Today on the anniversary of her birth, we celebrate the life and legacy of Rainbow Honor Walk honoree Sally Ride (May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012). A physicist, astronaut, educator and trailblazer, Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983 and remains an enduring symbol of courage, curiosity and possibility.
After leaving NASA, she dedicated her life to science education, especially encouraging girls and young people to see themselves in STEM. Following her death, her 27-year relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy made her the first known LGBTQ+ astronaut, adding another powerful dimension to her legacy as a pioneer who expanded the universe of what others could imagine.
Born May 26, 1478, Giulio de Medici—later Pope Clement VII—was one of the most pivotal figures in Church history. And he’s a key character in Upon This Rock, David Eugene Perry’s thrilling novel of Renaissance secrets, Vatican drama, and modern mystery.
Set in Orvieto, Italy, Upon This Rock follows a gay American couple as they uncover a present-day conspiracy rooted in Church history—and in the life of Clement VII himself.
Now in its second printing and headed for the screen, this critically acclaimed page-turner is perfect for fans of The Da Vinci Code and The Name of the Rose.
History. Intrigue. Romance. Wit. And one unforgettable Pope.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
There are moments when a city chooses what it wants to remember, honor, and carry forward.
The renovation of Harvey Milk Plaza in San Francisco is one of those moments.
What sits above Castro Station today has always been more than a transit entrance. It has been a gathering place. A symbol. A meeting point for visibility, activism, celebration, grief, courage, and community.
Now, the city has an opportunity to reimagine that space into something worthy of Harvey Milk’s global legacy and the generations who continue to walk the path he helped open.
The vision for the new plaza is powerful. Expanded public space. Greater accessibility. Public art. Historical storytelling. A permanent civic landmark honoring LGBTQ+ history and the ongoing fight for dignity, equality, and belonging. That is why I chose to join the Cabinet supporting the fundraising efforts for the Harvey Milk Plaza renovation project.
Not simply because it is a construction project, but because it is a statement about who we are and what we value.
Spaces matter. Representation matters. History matters.
There are young people who will stand in that plaza years from now looking for hope, possibility, or a sense that they belong in this world. There are visitors from around the globe who will come to understand why San Francisco became such an important place in LGBTQ+ history.
We all inherit the responsibility to protect and continue that story. I’m honored to support the effort to help bring this vision to life.
San Francisco has always been more than a city to many of us. It has been a signal, a beacon, and a place where people came to become more fully themselves.
Harvey Milk Plaza deserves to reflect that legacy for generations to come.
Please reach out. I’d love to share how you can be part of this moment in history. — Tom LeNoble
The SS Savannah: Inspiration for National Maritime Day — David Eugene Perry
The SS Savannah began life not as a purpose-built steamship, but as a sailing packet under construction at Fickett & Crockett’s shipyard in New York. While still on the slipway, she was purchased by Captain Moses Rogers, backed by the Savannah Steam Ship Company, with the bold idea of turning her into an auxiliary steamship capable of inaugurating the world’s first transatlantic steamship service. Her machinery was largely a New York/New Jersey industrial project: the Allaire Iron Works of New York supplied the engine cylinder, while the Speedwell Ironworks of New Jersey manufactured much of the remaining engine and running gear.
After a successful trial in New York Harbor on March 22, 1819, Savannah began her symbolic journey south. On March 28, she sailed from New York for her operating port of Savannah, Georgia, using her engine for only part of the voyage because of rough weather. She arrived in Savannah on April 6, greeted by a large crowd despite coming in at 4 a.m. That coastal repositioning — New York-built, New Jersey-fitted, then sent south to Georgia — was effectively the prelude to her Atlantic fame.
The presidential connection came almost immediately. Soon after Savannah reached Georgia, President James Monroe was touring East Coast arsenals, fortifications, and public works. When Monroe visited nearby Charleston, South Carolina, principal owner William Scarbrough sent the ship north to Charleston to invite the President to return to Savannah aboard her. Local objections prevented Monroe from leaving South Carolina on a Georgia vessel, but he promised to inspect the ship later.
Monroe kept that promise. On May 11, 1819, he came aboard Savannah for an excursion from Savannah toward Tybee Lighthouse. He dined aboard, admired the ship’s machinery, and expressed enthusiasm that an American vessel might inaugurate the world’s first transatlantic steamship service. Most strikingly, Monroe invited Scarbrough to bring Savannah to Washington, D.C., after the Atlantic crossing so Congress could inspect her as a possible cruiser for use against Cuban pirates.
Just days later, after final preparations, Savannah left Savannah Harbor on May 22, 1819, lingered at Tybee, and then began the Atlantic crossing in earnest at 5 a.m. on May 24, bound for Liverpool. She crossed mainly under sail, using steam for only about 80 hours of a 29-day, 11-hour voyage, but her achievement was still historic: she became the first steam-powered vessel to cross the Atlantic.
…or was she?
WhileSavannah 1819 crossing earned her place in history as the first steam-powered vessel to cross the ocean —she was really a hybrid, using her steam engine for only part of the voyage and relying mostly on sail. Critics therefore argue that the Canadian-built Royal William, which crossed from Nova Scotia to England in 1833, deserves the stronger claim because she made the voyage almost entirely under steam, using sail only sparingly, such as during boiler maintenance.
