America 250

How queer contributions shaped colonial America

‘We’re people who created this nation’

Published

3 days ago

June 18, 2026

Baron Friedrich von Steuben was allegedly dismissed from the Prussian military for homosexuality. But Benjamin Franklin recommended von Steuben to George Washington, downplaying rumors of his sexuality. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Editor’s note: This is part of the “Queering America 250” LGBTQ history magazine published by the Washington Blade. The glossy magazine is free and available across the D.C. region during Pride.

You can find it here: Annie’s, As You Are, Bunker, Crush, DIK Bar, District Eagle, Green Lantern, Her Diner, Jane Jane, JR.’s, Icon, Kiki, Larry’s Lounge, Little Gay Pub, Nellie’s, Number Nine, Pitchers, Red Bear Brewing, Shakers, Sinners and Saints, Spark Social House, Fireplace, Thurst, Trade, Uproar, Whitman-Walker Health, Destination DC, Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, DC Center, SMYAL, HRC, Bite the Fruit, 350 Bakery, Logan 14 Aveda Salon Spa, Vida Fitness U Street and Logan Circle, Freddie’s Beach Bar, Destination Tomorrow. The magazine is also available at D.C. and Northern Virginia libraries.

If you were told about a gay general leading soldiers during the Revolutionary War, you’d think it’s the fictional plot of the next steamy arthouse movie coming to a theater near you.

But it’s not fictional –– that’s the story of Baron Friedrich von Steuben. LGBTQ relationships and identities existed in the colonial era, they just looked a little different.

Stories like these shaped the modern LGBTQ community, but rarely get told with the depth they deserve. Mark Segal, activist and founder of the Philadelphia Gay News, said it’s vital for queer history to be taught, especially as America’s 250th birthday approaches.

“One of the issues that is very sad in our community is that we don’t look at our own history,” Segal said. “If we look at our own history, we will realize very quickly that we’ve been a part of the fiber of this nation for many years. We’re people who created this nation.”

Segal’s point is prevalent even when just walking around D.C. In Lafayette Park, you’ll find a statue of von Steuben and a plaque listing his wartime accomplishments.

The identities of those in the colonial era of America paved the road toward acceptance and community, but not without brutal punishments, well-kept secrets and different social values.

From romantic friendships to openly gay marriages, here’s an overview of what an 18th century LGBTQ community looked like

Identity and sexuality in colonial America

LGBTQ relationships, though not labelled with modern terms, came in all shapes and sizes during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Some engaged in same-sex sexual or romantic relationships without being able to label their feelings. Others engaged in acts, such as two men walking arm in arm, that modern society would label as queer but at the time were viewed as socially acceptable.

These acts may be labeled as queer today, but Tyler Putman, manager of gallery interpretation at the Museum of the American Revolution, said the colossal difference in social expectations of the 18th century doesn’t mean that people of that time would agree.

“If you live in a society where the labels are different, you can think about yourself and become different things just because these are the things available,” Putman said. “We know that people had sex with people of the same sex in the 18th century, but many of those people probably would not have identified as being unusual or queer because they were living in a world that they constructed that had a whole different set of expectations.”

Queerness was also prevalent among soldiers. During the Revolutionary War, there’s one known case of a soldier being prosecuted for “attempting to commit sodomy” named Frederick Enslin. However, Putman said it’s likely many more cases occurred during the war since soldiers were living in close quarters for eight years.

Some kept their same-sex relationships shrouded in secrecy to avoid retaliation. Others, especially after the Revolutionary War, engaged in “romantic friendships.” These friendships weren’t seen as queer, but their tenderness and vulnerability has given historians an insight into how they resembled LGBTQ relationships during this time.

Men in romantic friendships would share the same bed, write flattering letters to one another and spend their days together. They would typically then take wives and start families. They’d still remain distant friends with one another, but their relationships would begin to strain as their duties as husbands took over.

