LGBTQ Rights Movement Progression

By 1492811

  • Society for Human Rights formed

    Henry Gerber establishes the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights association to be founded in the United States. The society was created in the state of Illinois, however the group was quickly shut down after political pressures.

  • "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" published.

    The landmark book published by Alfred Kinsey brought sexual orientation to the public eye. He did extensive research and reported that at least 37% of the men he interviewed had participated in homosexual behavior. His research showed the public that homosexuality was far more widespread than previously believed. He also proved that sexual orientation could lay between homo and hetero sexual, rather than one or the other.

  • Mattachine Society founded

    Gay rights activist, Henry Hay, founded the Mattachine Society in Los Angles, Ca. This was the first lasting gay rights organization in the US. The society's goal was to advocate for LGBTQ rights and raise awareness to the issue. Henry stated that he wanted to, "eliminate discrimination, derision, prejudice and bigotry," and essentially integrate homosexuals into society.

  • Executive Order 10450

    President Dwight Eisenhower signed the executive order to ban homosexuals from working in any positions in the Federal Government. In the executive order homosexual were listed as security risks alongside alcoholics. As a result hundreds of gay and lesbian employs lost their jobs.

  • Daughters of Bilitis founded

    Founded in San Francisco, CA, the Daughters of Bilitis became the first lesbian rights organization in the US. The organization hosted events that served as an alternative to lesbian bars, which were illegal and often raided by the police. The group later published a magazine which was the first lesbian publication in the US.

  • American Psychological Association Convention

    At the convention psychologist, Evelyn Hooker, shares her research presented in the paper, "The Adjustment of the Male Overt Homosexual". She compared the mental status of homosexual and non-homosexual men and her research proved that the mental health of the two groups did not differ. She deemed that homosexuality was in fact not a clinical illness. This research was very influential to the public in terms of changing the clinical perspective on homosexuality.

  • First State to Decriminalize Homosexuality

    Illinois became the first state in the US to repeal it's sodomy laws. Therefore, decriminalizing homosexuality between consenting adults. This was the first major step toward LGBTQ rights in the United States.

  • The Stonewall Riots

    The Stonewall Riots, named after the bar "Stonewall Inn", took place in Greenwich Village in New York City. The bar was frequently raided due to it's history of gay clientele and on June 28th around 1 a.m. the bar was raided by the police once again. This time the police were met with resistance and the struggle flooded into the streets. The riots lasted for three days and this event marked the birth of America's modern LGBTQ rights movement.

  • The First Gay Pride Event

    This event marked the one year anniversary of the Stonewall riots and is considered the first gay pride parade. Thousands of members of the LGBTQ community marched through New York City and into Central Park.

  • Homosexuality Removed From List of Mental Disorders

    The American Psychiatric Association voted unanimously in favor of removing homosexuality from its list of mental disorders known as the, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders II. This action officially deemed that homosexuality was not a clinical diagnosis and was not to be treated as such. The research published by Evelyn Hooker in 1956 played a huge role in this development.

  • Democrats for Gay Rights

    During the Democratic National Convention the party states that it will not discriminate against members of the LBGTQ community, The Democrats were the first party to take a stance supporting gay rights. This was the first voice the LGBTQ community had in politics.

  • The Discovery of AIDS

    A symptoms of a rare pneumonia and skin cancer were found in 41 gay men in New York and California. The CDC originally titled the disease "GRID", standing for Gay Related Immune Deficiency Disorder. However after symptoms were discovered in heterosexuals Bruce Voeller successfully lobbied to change the name to AIDS. The discovery of AIDS only worsened the stigma surrounding gay men at the time.

  • National March on Washington

    Well over a hundred thousand activists participated in the National March on Washington demanding President Ronald Reagan to address the AIDS crisis. It wasn't until the end of his presidency that he spoke out about the issue though it was discovered in 1981. Some of the main problems included a lack of AIDS policies protecting patients from high prescription prices and pharmaceutical companies profiteering from AIDS-related drugs.

  • Ryan White Care Act

    The Ryan White Care Act is a federally funded program that George Bush signed in order to support people living with AIDS. This program was a step in a positive direction towards normalizing the disease and lessening discrimination against people who are positive.

  • Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy

    The Department of Defense put this policy in place which allowed gay men to serve in the military, however it banned any homosexual activity. President Clinton's original idea was to revoke the law that barred gay men from entering the military, but was met with strong opposition. So instead he made a compromise, which however did lead to the discharge of thousands of men and women from the military.

  • Romer v. Evans

    In this case the Supreme Court ruled that Colorado's second amendment was unconstitutional. It denied members of the LGBTQ community protection against discrimination. A case involving LGBTQ rights getting supreme court attention was a crucial step in the Gay Rights Movement.

  • Defense of Marriage Act

    President Clinton passed the law that defines marriage as being between a man and woman exclusively. This serves as a huge set back for LGBTQ rights.

  • Lawrence v. Texas

    In Lawrence v. Texas the Supreme Court rules that sodomy laws in the U.S. are unconstitutional. Making it illegal to outlaw homosexuality. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote, “Liberty presumes an autonomy of self that includes freedom of thought, belief, expression, and certain intimate conduct.”

  • Massachusetts Legalizes Gay Marriage

    Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize gay marriage which leads New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Iowa and Washington D.C. to do the same in the following six years. The court found the prohibition of gay marriage unconstitutional because it denies dignity and equality of all individuals.

  • The Mathew Shepard Act

    Matthew Shepard was tortured and murdered in, Wyoming on October 7, 1998 because of his sexuality. Congress passed a bill which was signed by Obama that revised the 1969 U.S. Federal Hate Crime Law to include crimes committed against members of the LGBTQ community because of their sexuality.

  • Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy Repealed

    This policy was repealed by a 65-31 vote in the U.S. Senate. The removal of this policy allowed members of the LGBTQ community to serve openly in the military. This was a step towards normalizing being open about sexuality.

  • Obergefell v. Hodges

    This is the biggest landmark thus far in the LGBTQ Rights Movement. With a 5-4 vote the U.S. Supreme Court legalizes gay marriage in all fifty states.

  • Citations

    Milestones in the American Gay Rights Movement. (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2020, from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/stonewall-milestones-american-gay-rights-movement/ Breakingprejudice.org. (n.d.). Retrieved 2020, from http://breakingprejudice.org/assets/AHAA/Activities/Gay Rights Movement Timeline Activity/LGBT Rights Timeline.pdf

  • Citations

    Stonewall Inn: Through the Years. (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2020, from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/stonewall-inn-through-years/ Caron, C., & Haney, A. (2013, March 23). Gay rights timeline: Key dates in the fight for equality. Retrieved September 11, 2020, from http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/23/17418872-gay-rights-timeline-key-dates-in-the-fight-for-equality?lite

  • Citations

    History of Sodomy Laws and the Strategy that Led Up to Today's Decision. (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2020, from https://www.aclu.org/other/history-sodomy-laws-and-strategy-led-todays-decision

  • Analysis part 2

    The change in laws and gain of rights is due to the fact that so many members of the community and straight allies spoke out about the unconstitutionality of the oppression. It is also due to the fact that this issue made it to the Supreme Court.

  • Analysis part 3

    There has most definitely been compromise over this issue. The compromises started small for instance the removal of homosexuality from the list of mental disorders, then those compromises grew ones that covered more important matters, like the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Which was eventually repealed and the issue was resolved completely. Overtime small compromises were made until all the major oppression's that existed were overturned.

  • Predictions

    Given the fact that the LGBTQ rights movement has advanced so much just in the past couple of years I see a distant future where homophobia is a nonissue. Eradicating homophobia won't happen overnight and it certainly is still prevalent regardless of court rulings, but based on the direction the country is headed I see it as a possibility. The countries views on sexuality has become much more open in the recent years, though their are still people that don't support it and there may always be.

  • Analysis part 1

    The part of this issue that has changed the most over time is the laws that suppressed the LGBTQ community. At the beginning of the timeline is was illegal to be homosexual and now there are laws specifically in place to protect the communities rights. Not to mention gay marriage was legalized just recently, The rights for their community have grown by leaps and bounds and their are no more laws which specifically oppress the LBGTQ community.