LGBTQ+ people have captured the essence of their love in photos ever since photography became a thing. Thanks to these pictures, we have more than enough proof that identifying as a member of the LGBTQ+ community isn’t something millennials invented. Stay with us as we travel back through time to see the many LGBTQ+ people and the legacy they captured in these photos.
Let’s Get Married
It must have been tough back then to love someone but not be able to marry them because it was illegal and frowned upon by society. We don’t know what year this picture was taken, but this picture is proof that gay pride has always been there.
Here are two men in love with each other and unafraid to state their wish to get married. We hope they did get married. It doesn’t matter if they did so in secret or among friends and family. What matters is their commitment to each other.
Simply Gorgeous
Here’s a picture of two women in love with each other sometime between the 1880s and the 1890s. Their pose and body language are amazing, and we can’t get over how gorgeous they look.
They both have stunning outfits, perfectly complementing each of them. With one partner sitting and the other resting a hand on her hand and the other hand on her shoulder, the picture looks beautiful.
Lucky Men
How cute is this? Reading magazines in bed with your lover and your fur baby beside you is something not everybody will have the opportunity to enjoy. The few who get to have moments like this are indeed very lucky.
These men are two of the few lucky people who seem to be enjoying the moment. We don’t know how far back this picture was taken, but we’re glad they captured this special moment.
Big Smile
You can’t look at the way these men are smiling and not want to smile yourself. They look genuinely happy in this picture, and we love to see it. Everyone deserves to feel happiness and love like this.
The man on the left seems a bit more reserved, but it’s evident that there’s nowhere else he’d rather be than at the side of his partner. We love the chemistry between these two lovebirds and hope they had a wonderful love story spanning many years.
Hugs and Kisses
Oh, to be loved… And kissed in a public space! Nothing says “declaration of love” quite like this, right? Although we don’t know what year this picture was taken and where, we can safely assume that gay relationships weren’t illegal at that time and place.
These two men seem besotted with each other and pose for a picture while kissing. Maybe the picture was taken without them knowing. Perhaps they asked for the photo to remember their love. We’ll never know. But we do know this picture is one they would have cherished for as long as their love lasted.
Happily Married
We assume this picture was taken in the 1920s, and we can’t get over it. Everything about this picture of a couple posing in their wedding attire is beautiful. The bride on the left looks gorgeous in her white dress and veil. The bride on the right clearly agrees and can’t stop looking at her lover.
The design of her wedding gown was probably all the rage back then, and she rocked it wonderfully. The suit and pants look good too, and the laid-back hair was a great fit. Talk about trending!
Festivals and Costumes
Here’s another picture taken in the 1920s. This was taken in 1922 at a festival. The two ladies were dressed in costumes and couldn’t be bothered that the whole world was watching as they leaned in for a kiss. And boy, did the people around them look!
One of the things we love about this picture is how infectious their happiness is. The ladies around them seem genuinely happy, too, and we love to see it. Nothing feels better than being accepted for how you are and who you love.
Just Married
This picture is utterly priceless! These two lovebirds got married and couldn’t keep the news to themselves. What better way to tell the world they’re married than to put it in large words on paper? We hear you, boys. We hear you.
They look so cute posing for the picture, with both holding the paper. We love everything about this picture and can only hope they lived happily married.
Back to the ’40s
Give it up for these ’40s babes! These women look stunning in their outfits. And the pose? We can’t get enough of it. It’s evident they posed for this picture with a theme in mind, and we love it. Nautical or heart-ical? Doesn’t matter – it looks dreamy and sweet!
We love the theme, we love their outfits, and we love the couple. Who said millennials invented LGBTQ+? They should rethink that statement. These women look like they would definitely agree with us. Ahoy!
19th Century Love
These beautiful women are Kitty Ely and Helen Emery. The picture was taken in 1886 while they were students. In 1886! How cool is that? They look absolutely content and happy in matching hats – and smiles!
The vibe we’re getting from this picture is a major “she’s mine, and I’m hers,” and we’re here for it. This picture perfectly captures their love for each other, don’t you think? They would probably be mind blown if they knew people in this century were celebrating the love they shared.