These relationships were acceptable due to the differing social standards. Putman said that people today can identify the queerness of romantic friendships because of how engrained the LGBTQ community is in modern society. During the 18th century, there weren’t as many social stipulations for how men’s friendships could look.

Another reason for the acceptance of romantic friendships, as well as homosexual tendencies, was from social oblivion. In the modern sense, Segal said everyone has that “crazy aunt” or “eccentric uncle” that no one gives much thought about. Those who expressed modern queer tendencies during the 18th century were seen as just that –– unique characters that no one questioned.

Furthermore, family members or close friends who did discover these secret relationships didn’t want to make it public due to the severe consequences of openly queer relationships or sexual activity. They found it best to turn a blind eye to it.

Depending on which colony or state one lived in, punishments for same-sex relationships or sexual intercourse –– and even heterosexual anal intercourse or masturbation –– could lead to castration, banishment, or the death penalty.

Colonial queerness didn’t only present itself as physical intimacy and sexuality, as some didn’t conform to social gender expectations. In lesbian relationships, it was common for one partner to dress and pass as a man, with some even joining the army in a male disguise.

Beyond understanding the prevalence of LGBTQ relationships in the colonial era, Segal said knowing the icons and figures of the time is crucial in giving life to these historical accounts and inspiring youth to accept themselves.

“I never want to see a young LGBT person go through what I did growing up, feeling the way that we all did, that society will abandon us, that we won’t be able to have the position in society that we want to have,” Segal said. “That goes down to various professions. LGBT youth who want to go into the military, shouldn’t they know about Leonard Matlovich? Shouldn’t they know about von Steuben?”

Icons who shaped LGBTQ America

**Cathay Williams** dressed as a man and joined the army. She was eventually caught and honorably discharged. (Image public domain/U.S. Army)

The list of queer icons pre- and post-Revolutionary War is extensive, but it fails to paint the full spectrum of identity and sexuality during this time.

Putman said studying the historical influence of figures modern society would define as queer is difficult because sexuality isn’t something you can easily identify in paintings as you would race or gender. There needs to be documentation in order to draw those connections.

This means that the history of queer African Americans during the colonial era has mostly gone unrecorded since they were largely held as slaves or servants during this period, according to Putman.

One of the few recorded examples of an African American challenging gender expectations was Cathay Williams, who dressed as a man and joined the army. She was eventually caught and honorably discharged, but later joined an all-Black regiment that would become part of the Buffalo Soldiers.

Women like Deborah Sampson and Anna Maria Lane also subverted gender expectations by dressing as males and joining the army.

The journals, letters and court records are what historians have to piece together to reveal what an 18th century LGBTQ community looked like.

Letters reveal the romantic friendship of Charles Sumner, who had romantic friendships with Henry Longfellow and Samuel Howe in 1837. Both eventually got married, leaving Sumner feeling isolated.

Before marrying, Howe wrote to Sumner: “I find my heart yearning more and more for something to love even more than I love you my dear Sumner: but till I find it let me be all yours.”

Sumner was encouraged by Howe and Longfellow to get married, but he never found a relationship or marriage that lasted long term. Instead, he spent his days wallowing and yearning for the time he used to spend with the two men.

During the Revolutionary War, at a time when the American army was low on food and morale, a Prussian military man was called into help. Baron Friedrich von Steuben was allegedly dismissed from the Prussian military for homosexuality. Benjamin Franklin recommended von Steuben to George Washington, downplaying rumors of his sexuality.

After fleeing his home country, von Steuben accepted Franklin’s proposal and joined the military to whip the undisciplined men back into shape. Both Franklin and Washington knew of von Steuben’s sexuality, but found it irrelevant to his military qualifications.

Von Steuben also threw sexually charged parties to socialize with troops, with one party requiring the men not to show up in a “whole pair of breeches.” He grew close to two other men, William North and Benjamin Walker, with whom he legally adopted upon returning home so he could live with them. Von Steuben stands today as one of the earliest examples of a somewhat openly gay man in this era, and receives little mainstream recognition for turning the war around.

