Today is April Fools and so we thought it only fitting to cover two of the biggest fools to ever hold office, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. Though an ocean separated the two world leaders, their response to Gay Rights and the AIDS crisis during the 1980s would leave a deadly impact on the queer community. Together, the conservatives undermined LGBTQ activism at every turn, while surrounded by the awe and wonder of their adoring followers. But who were Reagan and Thatcher before they became some of the most powerful public officials in the world? In many ways, the two have very different and yet corresponding lives. Reagan was an American, 14 years older than Thatcher, born on February 6, 1911, in the state of Illinois. He was the son of an Irish Catholic and an English Protestant. In the end, his mother, the protestant and member of the Disciples of Christ, won out in Reagan’s religious upbringing. Thatcher came into this world as Margaret Roberts. And arrived more than a decade later in Lincolnshire, England on October 13, 1925. Her parents were both devout Methodists and raised her in the church from infancy. Though their denominations were different, the protestant influence would play a large part in both the future leader’s lives.  Reagan coasted through school on his good looks and alluring charm. As a C student, he showed little interest in school and cared more about playing sports and acting. Though he did manage to become student body president in college and his position as captain on the swim team only bolstered his popularity. Margaret for her part was a diligent student who won a scholarship to the prestigious Kesteven and Grantham Girls School. During her final year of secondary school (high school), Thatcher was appointed head girl. A position that is somewhat similar to student body president in American high schools. Though head positions are not always elected and they hold a lot more responsibility than their American counterparts. Margaret also enjoyed sports in her free time, competing in field hockey, and swimming.  Interestingly, they both encountered a specific instance of racial discrimination during their young lives. Of course, since they were both white with Anglo roots, the bias was not directed towards them. Instead, they merely responded to the incident. Still, while there’s plenty of reason to roast Reagan and Thatcher, we will give credit when it is due. In Margaret’s experience, her parents housed a young Jewish girl fleeing Nazi Germany just before the outbreak of World War 2. The young teen saved up her pocket money to help the girl escape to a safer location.  Ronald’s incident wasn’t nearly as dramatic, though it was important. When his college football team was slated to stay overnight at a hotel, they ran into an issue when the business refused to serve blacks. Instead, Reagan took his black teammates to his own home which happened to be only 15 miles away. The young men stayed overnight and the next morning they were served a delicious breakfast by Ron’s mother. In point of fact, the Reagan’s were staunch civil rights supporters. And Ronald would spend his life speaking out for civil rights and equality of black Americans.  When college rolled around, Ron and Maggie took different paths. Margaret had earned a scholarship in chemistry for Oxford’s women’s college, Somerville. Ronald attended a small, religious institute known as Eureka College. It’s roots were tied to his mother’s faith, the Disciples of Christ. The school was very small, and in many ways, Reagan was a big fish in a small pond. While Margaret struggled forward in one of the most prominent universities in the world, Ronald flourished in relative obscurity. This is no doubt why he became so popular during his college years, though he still was only moderately invested in his grades. While Thatcher greatly enjoyed her chemistry studies,