Cuties, Cuties, Cuties
This couple looks so adorable together. Look at his cute little hat and his partner’s cute little mustache. The pair look so awkward and yet so adorable together. There’s a shyness to their affections, but if you look at their interlocked hands, they say it all.
We don’t know what year this picture was taken, but it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that this picture is one of the countless photographs that prove that people have always loved who they wanted to love regardless of their gender.
Four Loving Couples
Let’s take you back to 1910. Here’s a picture of not one, not two, not three, but four lesbian couples enjoying some non-judgmental time together. They all have their arms around their partners, and the entire scene is priceless.
Each couple has one partner sporting a suit, a black tie, and a hat, and the other in a dress with their hair down. We like how their outfits were in sync, and we love the legacy they left behind.
All Shades of Beautiful
We can all agree there’s something absolutely beautiful about this picture. Maybe it’s the way he has his arms around his partner’s waist or the way the partner’s arms are slung over his shoulders, bringing him in for the kiss. They just look so happy and comfortable with each other.
Maybe it’s the tree in the background and the way its leaves gently stretch past his hair, making it seem like he has flowers in his hair. Yes, this is a beautiful picture indeed. When you consider how much these two clearly care for each other, it makes it all the more spectacular.
Reading Together
What’s better than reading the dailies or a juicy novel while enjoying the shade of a tree? Reading and enjoying the shade of a tree with your partner. These two men seem comfortable right where they are – and why wouldn’t they be? We’re getting major “love is in the air” vibes from this picture.
Dressed in formal wear, they look relaxed in each other’s company, with one’s arm over the other’s shoulder. We think it’s cute that their haircuts are similar. These two shared a moment that some of us can only dream of, and we’re grateful that they captured the moment.
A Legacy of Love
Sometime in the 1950s, there lived two men who loved each other, dressed up formally for a picture, and decided to go with informal poses. This picture is the result, and we love to see it! Just look at the laid-back body language!
They look cute, relaxed, content, and just a touch awkward. Perhaps this was the first time they had their photo taken together? They posed for the picture with arms around each other and left a legacy behind – a legacy of love and romance.
Not Forgotten
This picture was probably taken in the late 1800s. Since then, it has been a reminder of the love these women shared. Once again, here’s a happy couple who ignored society and followed their hearts.
They went out together and took a picture (or several pictures) to ensure their love wasn’t forgotten with time. We can see and feel the love they shared, and it leaves us feeling whimsical with the notion of happily ever after.
Dressed in White
We have another wedding picture for you. Although we don’t know what year this wedding took place, we do know it’s old enough to be added to our growing stack of proofs.
Both dressed in white, the two women looked lovely on their big day. Their dresses look well-fitted, and we love the veil on that bride. They seem to be having a great time which tells us that the wedding was a success.
A Cute Pair
We can all agree that these ladies are such a cute pair, and their smiles are infectious. The picture was taken in 1972, and the two lovers look so happy together.
The lady behind looks like a college professor in her glasses, and we’d really like to know if she was one. We love how their outfits match and how effortlessly cool they look.
Speaking Volumes
This photo shoot is an adorable one that will make most people smile. We don’t know when it was shot and if it was taken with the women being unaware, but we’re glad they took the picture. We love how the standing woman is so tender in holding her partner’s face. Just look at that little smile the seated lady has!
The picture speaks of love, affection, kindness, romance, and joy. The pair look well-suited, and right now, we can only wonder if the woman with the book could concentrate on what she was reading.
Strike a Pose
Here’s another cute picture of a gay couple. The first thing to catch our attention was the identical poses they struck. They both have one hand on each other’s thigh and the other with a thumb in their pocket.
We think it’s cute that they also have similar outfits and hats. And we may be wrong, but it seems they also both have blush on their cheeks.
Bring it In
Look at this picture long enough, and you’ll catch yourself smiling if you’re a romantic. This picture was taken on a deserted road sometime in the 1940s.
The chemistry between both men seems flawless. They seem about to kiss, with one of them teasing the other one. The fact that they both have their hands folded behind their backs makes it even cuter.