In the Past...

Magnus Hirschfeld As one of the first gender and sexuality scholars in the medical and psychological field, Hirschfeld opened the Institute of Sexual Research in 1919. This was a center for research and advocacy for sexual and gender minorities including gay and trans identities. The institution was short lived as Hitler rose to power, and in 1933 Nazis publicly burned any research and Nazi party university students assaulted staff. This led to the declaration of the institution's closing by the Berlin Police. 

Nikki Hiltz was the first US track medalist in the Women’s 1500 since 2003. They were also the first transgender and nonbinary USA track Olympian. They are an activist for LGBTQ+ inclusivity within the sports community and hold a virtual 5k annually since 2020 called Pride 5k, raising over $172,000 for The Trevor Project from 2020 to 2025. The 2026 Pride 5k will be held on October 11th because it is national coming out day. Proceeds with go to supporting the Point of Pride Organization, a nonprofit organization that provides financial aid and direct support to trans individuals in need of health and wellness care.

The Public Universal Friend, also referred to as simply, The Friend, was a Quaker preacher during the late 1700s. Born Jemima Wilkinson, the Friend dealt with a severe illness in 1776 that led to their belief that after the illness had subsided, they had been reborn as a genderless spirit. The Friend opposed slavery, praised sexual abstinence, and valued free will. They led a group called the Society of Universal Friends in the northeastern United States. This group  mostly comprised of women who took leading roles in society and their households.