“George Washington made it clear: without von Steuben, there would be no United States of America,” Segal said.

Sylvia Drake and Charity Bryant were the rare queer couple who lived openly without punishment. The pair ran a successful tailoring business and were recognized as a married couple by the community. They lived together and assumed traditional roles of husband and wife. When Bryant died in 1851, Drake wore all black as a widow would.

Thomas(ine) Hall’s situation was a bit more complex. Presumed to be an intersex person by historians, Hall was raised as a girl. They joined the English army dressed as a man before moving to colonial Virginia years later. Hall lived as both a man and woman throughout their life, alternating between the name Thomas and Thomasine.

Their identity caused confusion in the community where they lived. Inspections were done on their body to determine their gender, often with inconclusive results. After Hall testified that they had lived as both man and woman, they didn’t face the punishments others sought for them. Rather, they were ordered to wear the clothing of each gender, including the breeches and shirt of a man and the cap and apron of a woman.

Though they didn’t know it at the time, each of these figures played a key role in defining gender and sexuality as we know them today. That’s the significance of a community learning its history, according to Segal.

Segal said learning about the LGBTQ community’s role in shaping the nation is more than just gaining knowledge; it’s a way for those in the community, especially youth, to feel seen and understand that their identity doesn’t hinder their ability to find long-term love or make a difference in the world.

“Many LGBT youth don’t think that they could grow up and have love for a lifetime,” Segal said. “If we show them that they could have the life that they wanted to have, they will feel more comfortable in their skin.”

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America 250

Washington Blade publishes ‘Queering America 250’

New magazine chronicles LGBTQ history and contributions to U.S. culture

Published

3 days ago

June 18, 2026

Staff reports

The Washington Blade this week published a new glossy magazine, titled “Queering America 250,” a look back at the many contributions that LGBTQ people have made to the founding of the country through the present day.

From Colonial times to modern pop culture, the magazine aims to remind readers of some of the many ways queer people have influenced American life.

“As the country commemorates 250 years, we wanted to do our part to ensure LGBTQ contributions to America were not ignored or forgotten,” said Blade Editor Kevin Naff. “As this administration seeks to erase queer identities, it’s more important than ever that we speak up and remind the world that we have always been here and always will be.”

The magazine is divided into chapters addressing queer life in Colonial times, the early 20th century, the late 20th century, and the 21st century. There’s a story about D.C.’s role in LGBTQ visibility; a top 40 moments in queer pop culture piece; and a series of opinion pieces and photo pages from the Blade’s historic archive.

The magazine is free and available across the D.C. region during Pride. It’s also available online.

You can find the magazine here: Annie’s, As You Are, Bunker, Crush, DIK Bar, District Eagle, Green Lantern, Her Diner, Jane Jane, JR.’s, Icon, Kiki, Larry’s Lounge, Little Gay Pub, Nellie’s, Number Nine, Pitchers, Red Bear Brewing, Shakers, Sinners and Saints, Spark Social House, Fireplace, Thurst, Trade, Uproar, Whitman-Walker Health, Destination DC, Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, DC Center, SMYAL, HRC, Bite the Fruit, 350 Bakery, Logan 14 Aveda Salon Spa, Vida Fitness U Street and Logan Circle, Freddie’s Beach Bar, Destination Tomorrow. The magazine is also available at D.C. and Northern Virginia libraries.

America 250

As we celebrate 250 years of America, let’s remember our elders

It’s important to acknowledge history and honor pioneering community members

Published

3 days ago

June 18, 2026

Zar

Venus Thrash in 2014. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The United States does not have a monarchy. I do not mean to comment on whether or not we live under tyranny or despotism, or if people live under modern serfdom; I mention that to explain, likely to the chagrin of our current president, U.S. citizens are not rewarded for their accomplishments by becoming a Knight or a Dame.

