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You are here: Home / LGBTQ+ / American LGBTQ History Timeline and Why It Matters
American LGBTQ History Timeline and Why It Matters

American LGBTQ History Timeline and Why It Matters

March 31, 2020 By Cade Hildreth 1 Comment

What do Henry Gerber, Christine Jorgensen, and Barney Frank all have in common? The answer is that all three of them play roles in the LGBT history books in the U.S.

You’re probably aware of Harvey Milk being elected in San Francisco. Ellen DeGeneres coming out as a lesbian. Barack Obama legalizing gay marriage in 2015. But, there’s so much more to LGBT history in America.

LGBTQ+ rights have come a long way over the years, but what are some of the most important events in LGBT history? Keep reading to find out, and keep an eye out for names that you might not recognize.

What’s the Significance?

All of the events and moments mentioned here are part of the overall LGBT history in America. Some are steps forward, while others are steps back, but they have all been part of the decades-long struggle which still goes on today.

From the earliest gay rights organizations almost 100 years ago, to the legalization of same-sex marriage in the previous decade, a whole lot has happened.

LGBTQ History Timeline

This is a summary of the past 100 years of LGBT history in America. Of course, it didn’t begin in the 1920s. LGBTQ+ people go back to the beginning of human life as we know it.

In this list, we explore the most important contemporary events and milestones in U.S. LGBTQ+ history.

1924

Henry Gerber founds The Society for Human Rights in Chicago. It’s the first recorded gay rights organization in the US. The group doesn’t last long, however, being promptly shut down.

1948

Alfred Kinsey publishes the report Sexual Behavior in the Human Male. In contrast to the thoughts of many at the time, he argued that over one-third of men had been involved in homosexual activities at least once, and that homosexuality was not exclusive to gay men.

1950

26 years after Gerber founded The Society for Human Rights, The Mattachine Society was formed by Harry Hays. It became the first gay rights organization in America to last, staying together for about a decade before splintering off.

1952

Transgender woman Christine Jorgensen is the first in America to talk publicly about hormone replacement therapy and gender confirmation surgery. She was perhaps the first trans person with a significant media presence.

1953

Executive Order 10450 is signed by President Dwight Eisenhower, thereby prohibiting homosexuals from working for the federal government, alongside neurotics and alcoholics.

1955

Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon form the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), probably the first American lesbian rights organization, in San Francisco. At the time, lesbian bars were illegal and raids and police harassment were commonplace.

1958

The Supreme Court rules in favor of One: The Homosexual Magazine. The US Postal Service and the FBI declared the LGBT magazine to be obscene material, but the Supreme Court cited the First Amendment rights of the publication. This was the first instance of the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the LGBTQ community.

1962

Illinois is the first state to effectively decriminalize homosexuality, as it repeals its sodomy laws.

1963

The first American gay rights protest takes place in New York City. It concerns discrimination in the US military.

1969

The Stonewall riots. Police officers tried to raid the Stonewall Inn gay bar in the early hours of June 28. Having been set up two years earlier, it had often been a target of police, and this came to a head here. Police clashed with young activists in a riot which lasted for three days, and left a lasting legacy on the LGBTQ movement in the US.

1970

To mark the one-year anniversary of Stonewall, the country’s first gay pride parade took place in New York City, as thousands of LGBTQ+ individuals took to the streets.

1973

Homosexuality is removed from the American Psychiatric Associations list of mental illnesses, after the board vote on it. They also urge an end to discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.

1977

Singer Anita Bryant repeals a gay rights ordinance in Florida as part of her ‘Save Our Children’ campaign. Meanwhile, Harvey Milk becomes just the third openly gay elected public official in the US after winning a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

1982

Discrimination because of sexual orientation is made illegal in Wisconsin, the first US state to do so.

1984

Audre Lorde’s Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches is published. Perhaps the most important work from the intersectional feminist, she explores her experiences as being an LGBTQ+ woman of color.

1987

Barney Frank comes out as gay, becoming just the second openly gay member of Congress. He’s the first to voluntarily come out, however.

1993

The ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy is passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The law prohibited openly gay people from serving in the U.S. military, but also banned the harassment of closeted individuals.

1997

Ellen DeGeneres comes out as gay on the cover of Time magazine. Her character on the TV show ‘Ellen’ also comes out as gay the same year, inviting a shift in public opinion around homosexuality.

1998

Tammy Baldwin was elected to Congress. She became the first openly lesbian candidate to be elected after her victory against Josephine Musser in Wisconsin.

1999

Activist Phill Wilson founded what is now called the Black AIDS Institute, which focused on gay black men after Wilson’s partner Chris Brownlie died from HIV-related complications in 1989.

2000

Vermont grants same-sex couples the right to enter into civil partnerships, becoming the first state to do so and paving the eventual way for same-sex marriages.

2009

President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, named for the two men who were murdered for being gay and black respectively. The new legislation meant that crimes motivated by gender identity, sexual orientation and disability would be categorized as hate crimes.

2010

The ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy is repealed in the US Senate, meaning that gays and lesbians can openly serve in the military.

