Stephen Gately, Alexander McQueen, Rudolf Nureyev, Bayard Rustin, Luchino Visconti
Born: Stephen Gately (1976), Alexander McQueen (1969), Rudolf Nureyev (1938), Bayard Rustin (1912)
Died: Luchino Visconti (1976)
Born on this day
17MarBorn 197650th birthday
Stephen Gately
The Boyzone singer came out in 1999 to pre-empt a tabloid – and became a hero of gay rights for how he handled being forced out of the closet.
17MarBorn 196957th birthdayAlexander McQueen
A taxi driver’s son from East London, he turned fashion shows into dark, unforgettable theatre.
17MarBorn 193888th birthdayRudolf Nureyev
The greatest male dancer of the 20th century defected from the Soviet Union in 1961 and transformed ballet – he died of AIDS at 54.
17MarBorn 1912114th birthdayBayard Rustin
He helped organise the March on Washington while opponents used his sexuality to undermine him and the civil rights movement.