We do, however, like our awards, including trophies from academies and medals from the executive or legislature. The aforementioned current president likes awards so very much that the U.S. Congress and an international sports association created new awards just to appease him, and the recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize gifted hers. These incidents will likely be rendered as footnotes in history because of the sheer volume of lunacy we are enduring under this regime of idiocracy.

In entertainment, a coveted status is that of EGOT: the winning combination of receiving an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. I assert that not all EGOTs are equal. Some Emmys and Tonys are received merely by financing productions. Oscars and Grammys have been won because of sympathy for personal tragedy, the nominated veteran performer is considered overdue for a win, or a deceased nominee posthumously wins, as a final sendoff.

Not all awards are created equal. Some are considered prestigious, while others are less notable. As far as awards bestowed upon local entertainers, the Nation’s Capital has very few of the former. Given what I know about their processes, many are decided upon by small groups of often unremarkable people or flawed online procedures. It is not a meritocracy. Ultimately, receiving awards is about who knows you and who likes you. Even more unfortunate is that bias and bigotry play at least as much a part as loyalty or nepotism.

Winners of the Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes receive money, which is something some advocacy groups have done, and I wish more would do. As an outside observer, I find that the local awards for D.C. theater, television, and restaurants seem to have the most cachet. Some other awards that have a precise focus or have only a select few annual honorees are commendable, but many of the rest seem haphazard and disorganized, if not corrupt or simply irrelevant.

While most local awards fail to impress me, be it the categories, the trophies, the ceremonies, or the recipients themselves, I still want people to be recognized, so I nominate them. I point out who is often left out, such as DJs, who not only help to curate nightlife and culture but also enable these organizations to have successful events, including their award ceremonies and receptions.

Over the years, in many an awards nomination process, I have done my best to advocate for people, especially elders, whom I consider unsung heroes or under appreciated trailblazers. My focus is primarily Black LGBTQ people who are local or who hail from the region.

Consistently unacknowledged by local awards are people who are from here and have since gone on to achieve national or international acclaim. Merely from the perspective of production and promotion, and especially prestige, this seems like a missed opportunity.

There are the Black LGBTQ performers who are commonly known to be from this area: Grammy-winning musician and former Duke Ellington student Meshell Ndegeocello, comedian and former NSA employee Wanda Sykes, blues legend and former Fredericksburg science teacher Gaye Adegbalola, and recording artist and former D.C. nightclub performer Kevin Aviance.

**Samira Wiley** (Photo by DFree/Bigstock)

There are several accomplished Black LGBTQ actors from this area, including Emmy winner and Duke Ellington graduate Samira Wiley, Helen Hayes Award winner and Howard University graduate Roz White, Emmy winner and graduate of Greenbelt’s Roosevelt High Tramell Tillman, “Noah’s Arc” cast member and Hyattsville native Doug Spearman, “Angel” cast member and former Bladensburg resident J. August Richards, and former “America’s Next Top Model” contestant-turned-actor and Prince George’s County native Isis King. Pioneering transgender actor and singer Sandra Caldwell was born and raised in Washington, D.C.

I also think of people who deserve posthumous recognition, including DJ and music producer Vjuan Allure, poet and D.C. government employee Venus Thrash, and Tony Washington, lead singer of the Motown vocal quintet Dynamic Superiors.

There are others in the performing arts, as well as authors, playwrights, journalists, and content creators, whose notable achievements seem to be unacknowledged locally. It appears one can be revered in certain D.C. circles, but once success is achieved beyond that, that person likely never receives a homecoming. It is reminiscent of U.S.-born showgirl and singer (and later war hero) Josephine Baker, who found success in France, and elsewhere around the world, but is less revered in the nation of her birth.

