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What historical context and causes set the stage for the LGBTQ Rights Movement?
We started the LGBTQ Rights Movement to be able to be comfortable in our sexuality and get the rights that we needed to be equal. We wanted to be heard and we wanted to be respected so we protested on the streets to be heard and not to be feared because we want to be given the rights that we were supposed to in the beginning to be able to be free in who we are as people and not be judged and killed for our sexuality or gender. -
The Society for Human Rights
The Society for Human Rights is founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago. It is the first documented gay rights organization. Homosexuals needed this organization, especially at this time to have support in their sexuality and to not be alone. This is significant because this was the first organization that made gay people have the courage to come out and possibly protest because they felt that they were not alone in being who they are. -
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Gay Rights Movement
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The Mattachine Society
The Mattachine Society is formed by activist Harry Hay and is one of the first sustained gay rights groups in the united states. The society focuses on social acceptance and other support for homosexuals. This is significant because in the 50s people discriminated against homosexuals quite a bit because of religion and homosexuals needed extra support. -
The American Psychology Association lists homosexuality as a personality disturbance
The American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual lists homosexuality as a sociopathic personality disturbance. In the 50s homosexuals were usually killed or shamed because of who they are, mostly because of this reason. It was listed as a personality disturbance and everyone who 'had it' would be considered mentally ill. This is highly important because this is the main reason for gay discrimination back in the 1950s. -
Eisenhower signs an executive order that bans homosexuals from working for the federal government
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order that bans homosexuals from working for the federal government, saying they are a security risk. This shows even that our top leaders, the president, how they feel on homosexuals. This shows how society was feeling at the time about homosexuals and how they were being discriminated at the time. -
DOB
The first known lesbian rights organization in the United States forms in San Francisco. Daughters of Bilitis(DOB). They host private social functions, fearing police raids, threats of violence and discrimination in bars and clubs. This is significant because this is where lesbians in the 1950s could find a place where they feel welcomed and could fight for their rights and not be discriminated -
The First US-televised documentary about homosexuality airs on a local station in California
This is important because it gave people who were 'closeted' more information on who they want to be if the documentary gave actual information and not opinion-based facts. If the documentary was factual it could give people who were 'closeted' a sense of relief and be free to be who they are and not afraid. -
The Los Angeles Advocate
The "Los Angeles Advocate", founded in 1967 is renamed "The Advocate". It is considered the oldest continuing LGBTQ publication that began as a newsletter published by the activist group Personal Rights in Defense and Education(PRIDE). This is highly important because it gave hope to people who read the newspaper and were gay the chance to not feel lonely in who they are and have hope for their community. -
The Stonewall
Police raid the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Protests and demonstrates begin, and it later becomes known as the impetus for the gay civil rights movement in the United States. This is highly important because this is one of the main reasons why the pride parade is still going today. It gave people the right to protest for their rights and not feel alone and bad for who they are. -
Christopher Street Liberation
Community members in New York City march through the local streets to recognize the one-year anniversary of the stonewall riots. This event is named Christopher Street Liberation Day and is now considered the first gay pride parade. This gave the start of a wonderful tradition that gives homosexuals the right to protest down the streets and a chance to be heard for their rights that is still going on today. -
Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal is important because it becomes the first legal organization established to fight for the equal rights of gays and lesbians. Lambda also becomes their own first client after being denied non-profit status; the New York Supreme Court eventually rules that Lambda Legal can exist as a non-profit. -
Maryland becomes the first state to ban same-sex marriage
This is significant because it is a big reason for people to protest for their rights. This is one of the first major backlash the ruined the progress and gave more motivation for people who were gay to protest for their chance to be heard and to be given the rights that they were supposed to. -
(PFLAG)
First meeting of "Parents and Friends of Gays," which goes national as Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) in 1982. This is significant historical context because it made homosexuals feel welcomed and not discriminated and they really needed that at this time. -
American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its mental disorders.
By a vote of 5,854 to 3,810, the American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in the DSM-II Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This was a big breakthrough for the gay rights movement because it gave people fewer excuses to discriminate against gays and they were slowly being seen as people and less as a mental disturbance. -
Katy Kozachenko
Kathy Kozachenko becomes the first openly LGBTQ American elected to any public office when she wins a seat on the Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council. This is significant historical context because it gave people who were gay the courage to stand up for themselves and follow out their dreams. -
Leonard P. Matlovich
Technical Sergeant Leonard P. Matlovich reveals his sexual orientation to his commanding officer and is forcibly discharged from the Air Force six months later. Matlovich is a Vietnam War veteran and was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. In 1980, the Court of Appeals rules that the dismissal was improper. Matlovich is awarded his back pay and a retroactive promotion. This is important because it gave people who were gay courage to follow through their dreams. -
The First Federal Gay Rights Bill
The first federal gay rights bill is introduced to address discrimination based on sexual orientation. The bill later goes to the Judiciary Committee but is never brought for consideration. This is important because it gave gay people the chance to be heard at least only a moment and at least the Judiciary Committee saw the bill and even if they didn't consider it now they could always look back on it and consider it in the future. -
Renee Richards
After undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 1975, ophthalmologist and professional tennis player Renee Richards is banned from competing in the women's US Open because of a "women-born-women" rule. Richards challenges the decision and in 1977, the New York Supreme Court rules in her favor. Richards competes in the 1977 US Open but is defeated in the first round by Virginia Wade. This gave more motivation for transgender people to fight for their rights. -
Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal plays one of the first openly gay characters in a recurring role on a prime time television show in "Soap." This is highly important because this television show could have broadcasted to many people who felt ashamed because they were gay the chance to relate to a fictional character and feel as though they can come out and be themselves in the future. -
Gilbert Baker Designs the first Rainbow Flag
Gilbert Baker designs and stitches together the first rainbow flag. This is highly significant historical context because this flag is a symbol of our community and is what keeps us together and symbolizes our strength and togetherness as a community and is still used today. -
The First National March on Washington for Gay rights
The first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights takes place. This is important because it drew an estimated 75,000 to 125,000 individuals marching for LGBTQ rights and a chance for them to be heard and from a higher authority to possibly consider giving the LGBTQ community the rights that they need. -
Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.
