-
Stonewall Riots
1:20 a.m.: NYC police barged into the Stonewall Inn, which was an LGBTQ bar. The police entered the bar without a warrant, and began to arrest customers inside. Patrons were forced to wait outside the bar, handcuffed, which drew a crowd and eventually grew into a full-blown riot. For 6 days afterwards activists demonstrated outside the Stonewall Inn to show their support and solidarity for the LGBT community. -
First Pride March
The one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The Christopher Street Liberation Day March was 51 blocks long, from west of Sixth Avenue to Central Park, where activists held a “Gay-in." Estimates for the march range from 1,000 to 20,000. The official chant was, “Say it clear, say it loud. Gay is good, gay is proud!” There were no floats or music the way Pride is today, this was a memorial and a protest. Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco also held marches that week. -
Introduction of the Rainbow Flag
The iconic LGBTQ rainbow flag was created for the 1978 San Francisco Pride Parade by Gilbert Baker, and American artist, gay rights activist, US army veteran. The flag was created at the request of colleague of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California. The flag has become a symbol of the LGBTQ movement, and many variations of it have been created for its various sub-communities. -
National March on Washington
The first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights combined many local efforts and gained national attention. -
The AIDs Epidemic Impact
The Pride Parade takes on a somber note as it addresses the growing AIDS epidemic and the classification of it as a “gay disease.” The CDC reported 1-2 diagnoses per day in the USA. -
Defense of Marriage Act
President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act which federally defined marriage as being between a man and a woman, and allowed states to not recognize same-sex marriages. The 1997 Pride Parades hit record-breaking numbers as the LGBTQ community marched onward and continued to fight for their rights. -
Pride Month
President Bill Clinton declares June to be Gay and Lesbian Pride month. This is the first time the community is officially recognized and honored by a currently-serving President. While George W. Bush did not continue this celebration during his administration, Barack Obama declared June LGBTQ Pride Month for all 8 years of his tenure as President. -
Vermont Allows Civil Unions
Vermont is the first state to pass a law allowing Civil Unions, which offer gay couples some of the same benefits as marriage. Couples flock to Vermont to get “married,” Pride celebrates Civil Unions as a first step towards getting same-sex marriage legalized. -
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repealed
President Obama repeals controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy which forced LGBTQ military service-members to remain closeted while they served, or be discharged. Obama proclaims, "Our military will no longer be deprived of the talents and skills of patriotic Americans just because they happen to be gay or lesbian." That summer's Pride celebrated its military members being publicly out for the first time. -
Same-Sex Marriage becomes "Law of the Land"
The Supreme Court Case Obergefell v. Hodge rules that gay couples have the constitutional right to marry, making gay marriage federally legal across all 50 states. Justice Kennedy writes, "Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right." Pride parades are the biggest they have ever been, celebrating victory in the eyes of the law. -
Stonewall Inn Becomes National Monument
President Obama establishes a 7.7 acre area around the Stonewall Inn as the Stonewall National Monument, citing it's historical significance in the fight for LGBTQ rights. This is the first LGBT national park site in the United States.