**Wanda Sykes** speaks at the ‘LGBT 50th’ event in Philadelphia on July 4, 2015, marking the 50 year anniversary of the first gay and lesbian rights picket outside Independence Hall. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

As some people celebrate 250 years of the United States, I hope we will all think about how we acknowledge history and honor our community members, especially our elders. In my opinion, we can do better. I think there are many people whose accomplishments, big or small, in various arenas, are overlooked. Furthermore, just as I find the flag-waving jingoism that purports itself as patriotism distasteful, I also think that lackluster ceremonies and overpriced trinkets are not the best ways to acknowledge community advocates and activists who particularly need financial support.

At least the aforementioned performers have received national acclaim. While I have not yet been successful in getting any of them honored by local organizations, I was able to acknowledge them here. I give you all your proverbial flowers. Congratulations on your success, and know that some of us see you and are proud of your success.

Zar is the mononynous community advocate, speechwriter, songwriter, and event organizer who founded Team Rayceen Productions in 2014.

America 250

After years of progress, 21st century brings backlash, roll backs

Trump’s arrival demonstrates fragility of our equality wins

Published

3 days ago

June 18, 2026

Joe Reberkenny

President Obama famously lit up the White House in rainbow colors in 2015 following the Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Over the past 26 years, the fight for LGBTQ rights in the United States has unfolded in cycles of progress and backlash. Legal victories and cultural breakthroughs have expanded visibility and protections, building on momentum from decades of activism at the turn of the millennium. Despite the community’s best efforts, those gains have never been fully secure. Even landmark rulings like Obergefell v. Hodges have not ended the struggle. Today, as federal, state, and local leaders continue to introduce laws targeting LGBTQ people — particularly transgender Americans — the movement finds itself once again defending rights many once considered settled.

In 2000, Vermont became the first state in the country to recognize same-sex couples through civil unions following the Vermont Supreme Court decision in Baker v. State of Vermont. The ruling marked the first statewide legal recognition of LGBTQ relationships in the United States, even if it fell short of full marriage equality.

While progress toward protections for same-sex couples was being made in the “Green Mountain State,” rights for LGBTQ people in other parts of the country were being restricted the same year. In Mississippi, same-sex couples were banned from adopting children, underscoring how dramatically LGBTQ rights varied across the country — state by state, and often county by county.

Culturally, LGBTQ stories were becoming more visible. In late 2000, “Queer as Folk” premiered in the United States, featuring unapologetic gay storylines that explored addiction, relationships, sex, and life during the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic. While groundbreaking in its visibility, the series was also criticized for its lack of racial and gender diversity, reflecting the limitations of LGBTQ representation at the time.

The next major legal shift came in 2003, when the Supreme Court ruled in Lawrence v. Texas that sodomy laws were unconstitutional. The decision decriminalized same-sex intimacy between consenting adults nationwide and marked a turning point in the recognition of LGBTQ people under constitutional law, moving the country closer — at least legally — to treating private relationships with equal dignity.

Just a year later, in 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, making it the first jurisdiction in the United States where marriage equality became law. That same year, however, the national political climate revealed deep resistance: more than a dozen states passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage, embedding discrimination into state law through ballot initiatives.

The tension between cultural progress and political backlash intensified in 2006, when Arizona became the first state to reject a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage at the ballot box — an early sign that public opinion was beginning to shift, even as most states still moved in the opposite direction.

By 2008, California’s Proposition 8 overturned marriage equality in the nation’s most populous state, sparking widespread protests and legal challenges that would eventually reach the Supreme Court. That same year, the global financial crisis briefly overshadowed LGBTQ political momentum, but organizing continued at the state and local level.

*President **Barack Obama** signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)*

In 2009, Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, expanding federal hate crime protections to include sexual orientation, gender identity, race, and religion. The law was named after Matthew Shepard, a gay man murdered in a 1998 hate crime, and James Byrd Jr., a Black man murdered in a racially motivated attack in Texas.

In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act into law, ending the ban on openly gay and lesbian service members in the U.S. military. The repeal took effect in 2011, marking a major milestone in LGBTQ inclusion in federal institutions.

