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First U.S. Documented Gay Rights Organization
The Society for Human Rights in Chicago was founded by Henry Gerber, a german immigrant who served in the U.S. Army during WW1. Although the group disbanded in 1925 from police backlash, they published a few newsletters titled "Friendship and Freedom", and the Gerber's house is now a National Historic Landmark. -
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LGBT Movement stagnates
For a couple decades following the disbandment of the organization, the LGBT rights movement slows, except for a few individuals. -
The first published lesbian-themed novel
Radclyffe Hall published her novel "The Well of Loneliness", which became the center of controversy in the literary community. -
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Concentration Camps for Homosexual Men
During WW2, Nazi's arrested homosexual men and placed them in concentration camps. They forced them to wear the pink triangle badge, that was associated with sexual predators. -
Sexual Behavior in the Human Male
Alfred Kinsey published his novel "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male", which revealed to the public that homosexually eas more common that the originally believed. -
Mattachine Foundation
Harry Hay founded the Mattachine Foundation, which one of the first gay rights activists groups in recorded U.S. history. This group in known for coining the term "homophile", which emphasized the love aspect of gay relationships rather than sexual activity. -
First published pro-gay magazine
Dale Jennings, the founding member if the Mattachine Foundation, formed an organization called One, Inc. This was in charge of publishing "ONE", the first pro-gay magazine in the U.S. -
Declaration of a mental disorder
The American Psychiatric Association listed homosexuality as a mental disorder. -
Executive order
Dwight Eisenhower signed an executive order than banned gay people from holding jobs with the federal government. -
The Daughters of Bilitis
The creation of the first lesbian-rights organization was formed in San Francisco, called the "Daughters of Bilitis". This group also began publishing a lesbian newsletter titled "The Ladder", the first publication of its kind. -
Illinois anti-sodomy law
Illinois became the first to pass an anti-sodomy law, which decriminalized homosexuality between two consenting adults in private. -
Coining of the term "Transgender"
Dr, John Oliven became the first to use the term "transgender" in his book "Sexual Hygiene and Pathology", which he described as someone born in the body of the wrong gender. -
Removal of anti-gay liquor laws
Members of the Mattachine Society would protest by entering bars or taverns, declaring themselves gay so they can be kicked out and be able to sue the establishment. This gained a lot of attention from the public and resulted in the removal of the anti-gay liquor laws. -
Th Stonewall Riots
Police raided the clandestine gay club Stonewall Inn, and the patrons and residents began throwing things at the officers as they began arresting people. This lead to a 5-day ling riot that catalyzes the gay rights movement. -
First Gay Pride Parade
Celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, New York City residents marched through the streets to remember the event. This was named the Christopher Street Liberation Day, and is known as the first gay pride parade. -
Removal from mental disorders
The American Psychiatric Associate removes homosexualitity as a mental disorder. -
First elected LGBT public office position
Kathy Kozachenko was elected to Ann Harbor, Michigan's City Council. She became the first LGBT American to be elected to public office. She is followed by Harvey Milk, who became San Francisco city supervisor in 1978. -
Transgender Sports Rights
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Renée Richards, a transgender woman, playing in the U.S. Open tennis tournament under the women's category. This was the first ruling that allowed transgender people to play a sport in the gender they weren't born into. -
Rainbow Flag Unveil
Harvey Milk enlisted Gilbert Baker to create a symbol for the gay rights movement, and the first rainbow flag was unveiled at a pride parade at the symbol of pride. -
March on Washington
The first National Mach on Washington was held to protest for lesbian and gay rights. Over 100,000 people attended the event. -
Second March on Washington
The second National March on Washington was end, which was given nation coverage for the advocacy group working towards life improvement for those diagnosed with AIDS. This immunodeficiency virus outbreak began in the early 1980's and affected the gay rights movement. -
First register of domestic partners
The District of Columbia became the first to pass a law that allowed gay and lesbian couples to register as domestic partners, which gave them some of the rights a married couple is given. -
Hawaii's ban on same-sex marriage
Although the high courts in Hawaii ruled that gay marriage bans go against the constitution, the state voters passed a law that banned all same-sex marriage in the state. -
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Bill Clinton's contributions to Gay Rights
During President Bill Clinton's campaign, he promised to lift the ban that gays cannot serve in the military. While he was in office, he passed the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy that allowed gay or lesbian citizens to serve as long as their sexuality was kept private. However, in 1996 he signed the Defense of Marriage Act that prevented the government from granting marriage benefits to same-sex couples, and allowed states to refuse same-sex marriage certificate recognition from other states. -
Anti-hate-crime law
The anti-hate-crime law gave permission to judges to give harsher sentences to convicted felons whose crimes were motivated by the victim's sexual orientation. -
Vermont recognizes civil unions
Vermont became the first state to recognize civil unions between gay and lesbian couples, and acknowledged that they were allowed the same "benefits, privileges, and Responsibilities as Spouses". -
National anti-sodomy law
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Lawrence v. Texas court case that Texas's anti-sodomy law was unconstitutional, and decriminalized homosexual relations in all states and territories. -
Equal Rights in the Workplace
The House of Representative approved a bill that ensured all LGB (transgender was not mentioned) are given equal rights in the workplace. -
Matthew Shepard Act
President Barack Obama signed a new hate crime act into law that protected all LGBT citizens. This law is named after Matthew Shepherd, who was tortured and left to die because of his sexuality. -
Supreme Court DOMA Section 3 Ruling
The Supreme Court ruled against section 3 of the DOMA, which gave permission to the government to refuse marriage benefits to same-sex couples. -
U.S.Supreme Court Marriage Ruling
The supreme court rules in the Obergefell v. Hodges case that same-sex marriage is a fundamental right and is unconstitutional to reserve marriage for heterosexual couples. This ruling made same-sex marriage legal in every state. -
Boy Scouts of America Ban
The Boy Scouts of America lifted their ban against gay leaders or employees the day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Two years later, they lift the ban against transgender boys joining the organization. -
U.S. military lifts ban
The U.S. military lifted their ban on transgender citizens serving in the military. -
"Toilet Wars" Legislation
President Obama ordered all public schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with, without having to "prove" their sexuality. -
Reinstalling the U.S. military transgender ban
President Donald Trump initiated a new military policy that banned majority of transgender people from serving in the military.