Welcome to QueerBio.com
DID YOU KNOW?
LGBTQ RECIPIENTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM
In the United States, the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom is bestowed by the President as the highest civilian honour in the country. Formally established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy as a revision to an award previously given for wartime service, it is now presented annually to a select group of individuals who have made historic and notable contributions to their professions, their country, their culture, and the world at large. As of December 2015, there have been 577 recipients of the award.
We have identified 17 LGBTQ individuals throughout history who have received the award. As is to be expected, all are household names in the United States and many are also well known around the world. In general, the majority of these individuals emanate from the entertainment, arts, and political activist professions, with several from the scientific community. It is noteworthy that their publicly-known sexual orientation did not preclude them from this esteemed award.
No doubt, the presentation of such awards often reflect the biases and politics of the presenter themselves - ie. the President. Nevertheless, the awarding of this group of individuals does present a recognition of particular achievement and public acceptance. All of these individuals can be considered icons of the LGBTQ community, and indeed there are many allies of the community who have also been presented with the award.
To see the complete list, read more, and link to their individual biographies CLICK HERE
Directory of past 'Did You Know?' Articles See Here
The goal of QueerBio.com is to be the definitive online biographical reference source for the international LGBTQ community. Its database lists over 12,000 contemporary and historical figures who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer, and includes artists, sports figures, politicians, entertainers, business leaders, academics, activists, and more. The database is widely international in scope and is an ideal source for research and analysis with full search and sort functionality.
The mission is to inspire, educate, and motivate all generations of LGBTQ individuals and others through a collective knowledge of this international community.
Managing Editors: Mark S. Bonham, Connie Bonello, Gordon Dunbar
Search for a Biography
To search for an individual from the database of over 12,000 biographies, simply type the name in the Search Box located in the top right hand corner of this Home Page and click on GO.
Alternatively, you can view and scroll through the entire list of biographies by viewing the All Biographies section.
To search for LGBTQ individuals with a common characteristic (examples: all Nobel Prize winners, all Writers, all Politicians, all Tony Award winners, all Olympic Gold medal winners, all individuals of a specific nationality) simply type the characteristic in the Search Box located in the top right hand corner of this Home Page and click on GO. Results of your search will be displayed alphabetically by Last Name. A second Search Box will be displayed for you to search within the database of individuals with that common characteristic.
Subscribe to our Monthly Email Biography Newsletter
By subscribing to our monthly email Biography Newsletter you will receive a regular email at the beginning of each month containing informative stories about notable international LGBTQ individuals or groups.
Bonham Centre Awards Gala
Annual Awards established in 2007 to recognize individuals or groups that have made a significant contribution to the advancement and education of human rights issues surrounding sexual education. Click here to find out more about the Bonham Centre Awards, past recipients, and present nominees.
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Our goal is to make QueerBio.com the go-to website for global biographical information on LGBTQ identified individuals. To do this requires a serious commitment of people and resources, so we need your help to fund and help this project grow. Click here for more information.
Books Available From QueerBio.Com
Notables: 101 Global LBGTQ People Who Changed the World reveals a group of select global Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) individuals whose accomplishments in their profession changed the world in some relevant way. Included are founders of various social movements, innovators in sports, leaders in business and politics, explorers and discoverers, instigators in religious movements, thinkers in philosophy, infamous villains, creators of new academic fields of study, and risk takers in the arts, culture, and entertainment worlds. 212 pages.
Champions: Biographies of Global LGBTQ Pioneers reveals a group of select artists, writers, politicians, lawyers, sports figures, activists, and religious figures from around the world who have helped shape the history of the LGBTQ community. Presented in a convenient notebook format. 114 pages.
Order for yourself, and the books also make an ideal gift for friends and family while supporting the development of QueerBio.Com
READ MORE AND PURCHASE THE BOOKS HERE
