Karl Heinrich Ulrichs

Born in 1825 in what is now Germany, Karl Heinrich Ulrichs studied law and theology and went on to become one of the first modern writers to defend same-sex love in print. In a series of essays and books, he argued that people should not be punished or shamed for their sexuality, making him a remarkably early voice for legal and social change.

Ulrichs is often remembered as a pioneer of homosexual emancipation. He wrote extensively, coined influential terminology, and publicly challenged the anti-gay laws of his era, including by speaking before a gathering of German jurists in the 1860s. Because of his views and publications, he faced heavy pressure and censorship, but he continued his work for many years.

Later in life he moved to Italy, where he spent his final years and died in 1895. Although he was little known to the wider public in his own lifetime, he is now widely recognized as one of the foundational figures in the history of LGBTQ+ rights.