6 Men Who Weren't Afraid To Be Themselves

Though we're still sadly some distance away from a society where the LGBTQ community are totally free from persecution (and in some areas of the world, at all), we're at least lightyears ahead of where we were a century ago.

It's true that in even the most civilised of societies, homosexual people unfortunately remain the target of hatred and even violence. But progress has unquestionably been made. As marriage equality has become increasingly prevalent, it's easy to forget there was once a time when even societal equality wasn't just considered a sin, but a crime.

You can understand why many homosexual people would have tried to keep their sexuality hidden when their very existence was outlawed by the state. Yet when Oscar Wilde was indicted on charges of "sodomy and gross indecency" following his tryst with the Marquess of Queensbury's son, he made no denials, instead delivering an impassioned speech in defence of "the love that dare not speak its name".

The monologue only served to further implicate Wilde, who was subsequently convicted amid raucous cries of "Shame!" from the public gallery. The author paid the price for being true to himself, but his bravery marks him out as a hero to this day.