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The First Gay Rights Group is Established
Henry Gerber (WWI & WWII) founded the first gay rights movement in 1924, in Chicago, which was soon after shut down by authorities and Henry was fired from his job. However, The Society for Human Rights was the first documented gay rights organization. https://embed-516932.secondstreetapp.com/embed/c7a85093-f2f0-4dae-a8f4-307a566ec897/gallery/130247740/ -
The American Psychiatric Association adds homosexuality to their list as a sociopathic personality disturbance.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders DSM-I Original Edition by The American Psychiatric Association. -
The first known lesbian rights organization in the United States forms in San Francisco
Daughters of Bilitis was formed to communicate to other lesbians and educate them and protect them, offering a safe zone for women. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg4VemCLu6U)
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Illinois becomes the first state to decriminalize homosexuality by repealing their sodomy laws.
People join in on the gay pride parade in Chicago, 1989. Media Credit: CBS -
The First US-televised documentary about homosexuality airs on a local station in California
The show was unseen for over 50 years and finally made its way to the surface again in 2015 to be seen online for LGBT Pride month. -
The Stonewall Riots
Police raid the Stonewall Inn in New York City, sparking the birth of several protests and gay civil rights movements. Media Credit: The Swamp -
The Gay Liberation Organization (GLO) was founded at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)
A poster created by the GLO members that attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to support their cause, which was to allow students and other gays and lesbians to openly display their sexuality and sexual traits. -
Christopher Street Liberation Day a.k.a. The First Gay Pride Parade
Community members in New York City marched through the streets to recognize the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Media Credit: NBC News -
The First Meeting of "Parents and Friends of Gays"
Jeanne Manford, mother of her gay son Morty would become an important figure in New York City for gays and lesbians as her son was during this time period. She became an activists for gay rights, being one of few parents who supported their child's sexual mannerisms and lifestyle.
(https://www.npr.org/2013/01/12/169223070/remembering-pflag-founder-and-mother)
Media Credit: National Public Radio -
Homosexuality is Removed from the List of Mental Health Disorders
A patient undergoes electroconvulsive therapy in the 1950s in an attempt to cure his same-sex desires. This was one of many different treatments used in attempt too "cure" homosexuality. It was even advertised by using people who had previously been gay and now have successfully become heterosexual, the campaigns would show them living a heterosexual lifestyle that even consisted of having children. Media Credit: Three Lions (Getty Images) -
The first openly gay American woman is elected onto the Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council
Kathy Kozachenko is shown holding a photo of her partner, herself, and their son. -
The first federal gay rights bill is introduced to address discrimination based on sexual orientation
A man protests to end discrimination in the workplace. (The bill later goes to the Judiciary Committee but is never brought for consideration.) Media Credit: LoveIsARainbow -
Transgender tennis player is banned from playing in the US Open Tennis Tournament
After having surgery to complete her transformation, the ophthalmologist and professional tennis player was denied her right to play in the tournament because of a "women-born-women" rule. Later in 1977 New York Supreme Courts ruled in her favor and she was able to compete. Media Credit: Compete Network -
The First Rainbow Flag is designed and made.
Inspired by Milk, Gilbert Baker designs and stitches together the first rainbow flag as a symbol of pride and hope for the LGBT community. Media Credit: New York Times -
Harvey Milk is the first openly gay man to be elected to a political office in California
Harvey Milk campaigning for his election to be San Francisco city Supervisor. Media Credit: The Bold Italic -
The First National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights takes place.
75,000 to 125,000 people march for LGBT rights on October fourteenth of 1979 holding a banner that reads "WE ARE EVERYWHERE". -
"Parents and Friends of Gays" becomes "Parents, Friends, and Families of Lesbians and Gays" (PFLAG)
Parents of Gays gather and show their support for their children and their gay lifestyles by holding signs and protesting gay oppression. -
Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation
An article from "Escape" newspaper about activists' efforts to pass the bill. Media Credit: Out and Equal Word Press -
The First National Coming Out Day
Ithica College's LGBT club students celebrate National Coming Out Day
https://theithacan.org/life-culture/follow-the-rainbow-students-celebrate-coming-out-day/ -
Massachusetts Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
James Jenner, of Boston, and James Murphy of Cambridge, Mass. show their support for same-sex marriage in front of the Statehouse in Boston on March 4, 2004 whilst awaiting the decision from lawmakers to place a ban on same-sex marriage. -
"Affirming Diversity/Multi-Cultural Education in the Public Schools" resolution passed
College students protest multicultural diversity and Affirmative Action Rights.
Affirmative Action: An attempt to support the teachers and staff so that they will be able to ensure the safety and acceptance of all LGBT students. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/news/2012/10/09/41004/10-reasons-why-we-need-diversity-on-college-campuses/ http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/unitedchurchofchrist/legacy_url/1624/2009-Affirming-Diversity-Education.pdf?1418425113 -
Transgender Day of Visibility Begins
The day is "designated to show the accomplishments of the trans community while fighting transphobia and raise awareness around the discrimination trans people still face every day". transrightsarehumanrights https://www.susans.org/2018/03/30/transgender-day-of-visibility-2018/ -
Proposition 8 is found unconstitutional by a federal judge
Protestors cheer for marriage equality and recognition for gay and lesbian couples in California. -
Girl Scouts Accepts its First Transgender Scout
Girl Scouts in Western Washington refund $100,000 donation that was exclusively meant to support biological girls and exclude transgender girls. They launched the campaign #ForEVERYGirl and raised over $100,000 in less than 24 hours! Media Credit: The Global Dispatch -
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is repealed
Students in R.O.T.C. (Reserve Officer Training Corps) protest the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Law on June 1st in 1965. This repeal ended a ban on gay men and lesbian women from serving openly in the US Military. -
Transgender Kids in California Have the Right to Choose Bathrooms and Spots Teams
A girl rides on a mans shoulders waiving an LGBTQ pride flag while observing the pride parade in 2013. Transgender students now have the right to choose which bathrooms and locker rooms to go to as well as which sports teams they want to join. -
Same-Sex Couples are Allowed to Adopt in all Fifty States
A same-sex couple holds their child after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage in Virginia, making marriage for same-sex couples legal across the nation along with adoption! Media Credit: WJLA -
The first transgender person is allowed to serve in the US military
A command photo of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lindsey Muller from 2011 (Left, Female) and 2017 (Right, Male). Media Credit: Stars and Stripes -
Trump's transgender military ban goes into effect
People shown protesting Trump's plans for the ban.
[This policy blocks anyone who claims a different gender than the one they were assigned at birth to serve in the opposite sex. They can still serve the military but only to the gender they were born as.] Media Credit: BBC News -
LGBT History Required to be Taught in Schools in NJ and California
Governor Phil Murphy signs off on a bill that requires all non-private schools in NJ to teach the history of the LGBT movement beginning no later than the 2021 school year. The law also includes history of people with disabilities. Media Credit: Patch
