What happened at Stonewall?
It was standard practice for police to conduct random raids of Gay and Lesbian bars. Frequently these transpired with little to no resistance. However, on the night of June 27, 1969, the crowd in the Stonewall Inn bar in New York City fought back. This followed with several nights of riots and the reignition of the gay rights movement.
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From Gallup Poll
Gay Rights - Did you think they only began to be relevant in the last few years?Scroll down to look at the US history of Gay rights from 1924 through 1979.
December 10, 1924
Society for Human Rights - founded by Henry Gerber. This is the first gay rights organization documented in the US. Quickly disbanded due to political pressue
1948
Alfred Kinsey publishes "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" which reports that 37%of men have enjoyed homosexual activites at least once.
November 11, 1950
Activist Harry Hay founds the Mattachine society to "eliminate discrimination, derision, prejudice and bigotry". This is the nation's first national gay rights organization.
December 15, 1950
Beginning of the "lavendar scare": a sanatre rport titled" Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts in Government" which is distributed to members of congress. The federal goverment, under the auspices of homosexuality being a mental illness and that such a condition would "constitute security risks" to the US.
April, 1952
In the publication of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the American Psychiatric Assosciation lists homosexuality as a sociopathic personality disturbance. Immediatly after its release, many professionals in the area of medicine, mental health and social science criticize the lack of empirical and scientific data to support this diagnosis.
April 27, 1953
President Dwight Eisenhower signs Executive Order 10450. This order bans homosexuals from working for the federal governement or any of its private contractors. Places homosexuals in category with alcoholics and neurotics, all posing security risks.
September 21, 1955
First lesbian rights organization the the US: Daughter os Bilitis founded in San Francisco
August 30, 1956
Presentation of "the Adjustment of the Male Overt Homosexual" by psychologist Evelyn Hooker at the American Psychological Association Convention in Chicago. Hooker's research concludes homosexuals do not differ from heteroseuals significantly.
January 13, 1958
Landmark case: One, Inc. v Olesen.
One, Inc files suit after the US Postal Service and FBI declares their magazine, "One:the Homosexual Magazine", obsecene material. The US Supreme Court rules in favor of the First Amendment rights of the the magazine. Thsi is the first time in US Supreme Court History that the court rules in favor of homosexuals.
January 1, 1962
Illinois repeals sodomy laws, becoming the first state to decriminalize homosexuality.
July 4, 1965
Celebration of the first Reminder Day to call attention to the lack of civil rights for LGBT people at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Held annually for 5 years.
April 21, 1966
Members of the Mattachine Society stage a "sip-in" to protest the New York Liquor Authority's prohibition of serving gay patrons in bars. Following this, the Mattachine Society files suit with the New York Liquor Authority. No laws are overturned, however the New York City Commision on Human Rigts does declare that homosexuals have the right to be served.
August, 1966
At a San Francisco cafeteria, transgender customers become racuous and the police are called by management. When a police officer manhandles one of the patrons, she throwos coffeee in his face and a riot begins. Police and public property are destroyed.
Following the rot, the National Transsexual Counseling Unit is established by activists. This is the ris peer-run support and advocacy organization tin the world.
June 28, 1969
Beginning of the 3 day Stonewall Riot. After a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Greenwich Village, patrons revolted. The riot included thousands of protesters and thisevent is often credited with reigniting the gay rights movement.
June 28, 1970
Commemoration of the Stonewall riots with Christopher St. Liberation Day.Thousands of members of the LGBT community march through New York into Central Park.
December 15, 1973
Homosexuality is removed from the list of mental illnesses by the board of the American Psychiatric Association.
January, 1974
First openly gay American is elected to opublic office. Kathy Kozachenko wins a seat on the Ann Arbor, Micigan City Council.
June 7, 1977
"Save Our Children" Crusade, a campaign lead by singer and conservative Souther Baptist Anita Bryant, succeeds in repealing a gay rights ordinanace in Dade County, Florida. The ordinance is not reinstated in Dade County until December 1, 1998.
November 8, 1977
Harvey Milk, wins a seat on the SAn Francisco Board of Supervisors. During his denutre he is responsible for introducing a gay rights ordinance that protects gays and lesbians from being fired from their jobs. He also leads a successful campaign against Proposition 6, an initiative forbidding homosexual teachers.
November 27, 1978
Harvey Milk is assassinated by former city supervisor Dan White. WHite's actionas are motivated by jealousy and depression, rather than homophobia.
May 21, 1979
Dan white is convicted of voluntary manslaughter an dis sentenced to seven years in prison. More than 5,000 protesters ransack San Francisco's City Hall in reaction to the lenient sentence.
The following night, approximately 10,000 people gather on Sangrancisco's Catro and Market streets for a peaceful demonstration to commemorate what would have been Mild's 49th birthday.
October 14, 1979
75,000 people participate in the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Marchers demand equal civil rights and urge for the passage of protective civil rights legislature.
