Early Foundations & Pre 1960s
1867 |
Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, a German lawyer, publicly comes out as homosexual, advocating for the decriminalisation of homosexuality |
1897 |
Magnus Hirschfeld, a German physician, founds the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee, the first organisation to advocate for gay rights |
1924 |
The Society for Human Rights, the first known gay rights organisation in the US, is founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago |
1950 |
The Mattachine Society is founded in LA by Harry Hay & others, becoming one of the earliest sustained gay rights organisations in the US |
1955 |
The Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian organisation in the US, is founded in San Francisco by Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon |
1960s: Early Activism & Stonewall
1962 |
Illinois becomes the first US state to decriminalise homosexual acts between consenting adults in private |
1965 |
The first Reminder Day picker is held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, organised by the Mattachine Society & other early LGBT groups |
1966 |
The Compton's Cafeteria Riot occurs in San Francisco, one of the first recorded transgender riots in the United States. |
1969 |
The Stonewall Riots begin on June 28 in New York City after a police raid at the Stonewall Inn. The riots are considered a pivotal event in the fight for LGBT rights, leading to the formation of many advocacy organizations. |
1970s: The Movement Gains Momentum
1970 |
The first Gay Pride marches are held in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. |
1973 |
The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). |
1974 |
Kathy Kozachenko becomes the first openly gay American elected to public office, winning a seat on the Ann Arbor, Michigan city council. |
1977 |
Harvey Milk is elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S. |
1978 |
Harvey Milk is assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone. The rainbow flag, designed by Gilbert Baker, is first used as a symbol of LGBT pride. |
1979 |
The first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights takes place, drawing an estimated 100,000 participants. |
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1980s: The AIDS Crisis & Increased Activism
1981 |
The first cases of AIDS are reported, initially referred to as GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency). The epidemic has a profound impact on the gay community. |
1982 |
Wisconsin becomes the first U.S. state to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. |
1983 |
The U.S. Congress passes the first legislation to fund AIDS research and treatment. |
1986 |
The Supreme Court upholds sodomy laws in Bowers v. Hardwick, ruling that consensual homosexual acts are not protected by the right to privacy. |
1987 |
The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) is founded in New York City, using direct action to raise awareness and advocate for AIDS research and treatment. |
1987 |
The second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights draws hundreds of thousands of participants. |
1990s: Legal Battles & Cultural Shifts
1993 |
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is implemented, allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the military as long as they do not disclose their sexual orientation. |
1996 |
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is signed into law, defining marriage for federal purposes as the union of one man and one woman, and allowing states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted under the laws of other states. |
1998 |
Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, is brutally murdered, leading to increased awareness and advocacy for hate crime legislation. |
1999 |
California becomes the first state to legalize domestic partnerships, providing same-sex couples with limited legal rights and benefits. |
2000s: Marriage Equality & Legal Advances
2000 |
Vermont becomes the first state to legalize civil unions, granting same-sex couples similar rights to marriage. |
2003 |
The Supreme Court overturns sodomy laws in Lawrence v. Texas, ruling that consensual sexual conduct is protected under the right to privacy. |
2004 |
Massachusetts becomes the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage following the state Supreme Court's decision in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health. |
2008 |
California voters pass Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage, leading to legal battles and eventual overturning. |
2009 |
President Barack Obama signs the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law, expanding federal hate crime laws to include crimes motivated by sexual orientation and gender identity. |
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2010s: Achieving Marriage Equality
2010 |
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is repealed, allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. |
2013 |
The Supreme Court strikes down DOMA in United States v. Windsor, recognizing the federal rights of legally married same-sex couples. |
2013 |
The Supreme Court also rules on Hollingsworth v. Perry, effectively restoring same-sex marriage in California. |
2015 |
The Supreme Court rules in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right nationwide, legalizing it across the United States. |
2020s: Continuing Advocacy & New Challenges
2020 |
The Supreme Court rules in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. |
2021 |
President Joe Biden signs executive orders aimed at preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in various areas, including housing, healthcare, and education. |
2021 |
The Equality Act, which seeks to expand federal civil rights laws to explicitly include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, is passed by the House of Representatives but faces challenges in the Senate. |
2023 |
Continued advocacy for the Equality Act and other protections, as well as responses to legislative efforts in some states to restrict the rights of transgender individuals, especially in healthcare and sports. |
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