Oscar Wilde 

Oscar Wilde stands as one of the most iconic figures in LGBTQ history. Renowned for masterpieces like The Importance of Being Earnest and The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde found himself in a legal battle when he accused his lover’s father of libel. This move inadvertently exposed his own relationship. Consequently, he faced a two-year imprisonment involving hard labor.

Despite delivering a compelling speech during his trial, the jury remained unmoved. The harsh sentence deeply affected Wilde, leading him to seek refuge in France upon his release. Many believe this incarceration played a significant role in his untimely death in 1900.