45 Vintage Photos of LGBTQ+ People Proving They’re Not “Something Millennials Invented”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

These ladies seem to be having a great time, and they probably were at the time. There are so many things going on in this picture that we don’t know which one to point out first.

We love how contrasting their outfits are and how well-dressed they both are. The woman on the right is dressed in a beautiful gown, and that hat is one for the books. Her partner looks incredible in her outfit too. We particularly love her top hat and monocle.

Give it up for Stella and Franny. They look very pretty, right? Their real names were actually Ernest Boulton and Frederick Park. Back in 1871, these two were known as “female impersonators.”

The two look ravishing in their ball gowns, and we love what they did with their hair. They struck an interesting pose with Franny leaning on Stella for support.

Nothing beats being in your lover’s arms, staring into each other’s eyes, and conversing in a silent language only the both of you can understand. This couple seemed caught up in their own world and couldn’t care less about what was happening around them.

This picture was taken in the early 1900s, and we love everything we see. The little smiles on their faces, the body contact, and the intense look into the other’s eyes all speak volumes.

Here’s another picture taken in the 1890s. This pair looks completely besotted with each other, and we can almost imagine their dialogue. One is dressed in a blouse and skirt, and the other is wearing a shirt, coat, tie, and hat.

We love how these two look like the perfect couple, gazing into each other’s eyes. The lady on the left looks like the cat that got the cream, and her partner is giving a smoldering look. This pair seems lost in each other’s gazes, and we love the smiles we’re seeing.

Here’s another couple gazing into each other’s eyes. Well, we can’t have enough of it. Like all the others, these two look like they’d rather watch the world burn than be separated from their partner.

The hand on his partner’s chest feels like he’s holding his heart — it adds a great effect to the picture. They seem to be having a lot of fun in the meadow. And we can just tell that the one on top is going in for a kiss but wants to tease the other one first.

Ever wondered what it felt like to be gay and black at the turn of the 19th century? Well, these men knew what it was like, and it’s quite unfortunate that we can’t ask them.

This picture is of two men, one standing with his hand on the shoulder of the other one sitting. They don’t seem as relaxed as the other couples, but you can still see their affection for each other.

Everything about this picture is quirky, but we like it. They both look serious and dressed in their coat-covered outfits and hats. Both men look like they can’t wait to finish the photo shoot and return to business.

However, looking down, you’ll see them clasping each other’s hands. Way to be tough on the outside but soft on the inside. We love it!

This picture looks really old, and that’s because it is. It was probably taken around the end of the 19th century or early 1900s. Here are two men dressed in highly fashionable clothes, at least for that time, and proud to let everyone know they belonged to each other.

They posed in their fashionable clothes and handbags. And the little mustaches on their faces make them look cuter.

Sometimes, you see a picture and wonder what the people in the picture were feeling at that moment. Looking at this picture, it’s easy to tell that both ladies were very happy.

We can only guess why they both have big smiles on their faces. Maybe they just loved each other’s company so much that holding on to each other the way they were was all they needed to be happy.

Here’s Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender revolutionary in the 1970s. She’s positively beaming in this picture which is a huge feat after everything she went through in her life.

This picture isn’t only proof that members of the LGBTQ+ community have always been around but also that they aren’t going anywhere. Marsha’s sash reads “Stonewall,” because the uprising at the Stonewall Inn dramatically changed her life.

When you’re around someone you love, smiling comes easy to you. Take a look at these gorgeous guys beaming from ear to ear. This picture was probably taken in the ’30s.

Regardless of the year the picture was taken, its message remains unadulterated. The message is one of love and romance, and we hear it loud and clear. The tree behind them and the inscription on it complete the scene.

Here are two men who look happy just to be in a picture together. They might not be all smiles, but their happiness is more than evident. The picture is assumed to have been taken in the ’50s.

They both look happy and content, with one kissing the cheek of the other. No doubt, these men are in love. And they have such good hair too.

An ideal Victorian lady was pure, chaste, refined, and modest. Women were expected to marry, have children and keep a nice household.

We can imagine the type of fit the parents of these ladies would have had if they discovered that their girls were in love with each other and refused to follow the rules of society. Anyway, here’s another proof for those still doubting that LGBTQ+ has always been around.