In 2012, the FDA approved Truvada as the first medication used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a breakthrough that transformed HIV prevention. For the first time, HIV transmission became medically preventable through daily medication. Over the following years, advances in antiretroviral therapy dramatically improved life expectancy for people living with HIV, turning what was once a fatal diagnosis into a manageable chronic condition when treated properly.

The fight over repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ led to numerous protests, including this one in 2010 featuring gay service member **Daniel Choi** who handcuffed himself to the White House fence. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Also in 2012, voters in several states — including Maine, Maryland, and Washington —approved same-sex marriage at the ballot box for the first time, signaling growing public support for marriage equality.

In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Windsor that key parts of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) were unconstitutional, requiring federal recognition of legally performed same-sex marriages. This decision accelerated the spread of marriage equality litigation across the country.

By 2014, federal courts had struck down same-sex marriage bans in multiple states, creating a legal patchwork that increasingly pointed toward nationwide recognition.

In 2015, the Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. The ruling marked the culmination of decades of activism and legal advocacy, establishing marriage equality as the law of the land.

Despite that victory, new challenges emerged almost immediately. In 2016, the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando became the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, killing 49 mostly LGBTQ people and injuring dozens more. That same year, North Carolina passed House Bill 2 (HB2), one of the earliest and most widely criticized “bathroom bills” targeting transgender individuals’ access to public facilities.

In 2017, President Donald Trump announced a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, reversing Obama-era policy. The ban was implemented in 2019 after a series of legal challenges. At the same time, visibility for transgender people in politics and media continued to grow, with more openly trans candidates running and winning office.

In 2018, a record number of openly LGBTQ candidates were elected nationwide, reflecting a growing pipeline of political representation. That same year, increasing legal battles over transgender athletes and healthcare access began emerging in state legislatures.

In 2019, the FDA approved Descovy as another PrEP option, expanding HIV prevention tools and access for patients who could not take Truvada. That year also saw continued expansion of LGBTQ representation in media, with more trans and nonbinary characters appearing in mainstream television.

In 2020, the Supreme Court delivered another major civil rights ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, holding that federal workplace discrimination protections under Title VII apply to LGBTQ employees. The decision marked a significant expansion of federal legal protections, as the Court declined to revisit marriage equality, leaving Obergefell intact.

The early 2020s brought rapid shifts in federal policy. In 2021, the Biden administration reversed the transgender military ban and expanded federal protections for LGBTQ Americans in housing, healthcare, and education. That same year, the FDA approved Apretude, the first long-acting injectable form of PrEP, marking another major advancement in HIV prevention.

In 2022, Congress passed the Respect for Marriage Act, which required federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages even if Obergefell were ever overturned. But that same year, Florida enacted its “Don’t Say Gay” law, restricting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades and sparking similar legislative efforts in other states.

By 2023, state legislatures across the country introduced a record number of bills targeting LGBTQ people, particularly transgender youth. These measures included bans on gender-affirming care, restrictions on school participation in sports, and regulations on drag performances. At the same time, several states passed “shield laws” protecting access to gender-affirming care and abortion-related healthcare, deepening a growing legal and cultural divide between states.

*(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)*

In 2024, LGBTQ rights once again became a defining issue in national politics. Debates over transgender healthcare, youth protections, and curriculum policies increasingly shaped state and federal elections. As the political landscape intensified, former President Donald Trump and allied lawmakers continued to campaign on rolling back LGBTQ protections, particularly those affecting transgender Americans.

As the country moves further into the 2020s, the central reality of the past 26 years remains unchanged: LGBTQ Americans have achieved historic legal and cultural victories, but those gains have never been permanent. Progress has consistently been met with resistance, reversal attempts, and renewed political conflict. The result is a civil rights movement that, even after landmark victories like Obergefell v. Hodges continues to fight for protections that remain vulnerable to the shifting tides of American politics.