affiliated with Atlanta University. Packard and Giles are buried together at Silver Lake Cemetery, Athol, Massachusetts.

11-12-1953   Martin Jenkins – Born in San Francisco, California. After college, he briefly played professional football for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. Jenkins then attended the University of San Francisco School of Law, where he earned Juris Doctor with honors. On October 5, 2020, California Governor Newsom announced that he would nominate Jenkins to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California. On November 10, 2020, Jenkins was confirmed, becoming the first openly gay justice to serve on the court.

11-12-1982 Anne Hathaway – Born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. She is a straight ally for the LGBT community. Hathaway is an American actress, singer, and producer. She won an Oscar in 2013 for her role as Fantine in Les Miserables. Her relationship with the Catholic Church changed at the age of 15, after learning her older brother was gay. She stated: “I realized my older brother was gay, and I couldn’t support a religion that didn’t support my brother.”

11-12-1963 Michael Rogers – Born in Suffern, New York. He is an American fundraiser, blogger, and gay rights activist in Washington, D.C. He is best known for outing closeted gay politicians who actively oppose equality for LGBT Americans. The documentary film Outrage (2009), is based on his investigative work and his blog. He also forced the Subway food chain, the world’s largest foodservice corporation, to add both sexual orientation and gender identity to the company’s non-discrimination policies.