Article | October 1, 2025
Karl Heinrich Ulrichs: The First Voice of Queer Liberation
By Nicholas O'Connor
Embedded Files
PHOTO: Unknown
When we think of queer history icons, names like Marsha P. Johnson or Bayard Rustin often come to mind—people whose courage reshaped the world’s understanding of identity and liberation. But one figure, often missing from the mainstream narrative, may well be the earliest known openly queer activist: Karl Heinrich Ulrichs.
PHOTO: SS All Long Gay
Early Life & Identity
Born in 1825 in what is now Germany, Ulrichs lived in a world that offered no language—or safety—for same-sex attraction or gender variance. Long before the terms “gay,” “queer,” or “transgender” existed, Ulrichs dared to name and define love on his own terms.
He coined the word “Urning” to describe men who are attracted to men, a term that appears in his self-published pamphlets from the 1860s. At a time when same-sex relations were criminalized and labeled as illness or sin, Ulrichs boldly declared:
“I am a man who loves a man; I do not sin.”
It was one of the first recorded public affirmations of queer identity in history—an act of rebellion in a society that demanded silence.
PHOTO: LGBTQ+ Nation
Contributions & Legacy
Ulrichs circulated his writings among lawyers, doctors, and intellectuals, advocating for understanding rather than punishment. His essays laid early groundwork for what would later become sexual identity studies and inspired later European reformers who fought to decriminalize homosexuality.
Although much of his work was dismissed or suppressed during his lifetime, Ulrichs’ ideas endured. Decades later, historians and activists began recognizing him as “the world’s first openly gay man”—not simply because of who he loved, but because he claimed his identity publicly and demanded rights for others like him.
Today, Ulrichs’ name lives on through streets and memorials in cities like Munich, Bremen, and Hanover. Annual celebrations on his birthday continue to honor his pioneering spirit.
PHOTO: SS Ad scribendum
Why He Matters to Queer History
Karl Heinrich Ulrichs’ story reminds us that the roots of queer liberation stretch far deeper than Stonewall or the 20th century. His courage to self-identify, speak publicly, and challenge authority marks him as a foundational figure in the global queer movement.
His life challenges the myth that queer people “appeared” in modern times—he proves that visibility and advocacy existed even in eras of silence.
Reflecting on His Story
Identity & Advocacy: Ulrichs had no community protections, no movement behind him—yet he still stood up for himself and others, armed only with truth and conviction.
Continuity of Queer Struggle: The challenges Ulrichs faced—stigma, legal oppression, and invisibility—remain familiar to many LGBTQ+ people today.
Why Lesser-Known Figures Matter: Remembering Ulrichs widens our view of queer history. It reminds us that visibility is not just about celebration—it’s about honoring the forgotten voices who spoke when it was hardest to be heard.
Legacy for Today
Ulrichs’ bravery laid the intellectual foundation for everything from Pride marches to queer studies programs. He imagined a world where love could exist without apology—an idea still radical in parts of the world today.
His story is a call to action: to keep uncovering the overlooked names, to remember that queer history didn’t begin in the 20th century, and to recognize that even one voice—no matter how small—can spark a revolution.
“I am a man who loves a man; I do not sin.”
— Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, 1864
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse