Happy, happy Pride Month! To celebrate, I’m gonna spotlight some awesome queer poets and authors!
First up is Walt Whitman! Whitman was known for kickstarting free verse and remains one of the most influential American poets in history!
His well-known and first big collection, Leaves of Grass (1855), had several poems that openly represented his romantic and sexual relationships with men in his life.
Whitman also worked as a nurse, tending to wounded Civil War soldiers. He worked as a teacher, printer, poet, and freelance journalist. Whitman died in 1892 at the age of 72.
May 31st (two days ago) marked his 200th birthday! So happy birthday and happy pride to Walt Whitman!