Oscar Wilde (1889)
November 30, 1900
On this date in 1900, writer Oscar Wilde, now honored on Castro’s Rainbow Honor Walk, died of cerebral meningitis, his body weakened after serving a sentence of several years of hard labor for the crime of homosexuality. Wilde’s year-long trip to the U.S. in 1882 included a two-week stint in San Francisco, which he declared to be his favorite American city and the most beautiful metropolitan in the world save for Naples, Italy.
November 25, 1970
On this date in 1925, Yukio Mishima, a Japanese author, poet, playwright, actor, and director honored on the Rainbow Honor Walk, committed ritual suicide by seppuku after a failed coup d’état attempt, known as the “Mishima Incident.”
November 27, 1974
On this date in 1974, the Elephant Walk opened on 18th & Castro, becoming the second gay bar after Twin Peaks to have plate glass windows.
November 27, 1978
On this date in 1978, openly gay SF Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by former Supervisor Dan White.
