October 31st in Queer History,: Natalie Barney

Born this day

Natalie Clifford Barney (1876 –1972) US
Playwright, poet and novelist who lived as an expatriate in Paris. She was openly lesbian and began publishing love poems to women under her own name as early as 1900, considering scandal as "the best way of getting rid of nuisances" (meaning heterosexual attention from young males).


Napoleon Lapathiotis  (1888 –1944) Greek
Poet – Died 7th January


Ethel Waters (1896 – 1977) US
Singer / Actress –


Craig Rodwell (1940 – 1993) US
Activist

David Ogden Stiers (1942 – ) US
Actor / Musician


Bruce Bawer (1956 – ) US
Literary Critic / Author / Poet


Frank Bruni (1964 – ) US Food
Critic

Gordon Sloan (1972 – 2007 ) Australian
Reality TV [ Big Brother]


Inka Grings (1978 – ) German
Football


Adam Bouska ( 1983 – ) US
Photographer


Brent Corrigan (1986 – ) US
Model / Porn / Actor

Died this day

Georgi Partsalev (1925 -1989) Bulgarian
Actor


Marcel Carne (1906 - 1996) French
Director


Lee Calvin Yeomans (1938 - 2001) US
Playwright

Sodomy Laws in History, October 31

1923 — The Indiana Supreme Court rules that cunnilingus of a female under the age of 21 is outlawed by the state’s sodomy law. The Court considers cunnilingus to be a form of masturbation as described in the law.

1955 — The South Carolina Supreme Court rules that cunnilingus does not violate the state’s "buggery" law.

1955 — The "Boys of Boise" affair begins. Starting with the arrest of four men for sexual relations with male teenagers who are prostitutes, it is blown into a situation in which Boise is called a mecca where Gay men can find boys. Begun by a group of right-wing politicians to shake the moderate political establishment, the issue is inflamed by the Idaho Daily Statesman and Time magazine. As a result of the hysteria, a city councilman is defeated for reelection and a West Point cadet from Idaho is dismissed. A 1965 investigation reveals the incident to be based on outright lies.

1956 — A California appellate court bans questions in an oral copulation case as to the defendant’s sexual orientation.

1974 — A federal court upholds the constitutionality of the Florida sodomy law.

1980 — A California appellate court upholds the conviction of a man for masturbating in the presence of an undercover police officer in a public restroom over the contention that, since the officer did not appear to be offended, he should be acquitted.


Source:
Calendar of Sodomy, October