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Creation of the Mattachine Society
The Mattachine Society was formed by 7 gay men who had the goal of integrating themselves into American culture. This was a difficult task as homosexuality was extremely frowned upon during this time period; traditional culture rejected homosexuality, and this was the first step to normalize themselves. This was one of the first groups formed, and the only group that lasted a long time. Over time, the number of members increased, and it created the first gay cultural and political community. -
Executive Order #10450
President Dwight Eisenhower signed this executive order in order to keep homosexuals from working within the government. He justified his actions by saying that homosexuals were a security risk. This order furthered stigmatized homosexuals, and they were banned along with neurotics and alcoholics in this order. Under this order, approximately 5,000 workers lost their jobs. This was due to the fact that homosexuality was misunderstood at the time, which ultimately contributed to this culture war. -
Creation of the Daughters of Bilitis
The DOB were the first lesbian group to emerge in the United States; it was formed by four lesbian couples in San Francisco. They were founded in secrecy as homosexuality was still frowned upon in American culture. Their meetings provided alternatives to lesbian bars, as those were often raided by police. They faced strict scrutiny, as they were unable to advertise in the local newspaper; the DOB then created their own entitled "The Ladder." It ultimately collapsed in 1970. -
Illinois Becomes the 1st State to Repeal its Sodomy Laws
Homosexual acts were considered a crime before Illinois repealed this law. This further demonstrates the stigma placed on homosexuals from the traditional American culture. Obviously, any public sex act was still considered illegal, but that is also in effect for heterosexuals as well. This was a milestone act, as many other states soon followed suit. The sodomy law was put in place to discriminate gays, but the repeal of it marked a step forward for gay rights. -
Stonewall Riot
A riot broke out at Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village in NY when police raided a popular gay bar. Police raids were common here, as they were trying to rid society of "sexual deviants." The angry gay men fought back, and a 3 day riot ensued. These riots brought light upon how mistreated gays were, but there was still heavy anti-gay sentiment across the United States. The riot became a galvanizing force for the LGBTQ movement. -
Homosexuality is Removed from List of Mental Illnesses
The American Psychological Association voted to remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. For centuries, homosexuality was misunderstood, and because of this misunderstanding, it was classified as a mental illness. However, studies showed that it is not a mental illness, and that homosexuals and heterosexuals are very similar in their chemical makeup. This was a big decision that combated anti-gay sentiment because that was one of the major arguments used against homosexuality. -
U.S Military Bans Open Homosexuality
The U.S military adopted the policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," after they banned openly gay or lesbian members from serving. This policy shows the evolution of both sides through the culture war. Essentially, the military would let homosexual members serve as long as they weren't open about their orientation, whereas before, they would've been rejected completely. However, the fact that they still demanded that it remain hidden demonstrates their resistance to complete evolution. -
Lawrence v. Texas
The United States Supreme Court ruled in Lawrence v. Texas that their state sodomy law was unconstitutional. Essentially, the Court ruled that American laws prohibiting private homosexual activity between consenting adults were unconstitutional. As mentioned before on the timeline, Illinois was the first state to repeal their sodomy law; this case ensured that they were unconstitutional in all states. This was another victory for gay rights as they continued to gain momentum in the culture war. -
California Supports Proposition 8
Proposition 8 outlawed gay marriage in California. This received a lot of national headlines, and it was countered with a strong movement from celebrities that endorse gay marriage. This is an event that perfectly demonstrates the culture war: just as it appeared that the LGBTQ was gaining momentum, they were put down by a proposition in a major state. Even after this setback, the LGBTQ community kept fighting to completely integrate themselves within American culture. -
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is Repealed
The United States Senate voted to repeal the policy of "Don't ask, don't tell" in the military. This was established in 1993 under President Bill Clinton. This was a major victory for the LGBTQ community as it represented their integration into American culture. It is a complete turn around from President Eisenhower's executive order. At this point in the culture war, it appeared that homosexuals were almost completely assimilated into traditional American culture. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
In Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage was legal in all 50 states. This ruling ensures that all same-sex marriages will be viewed as valid across the United States; additionally, all states have to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples who wish to engage in that form of a relationship. This is a monumental case which almost ensures almost complete assimilation into the culture in terms of legal defense; however, this still upset a group of people. -
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado
In Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the cake shop, declaring that they had the right to refuse service to a gay couple. While this case isn't exactly about homosexuality, it still demonstrates the fact that anti-gay sentiment still exists, and that this culture war will probably rage on in the future. While the LGBTQ community has already earned many rights, they still face discrimination. Now, the debate has moved more from homosexuals to transgenders.
