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The Society for Human Rights
Became the country's earliest gay rights organization known and it was founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago. -
Sexual Behavior in the Human Male
Alfred Kinsey, biologist and sex researcher, published "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male". In his research, Kinsey concluded that homosexual behavior is not restricted to people who identify themselves as homosexual and that 37% of men have enjoyed homosexual activities at least once. -
The Mattachine Society
Harry Hay, a gay rights activist and a group of Los Angeles male friends created this group to make an attempt to change public perception of homosexuality. This became America’s first national gay rights organization and its purpose was to "eliminate discrimination, derision, prejudice and bigotry," to the homosexuals in the society. -
"Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts in Government"
This was to the members of Congress after the federal government had covertly investigated employees' sexual orientation at the beginning of the Cold War. It was reported that since homosexuality is a mental illness, homosexuals "constitute security risks" to the nation because "those who engage in overt acts of perversion lack the emotional stability of normal persons." -
"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"
In this publication, the American Psychiatric Association lists homosexuality as a sociopathic personality disturbance. Then, immediately following the manual's release, many professionals in medicine, mental health and social sciences criticize the categorization due to lack of empirical and scientific data. -
Executive Order 10450
President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Executive Order 10450. This banned homosexuals from working for the federal government or any of its private contractors. The Order lists homosexuals as security risks, along with alcoholics and neurotics. -
The Daughters of Bilitis
The Daughters of Bilitis became the first lesbian-rights organization in the United States in San Francisco. The DOB started as a small, secret social club and a well-regarded monthly magazine by and for lesbians, The Ladder. Through dances and debates, advocacy and research, conferences and correspondence, the Daughters helped build a significant 20th century movement for social change. -
One, Inc. v. Olesen
In this case, One, Inc. v. Olesen, the United States Supreme Court rules in favor of the First Amendment rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) magazine "One: The Homosexual Magazine." The suit was filed after the U.S. Postal Service and FBI declared the magazine obscene material. And for the first time in history, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of homosexuals. -
Illinois 1962
Illinois repeals its sodomy laws, becoming the first U.S. state to decriminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults in private. -
The National Transsexual Counseling Unit
It became the world's first the transgender organization established in San Francisco. After transgender customers become raucous in a 24-hour San Francisco cafeteria, management calls police. When a police officer manhandles one of the patrons, she throws coffee in his face and a riot ensues, eventually spilling out onto the street, destroying police and public property. tIt's known as the first peer-run support and advocacy organization in the world. -
The Stonewall Inn
The Stonewall riots transformed the gay rights movement from one limited to a small number of activists into a widespread protest for equal rights and acceptance. Patrons of a gay bar in New York's Greenwich Village, the Stonewall Inn, foght back during a police raid, sparking three days of riots. -
Christopher St. Liberation Day
Christopher St. Liberation Day commemorates the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Following the event, thousands of members of the LGBT community march through New York into Central Park, in what will be considered America's first gay pride parade. -
Homosexuality is removed as a mental illnesses
The board of the American Psychiatric Association votes to remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. -
Kathy Kozachenko
She became the first openly gay American elected to public office when she wins a seat on the Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council. -
Harvey Milk
Milk wons a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and was responsible for introducing a gay rights ordinance protecting gays and lesbians from being fired from their jobs. He also led a successful campaign against Proposition 6, an initiative forbidding homosexual teachers. A year later, a former city supervisor Dan White assassinated Milk. White's actions were motivated by jealousy and depression. making Milk the first openly gay city commissioner in the U.S. -
The National March on Washington
There was an estimated of 75,000 people participating in the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. LGBT people and straight allies demanded equal civil rights and urge for the passage of protective civil rights legislature. -
Bruce Voeller and AIDS
The New York Times prints the first story of a rare pneumonia and skin cancer found in 41 gay men in New York and California. The CDC initially refers to the disease as GRID, Gay Related Immune Deficiency Disorder. But when the symptoms are found outside the gay community, Bruce Voeller, biologist and founder of the National Gay Task Force, successfully lobbies to change the name of the disease to AIDS. -
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
The Department of Defense issued a directive prohibiting the U.S. Military from barring applicants from service based on their sexual orientation. "Applicants... shall not be asked or required to reveal whether they are homosexual, " states the new policy, which still forbids applicants from engaging in homosexual acts or making a statement that he or she is homosexual. This policy is known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." -
Vermont
Became the first state in the U.S. to legalize civil unions and registered partnerships between same-sex couples. -
Massachusetts
Became the first state to legalize gay marriage. The court finds the prohibition of gay marriage unconstitutional because it denies dignity and equality of all individuals. In the following six years, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Iowa and Washington D.C. followed suit. -
Presidential Memorandum
President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum allowing same-sex partners of federal employees to receive certain benefits. The memorandum does not cover full health coverage. -
The Matthew Shepard Act
The Matthew Shepard Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on October 28th. The measure expands the 1969 U.S. Federal Hate Crime Law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Matthew Shepard was tortured and murdered near Laramie, Wyoming on October 7, 1998 because of his sexual orientation. -
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Act
The U.S. Senate votes 65-31 to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. Military. -
New York
New York became the first state to pass the Marriage Equity Act, becoming the largest state thus far to legalize gay marriage. -
U.S. Supreme Court Ruling
The United States Supreme Court blocks any further same-sex marriages while Utah officials appeal the decision made by Judge Shelby in late December 2013. The block creates legal limbo for the 1,300 same-sex couples who have received marriage licenses since Judge Shelby's ruling.
