On this day
18
February

Audre Lorde, Tuulikki Pietilä, Barbara Gittings, Michelangelo

Born: Audre Lorde (1934), Tuulikki Pietilä (1917)
Died: Barbara Gittings (2007), Michelangelo (1564)

Born on this day

18FebBorn 193492nd birthday

Audre Lorde

Her poetry and essays made Black lesbian experience central to arguments about power, difference and solidarity.

18FebBorn 1917109th birthday

Tuulikki Pietilä

One of Finland’s most influential graphic artists was Tove Jansson’s partner for 45 years – and the model for Too-ticky in the Moomin books.

Died on this day

18FebDied 200719th anniversary of death

Barbara Gittings

She helped bring gay rights into public protest, psychiatry and the nation’s libraries.

18FebDied 1564462nd anniversary of death

Michelangelo

The creator of David and the Sistine Chapel wrote passionate love poems to a young Roman nobleman.