Characters in The Little Book of Queer Icons

Supporting characters

• Oscar Wilde

  The legendary Irish playwright, novelist, and poet whose brilliant wit and tragic trial made him an enduring symbol of queer history.

• Alan Turing

  The brilliant British mathematician and computer scientist who cracked the Enigma code during WWII and faced tragic persecution for his sexuality.

• Marsha P. Johnson

  A pioneering transgender activist, drag queen, and key figure in the 1969 Stonewall riots who co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries.

• Harvey Milk

  One of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, who became a visionary civil rights leader and martyr for the LGBTQ+ movement.

• Audre Lorde

  The self-described 'black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet' who dedicated her life and creative talent to confronting injustices of racism, sexism, and homophobia.

• Freddie Mercury

  The legendary, flamboyant frontman of the rock band Queen, celebrated for his extraordinary vocal range and barrier-breaking stage presence.

• RuPaul

  The world-famous drag queen, actor, and television host who brought drag culture into the global mainstream.

• Marlene Dietrich

  The iconic German-American actress and singer who challenged traditional gender roles and defied conventions both on and off the screen.

• Lili Elbe

  A Danish painter and one of the first identifiable recipients of gender-affirming surgery, whose life inspired groundbreaking visibility for transgender history.

• Sylvia Rivera

  A passionate Latina American gay liberation and transgender rights activist who fought tirelessly alongside Marsha P. Johnson for marginalized communities.