Awesome Images of Queer Women in History

Images originally published on Tagg Magazine and cross-posted here with their permission.

Women, including queer women, were too often left out of history, as if they never existed. But they did.

So it’s revolutionary to see loving and joyful images of queer women — especially when they are a part of a historical archive.

It is an empowering reminder that, in spite of the homophobic misogyny our elders and chosen ancestors had to endure, they still fell in love, created art, marched the streets, and built community with each other.

CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN AND MATILDA HAYS (1850S)

EDMONIA LEWIS, AMERICAN-BORN ARTIST WHO SPENT MUCH OF HER TIME IN THE LESBIAN COMMUNITY IN ROME (1880S)

VICTORIAN COUPLE IN THE 1890S

YOUNG LESBIAN COUPLE SEATED IN A GARDEN — POWERHOUSE MUSEUM COLLECTION

QUEER COUPLES IN 1910

GENTLEWOMEN IN TOP HATS AND SUITS IN 1920S

ANNA MOOR AND ELSIE DALE (1900)

AMERICAN BLUES SINGER, GLADYS BENTLEY WITH BAND LEADER (1930)

AUTHOR KATHRYN HULME AND MARIE LOUISE HABETS (1956)

CHEZ MOUNE LESBIAN NIGHTCLUB IN PARIS (1960S)

INTERRACIAL COUPLE EMBRACING AT NEW YORK GAY PRIDE (JUNE 27, 1971) — © JP LAFFONT/SYGMA/CORBIS

1970 COUPLE AT PROTEST

JEWELLE GOMEZ & AUDRE LORDE — PHOTO BY ©GRETA SCHILLER

LAVENDER MENACE IN NEW YORK (1970)

MARIANNA ROMO CARMONA AND JUNE CHAN — PHOTO BY ROBERT GIARD, NYPL

GERMANTOWN COUPLE IN 1977

EDIE WINDSOR AND THEA SPYER, WHO LATER PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE REPEAL OF DOMA

Please read the following Everyday Feminism articles to learn more about the legacy and experience of queer women:

• Lesbian and Bisexual Women in the Media — Or the Lack Thereof
• 5 Things Straight Women Should Stop Saying to Queer Women
• Misadventures in Queer Lady Dating While Disabled: It’s Not Me, It’s You
• Femme Invisibility: On Passing Right by Your People and Not Being Recognized
• Celebrating Butch: A Powerful Photo Collection on Female Masculinity

[do_widget id=”text-101″]

Tagg Magazine was created by women, for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community to provide the DC Metropolitan Area queer community with a central source for lesbian culture, news, and events.