We don’t know the specific year this picture was taken, but it was in the ’20s, and we know it was taken in Harlem. Both men looked like they had no other place they’d rather be. Oh, to have that feeling of being completely smitten with butterflies in our stomachs.

We can only wonder what music they were dancing to. They seemed to have tuned out the rest of the world. Both men look content and happy, and we love to see it.

There’s something about this picture that makes you all warm in the belly and makes you feel like you’re falling in love. We can’t get enough of both ladies looking stunning in their outfits and sunglasses.

The shared kiss is an open declaration of their love and affection. Our guesstimate is that the picture was taken in the ’50s, and back then, this open declaration was a huge deal.

Nothing to see here. Just two beautiful women being incredibly cute and adorable. We believe this picture was taken sometime in the ’20s. We love how tender and sweet these two are with each other. They’re completely wrapped up in the moment.

The picture shows the love and affection these two women have for each other. It can be easily seen in how they hold each other, and the gentle kiss one is planting on the other’s lips. This picture is stunning, and we can’t get enough of it.

This picture was probably taken in the ’70s or ’80s when crop tops were all the rage for men. Both lovers posed in crop tops and short hot shorts for their picture, and we think they killed it. If we had bodies like that, we’d only ever wear crop tops!

The entire picture exudes confidence and sass, and if you look just a bit closer, you’ll see the chemistry between these two. The pair seem to fit and complement each other, and we love it.

These two women look like they can hardly keep their hands off each other. We’re not sure what year this is, but judging from their dresses, it’s safe to assume this picture was taken several decades ago, perhaps in the ’40s or ’50s.

The ladies were captured on camera kissing passionately with their arms around each other in a loving embrace. We’re sure they had the entire world completely tuned out. At that moment, all that probably mattered was their partner.

These four appear to be having the time of their lives and are giving us major FOMO! Once again, we can only wonder what led up to this moment. Regardless, we’ll enjoy this one moment with them.

All four look happy, relaxed, and carefree. They posed for the picture with their arms around each other and their gorgeous smiles lighting up their faces. This picture was taken decades ago, and if this isn’t proof that LGBTQ+ isn’t something millennials invented, then we don’t know what is.

It’s quite amazing when you love someone, and they love you right back without being afraid to show it. These two found what many spend a lifetime searching for, and we’re incredibly happy for them. While we don’t know when the image was taken, we know being gay wasn’t accepted by most at the time. How brave are these men?!

They posed in front of the Idaho First National Bank, with one wrapping the other in an embrace from the back. We can see them holding onto each other’s hands tightly. If this picture doesn’t say “love,” we don’t know what will.

This picture is one that we can’t get over. It was taken way back in the ’40s, and the two women look utterly mesmerizing. We love everything about this picture, from their pose to their dresses… And let’s not forget their gorgeous smiles!

The picture seems to have been taken just outside their home. The women were captured dancing with one dipping the other. We wonder if they were dancing to actual music or to a song in their heads. Either way, they still look cute, and we’re so here for this moment.

Nowadays, weddings are pretty big and expensive affairs, but take a look at how intimate and lovely this ceremony is. Sadly, they probably had such a small wedding party because they couldn’t be legally married at the time.

But if you have your partner and your closest loved ones around you on your special day, do you really need anything else? This photo just makes our hearts flatter whenever we look at it.

Can we just say we absolutely adore this beautiful vintage photo? Just look at the joy and passion this loving couple is sharing. Plus, with their skirts moving in the wind, it looks like a scene from a classic romance film.

We’re not sure exactly when this was taken, but whether they’re 20 or 100, we hope they kept having that same fire for each other throughout their time together. Hopefully, they’re still kissing each other with this same exact excitement and love.

As we all know, Paris is known to be the City of Love — and apparently, not just for straight couples! Check out this adorable gap couple taking their iconic picture in front of the magically romantic Eiffel Tower.

While we’re not sure if they’re Parisians or just visiting tourists, it looks like they made the most of their French getaway. Love was clearly in the air for these two — just look at how effortlessly intimately they’re holding each other.