This is important because it gave other countries to think about what they can do to improve their country such as outlawing discrimination against people of different sexual orientations. -
People v. West 12 Tenants Corp
Lambda Legal wins People v. West 12 Tenants Corp., this is important because this is the first HIV/AIDS discrimination lawsuit and it could give people the motivation to fight for their rights especially in a court of law. Neighbors attempted to evict Dr. Joseph Sonnabend from the building because he was treating HIV-positive patients. -
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
President Bill Clinton signs a military policy directive that prohibits openly gay and lesbian Americans from serving in the military but also prohibits the harassment of "closeted" homosexuals. The policy is known as 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. This is important to the LGBTQ Rights Movement because it allowed LGBTQ people to enter the military but only if they kept quiet which made them probably feel bad about who they are because only if they are quiet they can join the military. -
Hate Crimes Sentencing Enhancement Act
The Hate Crimes Sentencing Enhancement Act goes into effect as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. This is important because the law allows a judge to impose harsher sentences if there is evidence showing that a victim was selected because of the "actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of any person." -
Defense of Marriage Act
President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act, banning federal recognition of same-sex marriage and defining marriage as "a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife." This is important because it meant that same-sex marriage was being labeled as 'un-ruly' by the president which in turn changed a lot of people's thoughts if they had good ones on LGBTQ people. -
Hawaii's Judge Chang rules that the state does not have a legal right to deprive same-sex couples of the right to marry
Hawaii's Judge Chang rules that the state does not have a legal right to deprive same-sex couples of the right to marry. This is important because Hawaii the first state to recognize that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to the same privileges as heterosexual married couples. -
Ellen Degeneres becoming the first leading character to come out on a prime time network television show.
DeGeneres' character, Ellen Morgan, on her self-titled TV series "Ellen," becomes the first leading character to come out on a prime time network television show. This is important because homosexuals who were watching the show and were closeted could feel better about coming out and feel as though they could relate to another person on a television series and they could now have the courage to come out. -
Coretta Scott King puts in effort to extinguish homophobia
Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow, Coretta Scott King, asks the civil rights community to help in the effort to extinguish homophobia. This is significant because Martin Luther King Jr. was a big ambassador for African American civil rights and was able to make a change. If his wife could help extinguish homophobia that could also make a big change and have people protest for gay rights more. -
Vermont becomes the first state to legalize civil-unions between same-sex couples.
This is significant because countries are finally starting to recognize the rights that the LGBTQ have been protesting for. -
U.S. Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court strikes down the "homosexual conduct" law, which decriminalizes same-sex sexual conduct, with their opinion in Lawrence v. Texas. This is important be it the decision also reverses Bowers v. Hardwick, a 1986 US Supreme Court ruling that upheld Georgia's sodomy law. -
The first legal same-sex marriage in the United States takes place in Massachusetts.
This is highly important because it gives more opportunities and confidence for other same-sex couples to get married and we have accomplished the main right that we have been meaning to accomplish. -
California legislature becomes the first to pass a bill allowing marriage between same-sex couples.
The California legislature becomes the first to pass a bill allowing marriage between same-sex couples. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoes the bill. This is important because it shows famous celebrities giving support for the LGBTQ community and has passed the first right bill that we tried to pass all those years ago and gives our community more faith in more progress to come. -
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court rules that state lawmakers must provide the rights and benefits of marriage to gay and lesbian couples. This is significant because it gave other countries more of a reason to accept same-sex couples. -
The California Supreme Court rules in re: Marriage Cases that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples is unconstitutional.
This is significant because it gave the right that we have protested for many years for. -
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell." is repealed.
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is repealed, ending a ban on gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military. This is important because it gave closeted people in the military the chance to be able to talk about who they are and be open in their sexuality and probably had a lot more people join the federal government. -
Obama becomes the first sitting US president to publicly support the freedom for LGBTQ couples to marry.
