LGBT History Month: 4 Queer Events On October 31

Know Your LGBT History: 4 Queer Events That Happened On Oct. 31

In conjunction with the celebration of October as LGBT History Month, The Huffington Post will be providing you with "Know Your LGBT History" updates! Check back throughout the month for a brief overview of some of the landmark moments throughout the course of our journey as LGBT and queer-identifying individuals.

1968: Silent film star Ramon Novarro was murdered by Paul Ferguson and his brother Tom Ferguson. Written on Novarro's bathroom mirror were the words "US GIRLS ARE BETTER THAN FAGGITS" scribbled in blood.

ramon novarro

1977: Thousands of gay-bashers showed up to the Toronto’s Yonge Street Halloween celebration to seek out the annual drag parade and hurl eggs and insults. In response, "Operation Jack-o-Lantern," one of the first gay defense groups, formed to patrol the back alleys and defend gays from attacks.

halloween parade

1969: "Time" magazine ran a cover story titled “The Homosexual in America” that highlighted the 1969 Stonewall Riots. The Gay Liberation Front protested the story because it branded gay people as mentally ill and immoral.

time magazine

2007: According to Quist, Maryan Street became the first openly lesbian member of the New Zealand Parliament on this day. The app notes that originally "Marilyn Joy Waring was the first lesbian MP, though she was outed after she entered office."

maryan street

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