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Ruth Simpson
The founder of the United States' first lesbian community center, an author, and former president of Daughters of Bilitis, New York. As president of the New York chapter of Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), Simpson organized gay rights demonstrations and educational programs for DOB members during the period 1969–71. She led the New York chapter of Daughters of Bilitis. As president, she began to steer it in a more activist direction. -
Stonewall Riots
A series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the gay community against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. Lead the Gay and Lesbian rights movement, it started many more protests and riots later on. -
Homosexuality No Longer Listed as a Mental Illness
On June 7, 1971, Franklin Kameny wrote a letter to the Psychiatric News threatening the APA with not only more, but worse, disruptions. In this letter he states, “Our presence there was only the beginning of an increasingly intensive campaign by homosexuals to change the approach of psychiatry toward homosexuality or, failing that, to discredit psychiatry.” Eventually Homosexuality was taken off of the list of mental illnesses by the American Psychiatric Association. -
"Don't ask don't tell" created
The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while barring openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service. The policy was introduced as a compromise measure in 1993 by President Bill Clinton who campaigned in 1992 on the promise to allow all citizens to serve in the military regardless of sexual orientation. -
Defense of Marriage Act
A United States federal law which restricts federal marriage benefits and required inter-state marriage recognition to only opposite-sex marriages in the United States. The law was passed by Bill Clinton -
Lawrence v Texas
Made same-sex sexual activity legal in every U.S. state and territory. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion of the Justices, He wrote: "The petitioners [Lawrence and Garner] are entitled to respect for their private lives. The State cannot demean their existence or control their destiny by making their private sexual conduct a crime." The right to privacy is the right of the individual. -
"Dont ask don't tell" Ended
“As of Sept. 20, service members will no longer be forced to hide who they are in order to serve our country,” Obama said. Pentagon officials said that nearly two million service members had been trained in preparation for gay men and women serving openly in their ranks. -
Accomplishments
Same sex marriage is now allowed in nine states in the US. Discrimination in the workplace is no longer allowed based off of sexuality. Many organizations have started in order to gain the rights they deserve. -
Problems That Still Exist
Same sex marriage isn't legal in 41 states in America, people are still fighting for their equality.
