LGBTQ+ Makers
By Konstantinos on Under lgbtq+, maker profiles
Greetings from the hivemind! I’m Kostas (they/them), a Hive member here to write about makers you may not have known are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Happy LGBTQ+ History Month! For those who don’t know, LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, transgender, queer or questioning, and much more. It is critical while we discuss LGBTQ+ makers and that we, as a collective, acknowledge that the LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith and is very diverse. As a personal note, to our friends in the closet, it’s okay, you can take your time and you’re still loved and welcomed here.
Alan Turing
Alan Turing was born June 23, 1912 in the United Kingdom and will be a familiar name to those who have done the Turing test or have seen The Imitation Game. To say his work is influential would be a grave understatement. He is known for his cryptography and computer science but also dabbled in biology and philosophy. Turing is also cited for cracking code messages that directly led to the victory of the Allies over the Axis powers in WWII. Now, the “Alan Turing law” stands in the United Kingdom, retroactively pardoning men who were convicted or warned under historical homophobic laws. He is also on the 50 pound note.
Wendy Carlos
Fans of synthpop and techno film scores should all know Wendy’s name. Born on November 14, 1939, she is known for her compositions and three Grammys. If you have seen A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, and Tron, you’ve heard her compositions. When Wendy isn’t in the studio, she is a solar eclipse photographer with her work published by NASA and Sky & Telescope. Recently, she has been out of the limelight but after winning 3 Grammys, that’s understandable.
Angelica Ross
Those who watch Pose or American Horror Story may recognize the self-taught programmer Angelica Ross but not know her tech background. She was born on November 28, 1980 in Wisconsin. She founded TransTech Social Enterprises, an organization with a mission to “empower, educate, and employ those facing barriers in education in the workplace, as well as to reduce instances of discrimination, with a concentration on trans and gender non-conforming individuals”. It is a co-working and co-learning community. Ross has created an important way for trans tech folks to connect, work together, and help each other.
Alan L. Hart
If you’ve ever had an x-ray to detect tuberculosis, thank Alan L. Hart. Hart was born October 4, 1890 in Kansas. A man of many hats, he was not just a physician and radiologist but a writer as well. He determined that it spread through the circulatory system rapidly, causing lesions that lead to death. Hart is also one of the first trans men to undergo a hysterectomy in 1917-1918. When he wasn’t in the lab, one could find him writing short stories or novels.