This gave people who were gay more confidence to be who they are and come out because their president is the first to openly support LGBTQ rights and they feel since their president supports it they can as well. -
The Democratic Party
The Democratic Party becomes the first major US political party in history to publicly support same-sex marriage on a national platform at the Democratic National Convention. This is important because we have more support in the court system which means more homosexuals have the confidence to come out and protest for their rights. -
Tammy Baldwin becomes the first openly gay politician and the first Wisconsin woman to be elected to the US Senate.
This is significant because again it gave people who were closeted more confidence to come out and protest for their rights since more celebrities were coming out and it became more of a common thing. -
In United States v. Windsor, the US Supreme Court strikes down section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act
In United States v. Windsor, the US Supreme Court strikes down section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, ruling that legally married same-sex couples are entitled to federal benefits. The high court also dismisses a case involving California's proposition 8. This is important historical context because we are finally given more marriage rights. -
The U.S Supreme Court more open to more states having same-sex marriage
The United States Supreme Court denies review in five different marriage cases, allowing lower court rulings to stand, and therefore allowing same-sex couples to marry in Utah, Oklahoma, Virginia, Indiana and Wisconsin. This is important because the decision opens the door for the right to marry in Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wyoming allowing same-sex marriage throughout more states. -
Supreme Court rules that states cannot ban same-sex marriage
The US Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the question of the freedom to marry in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Michigan. On June 26 the Supreme Court rules that states cannot ban same-sex marriage. The 5-4 ruling had Justice Anthony Kennedy writing for the majority. Each of the four conservative justices writes their own dissent. This is highly important because this is the main event that we have been protesting for and after many years it is finally given to us. -
Military Equal Opportunity policy has been adjusted to include gay and lesbian military members.
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announces that the Military Equal Opportunity policy has been adjusted to include gay and lesbian military members. This gives the military new members and for the people who were gay who have wanted to join the military the right to do just that. -
Obama announces the designation of the first national monument to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) rights
Obama announces the designation of the first national monument to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) rights. The Stonewall National Monument will encompass Christopher Park, the Stonewall Inn and the surrounding streets and sidewalks that were the sites of the 1969 Stonewall uprising. This is important historical context because we had protested for our rights on that day and now it is an important monument dedicated in our name. -
Secretary of Defense Carter announces that the Pentagon is lifting the ban on transgender people serving openly in the US military.
This is highly important because up this point transgender men and women haven't gotten many rights so this was a big change for them and a huge opportunity. -
District of Columbia residents can now choose a gender-neutral option of their driver's license.
District of Columbia residents can now choose a gender-neutral option of their driver's license. This is important because DC residents become the first people in the United States to be able to choose X as their gender marker instead of male or female on driver's licenses and identification cards. Similar policies exist in Canada, India, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, and Nepal. -
President Donald Trump announces via Twitter that the "United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US Military
The US Department of Defense announces a six-month delay in allowing transgendered individuals to enlist in the United States military. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis writes that they "will use this additional time to evaluate more carefully the impact of such accessions on readiness and lethality." Approximately a month later, President Donald Trump announces via Twitter that the "United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US Military -
Daniela Vega, the star of Oscar-winning foreign film "A Fantastic Woman," becomes the first openly transgender presenter in Academy Awards history
Daniela Vega, the star of Oscar-winning foreign film "A Fantastic Woman," becomes the first openly transgender presenter in Academy Awards history when she introduces a performance by Sufjan Stevens, whose song "Mystery of Love" from the "Call Me By Your Name" soundtrack, is nominated for best original song. This is important because it gave transgender men and women the chance to stand and possibly look up to her as a role model and follow in the same path as she did. -
The Trump administration announces a new policy that bans most transgender people from serving in the military
The Trump administration announces a new policy that bans most transgender people from serving in the military. After several court battles, the Supreme Court allows the ban to go into effect in January 2019. This is important because this is what I was talking about in the last two events where I said transgender rights have taken a turn backwards so we still need to make progress when it comes to transgender rights but I believe the gay rights movement in California is doing amazing. -
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signs a law banning the use of the so-called gay and trans panic legal defense strategy
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signs a law banning the use of the so-called gay and trans panic legal defense strategy. The tactic asks a jury to find that a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for a defendant's violent reaction. This is important because it gives more opportunities for people with an LGBTQ background to go into court without being afraid of their label. -
Billy Porter becomes the first openly gay black man to win the Emmy for best lead actor in a drama series.
This is important because African American rights and LGBTQ rights were the ones that were fought for the most and the fact that someone belonged to both of those communities and won an Emmy is huge progress. -
Today's LGBTQ Rights Movement
The LGBTQ Rights Movement today from when we first started in 1924 has grown so much and still has quite a bit more to get where we wanted it to go in the first place. The LGBTQ Rights Movement is not all about Gay Rights, but transgender rights as well and although they seem to be going forward they are also going backward when it comes to military status. Transgender people were once given the advantage to join the military, yet earlier this year that right was taken away. -
The LGBTQ Rights Movement
Although the military rights were taken away from transgender men and women they have made a stand up in the world and progress has been made in the gay rights movement especially. All the progress we made in the early 70s leading up to the late 2000s has given the right for all LGBTQ people to be able to show themselves to the world without being afraid of who they are anymore.
