In 1933-34 the gains made by gay men in Germany and the Soviet Union were abruptly reversed.

The history of drag performances can be traced back to the late 1800s. These performances can even be traced to World War I and World War II. 

Felice and Lilly’s story is one of contradictions. One a bohemian writer in the Jewish underground; the other wife to an ardent Nazi, a “good German” Hausfrau, and mother of four. The two women fell in love in wartime Berlin.

Private First Class Ferris LeBlanc served his country honorably during World War II. But the credit due to him was denied thanks to the tragic circumstances of his death in the Up Stairs Lounge fire in 1973.

Robert Fieseler, in conversation with Dr. Ed Lengel, will discuss this award-winning book which chronicles the events of that night, the controversies in the aftermath of the fire and the activism that followed and proved essential to the emergence of a fledgling gay movement.

Entertainer Noël Coward's flamboyant lifestyle and defiance of social conventions masked a fierce determination to defeat Nazi Germany.

The Nazi dictatorship policed, prosecuted, and ultimately murdered thousands of gay men during its 12 years of rule.

WWII veteran Christine Jorgensen became the first American transgender woman to attain fame for having sex reassignment surgery. Her story has influenced many others and helped redefine gender identity.

Alan Turing helped the British government pioneer the technology to decrypt Nazi Germany’s secret communications during World War II. In 1952, Alan Turing was forced to endure chemical castration by the same government after being prosecuted for homosexual acts.

Gay and Lesbian soldiers faced extraordinary discrimination during World War II. Most found new communities of people and thrived despite the oppression. Discover the film Coming Out Under Fire that shares their story.