2015

The Supreme Court declares same-sex marriage to be legal across all 50 states.

2019

New York City announces that it will erect a monument dedicated to influential LGBTQ+ activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

LGBTQ+ Rights Today

The LGBT history timeline is still growing and evolving, and there’s sure to be more to add in the future.

What other events should we add to this list? Share them in the comments below.

Are we connected yet on Instagram? If not, let’s make it happen so I can share in your world too.

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Filed Under: LGBTQ+

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. JOSEPH KENT ROWLEY says

    January 30, 2022 at 5:40 pm

    In the 1970 statement, you made it sound as if “thousands” protested in New York City on June 28th . I reality there were only 150 to 200 marchers in NYC that night. Me being one of them. There were thousands who did march that night though in total, but in many different cities across the nation.

    Reply

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“As an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, real estate investor, former USA Rugby Player, and fitness fanatic, I’ll teach you what your parents and teachers should’ve taught you, but didn’t know themselves.” -Cade Hildreth

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For a long time, I’ve thought about top surgery. I remember when I was 6 or 7 years old when I wanted to run around outside on a hot, sunny day with my shirt off…and I first saw my parents… hesitate. Ughh. 

It wasn’t their fault but I still remember that heart wrenching feeling. To their credit, they ultimately said, “Ok, go do it!” While I did “do it”, I remember the feeling of shame that crept in.

Over the years, being in affirming sporting/rugby circles helped suppress the urge to get top surgery, but it never quite “stayed down.”

So last summer I got keyhole #topsurgery. I’ll talk about recovery in another post because it was definitely weird to not strength train for months.

But in THIS post, I want to share two things:

1. I am SO grateful to my wife Erin for being the supportive and growth oriented partner that she is. 🥰🙏❤️ 

She is now following her call to get a divinity degree and she’s already working in ministry as a Pastor in Training at an incredible, inclusive Presbyterian church here in Virginia. I am grateful to her for supporting me as I become more and more of who I am—and I’m enjoying watching her do the same! Love you, babe!

2. Second, I’m grateful to get to share who I am with my family. This summer we took a trip to Madden’s resort in MN to celebrate my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. (It was actually their 52nd, because we had to postpone it twice due to Covid.)

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Ultimately, I have to tell you…it was freeing to be me, as I am, who I am. 

I had the BEST time splashing around and biking and goofing around with my wife, niece, nephew, & sister. 🌊🏖🐟

So, I suppose, this is a gratitude post to thank those who have supported me over the years as I become more and more of who I am. 

Top of that list is my wife, Erin, but there are countless others. ❤️

If you’re reading this, thank YOU for being one of those people in my life too. I am deeply grateful. 🥹
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1. Good and bad are labels. All things are experiences. 

2. Maturity is taking full responsibility for oneself. 

3. Having a loving, conscious relationship with myself is a core value. 

4. Emotions do not mean that anything has to be done. 

5. When I am in congruence with what I want, I have it. 

6. I have permission from myself to stop doing anything that doesn’t lead to my peace and empowerment. 

7. Stepping toward emotions and being able to feel them is a superpower. It determines the quality of my life. 

(Are there any above that you’d like me to further explain?)
 
Most importantly, which # above resonates with you? ⬆️

Happy New Year, y’all! 🎊🥳
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I invited Jenny onto the podcast because she has done something extraordinary that is long overdue: She has opened up a sports bar that exclusively plays women's sports!

Despite extensive research, Jenny hasn't found another sports bar worldwide that ONLY plays women’s sports.

Given that it's nearly 2023, this is mind-blowing. As a lifelong athlete, I find her vision compelling and inspiring.

Aptly called the "The Sports Bra", the venue is putting Jenny's culinary skills on display alongside women's sports worldwide.

The Sports Bar has taken its mission a even further by partnering with and elevating other local, women-owned businesses.

Specifically, it:

1. Sources its grass-fed beef from @CarmanRanch, an ranch run by Cory Carman, a third gen rancher out of Wallowa, Oregon).

2. Sources its alcohol from Freeland Spirits, an all-women owned and operated distillery out of NW Portland.

3. Has furniture built by @girlsbuild_org, a non-profit organization headed by @ktmhughes in Portland, OR, that teaches carpentry and construction skills to young girls as a path to empowerment.

Since opening the Sports Bra this April, people have come from ALL over the U.S. and the world to experience it—including many professional female athletes.

To learn more about Jenny as she makes history, features women's sports, and elevates women-run businesses, listen to the episode here:

shorturl.at/doGHZ

Or, you can check out the Sports Bra at:

@thesportsbrapdx
TheSportsBraPDX.com/

Have you heard of the Sports Bra or been out to experience it in person?

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Over this recent holiday stretch, we… - enjoye Over this recent holiday stretch, we… 

- enjoyed some quiet time at home
- got a sauna delivered (but not yet installed)
- decorated for the holidays
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How have the holidays treated you…and did you get hit by the winter storms? ❤️🎁☃️❄️
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