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Stonewall Riots and Gay Activists Alliance founded
The Stonewall Riots were several days of demonstrations for gay rights due to the police targeting The Stonewall Inn, a gay club. This resulted in the creation of the Gay Activists Alliance which is an organization that defends for the rights of LGBTQ individuals.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-stonewall-riot -
Homosexuality is no longer listed as a mental illness
The changing social norms and the politically active gay community led the Board of Directors of the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201509/when-homosexuality-stopped-being-mental-disorder -
Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay person to ever be elected into public office in the United States, as well as a martyr in the eyes of the gay community due to his assassination.
http://www.biography.com/people/harvey-milk-9408170 -
"Don't ask, Don't tell" policy.
This policy prohibits anyone who demonstrates an intent to openly engage in homosexual acts from serving in the armed forces and was ended by Obama in 2011.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/us/23military.html -
Decriminalization of Homosexuality
This occurred in the Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas which overturned Texas' law that declared same-sex sex illegal.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/future/landmark_lawrence.html -
Obergefell v. Hodges
This Supreme Court decision legalized gay marriage and overturned the Defense of Marriage Act (1996) that denied states the right to recognize same-sex marriages.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-marriage-is-a-fundamental-right-for-gay-couples/ -
Accomplishments
1) Homosexuality legalized
2) Gay marriage legalized
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/lgbt-rights-milestones-fast-facts/ -
Problems
1) discrimination through laws created in states
2) transgender rights
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/us/the-challenges-that-remain-for-lgbt-people-after-marriage-ruling.html?_r=0