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NY is the most desired LGBTQ travel location in the world. Plan romance, explore the outdoors and enjoy world-class dining and art.

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15th Anniversary Quiz LGBT History Month A to Z | LGBTHistoryMonth.com

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The Trevor Project | For Young LGBTQ Lives

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The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ young people. Text, chat, or call anytime to reach a trained counselor. Free and confidential.

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In this statement, GLSEN's National Student Council condemns police brutality and calls for greater support for Black lives

Read the Statement

Get involved and join your community, local, or state GLSEN chapter

GLSEN Chapters create LGBTQ-inclusive schools. Community-led chapters offer teacher trainings, student support, community outreach, and more.

Recent Research

Research, Reports, and Briefs

Research, Reports, and Briefs

Research, Reports, and Briefs

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In this statement, GLSEN's National Student Council condemns police brutality and calls for greater support for Black lives Read the Statement GLSEN Chapters create LGBTQ-inclusive schools. Community-led chapters offer teacher trainings, student support, community outreach, and more. Research, Reports, and Briefs Research, Reports, and Briefs Research, Reports, and Briefs

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Remember our rich history - it goes way back.

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also known at one point as Julius' Bar and Restaurant

overview

On April 21, 1966, a "Sip-In" was organized by members of the Mattachine Society, one of the country's earliest gay rights organizations, to challenge the State Liquor Authority's discriminatory policy of revoking the licenses of bars that served known or suspected gay men and lesbians.

The publicized event - at which they were refused service after intentionally revealing they were "homosexuals" - was one of the earliest pre-Stonewall public actions for LGBT rights as well as a big step forward in the eventual development of legitimate LGBT bars in New York City.

Through the efforts of the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project, this site was listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places in 2015 and the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. The Project's advocacy also led to the site's designation as a New York City Landmark by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2022.

History

There has been a bar on the corner of Waverly Place and West 10th Street since the mid-19th century. The name "Julius' dates from c. 1930 when the bar began to become popular with sports figures and other celebrities. By the 1960s, Julius' began attracting gay men, although it was not exclusively a gay bar.

On April 21, 1966, members of the Mattachine Society, an early gay rights group, organized what became known as the "Sip-In." Their intent was to challenge New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) regulations that were promulgated so that bars could not serve drinks to known or suspected gay men or lesbians, since their presence was considered de facto disorderly. The SLA regulations were one of the primary governmental mechanisms of oppression against the gay community because they precluded the right to free assembly. This was particularly important because bars were one of the few places where gay people could meet each other. The Sip-In was part of a larger campaign by more radical members of the Mattachine Society to clarify laws and rules that inhibited the running of gay bars as legitimate, non-mob establishments and to stop the harassment of gay bar patrons.

Dick Leitsch, Craig Rodwell, and John Timmons, accompanied by several reporters, went to a number of bars, announced that they were "homosexuals," and asked to be served a drink. At their first stop, the Ukrainian-American Village Restaurant, the bar had closed, while at their next two attempts, at a Howard Johnson's and at the Hawaiian-themed Waikiki, they had been served. They then moved on to Julius' and were joined by Randy Wicker. However, at Julius', which had recently been raided, the bartender refused their request. This refusal received publicity in the New York Times and the Village Voice.

...when we walked in, the bartender put glasses in front of us, and we told him that we were gay and we intended to remain orderly, we just wanted service. And he said, hey, you're gay, I can't serve you, and he put his hands over the top of the glass, which made wonderful photographs.

Dick Leitsch, Sip-In organizer and participant

The reaction by the State Liquor Authority and the newly empowered New York City Commission on Human Rights resulted in a change in policy and the birth of a more open gay bar culture. Scholars of gay history consider the Sip-In at Julius' a key event leading to the growth of legitimate gay bars and the development of the bar as the central social space for urban gay men and lesbians.

Landmark Designations for LGBT Significance
In April 2016, through the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project's extensive research and writing, Julius' was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior, following the site's listing, in December 2015, on the New York State Register of Historic Places. In December 2022, based on recommendations by the Project, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated Julius' a New York City Landmark. The National Register report, LPC designation report, and Project testimony are available in the "Read More" section below.
Entry by Andrew S. Dolkart, project director (March 2017; last revised December 2022).
NOTE: Names above in bold indicate LGBT people.

Building Information

Architect or Builder: Unknown

Year Built: 1826

Sources

1. Beth Bryant, The Inside Guide to Greenwich Village, Winter-Spring 1964-1965 (New York: Oak Publications, 1964).

2. David Carter, Stonewall: The Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution (New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2004).

3. Jack Lait and Lee Mortimer, New York Confidential: The Lowdown on the Big Town (Chicago: Ziff-Davis Publishing Co., 1948).

4. John D'Emilio, Sexual Politics, Sexual Communities: The Making of a Homosexual Minority in the United States, 1940-1970 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1983; second edition, 1998).

5. Lucy Komisar, "Three Homosexuals in Search of a Drink," The Village Voice, May 3, 1966, 15.

6. Petronius (pseud.), New York Unexpurgated (New York: Matrix House, 1966).

7. Scott Simon, "Remembering a 1966 'Sip-In' for Gay Rights," NPR, June 28, 2008, n.pr/1kQ69t2. [source of pull quote]

8. Thomas Johnson, "3 Deviates Invite Exclusion by Bars," The New York Times, April 22, 1966, 43.

Do you have more information about this site?

This project is enriched by your participation! Do you have your own images of this site? Or a story to share? Would you like to suggest a different historic site?

Other Sites in the Neighborhood

149-155 Christopher Street

Village AIDS Memorial at St. Veronica's Roman Catholic Church

Félix González-Torres Residence & Studio

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also known at one point as Julius' Bar and Restaurant On April 21, 1966, a "Sip-In" was organized by members of the Mattachine Society, one of the country's earliest gay rights organizations, to challenge the State Liquor Authority's discriminatory policy of revoking the licenses of bars that served known or suspected gay men and lesbians.

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June is Pride Month, an annual celebration commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which took place in New York City and launched the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer rights movement in the United States. Pride Month is also a time to honor the many contributions of LGBTQ individuals. Explore the rich tradition of LGBTQ poets and poetry through a showcase of audio, video, poetry, and prose.

Poems of Queer Liberation

Featured Essays
browse more LGBTQ essays and texts.

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June is Pride Month, an annual celebration commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which took place in New York City and launched the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer rights movement in the United States. Pride Month is also a time to honor the many contributions of LGBTQ individuals.

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Why we need LGBTQ+ characters in children's books

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The Strangeworlds Travel Agency author LD Lapinski talks about the importance of LGBTQ+ children seeing themselves in books.

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Since 2017 we have proudly partnered with The Brooklyn Brewery to create The Stonewall Inn IPA, a spirited, session IPA brewed to benefitThe Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative

The Stonewall Inn IPA is a fearless IPA for all. With unabashed notes of citrus peel and grapefruit, this unapologetic and refreshing IPA reminds us of where we've been and celebrates where we're going. This is a beer for everyone, no exceptions. In 2021, our partnership will grow beyond the United States and we'll be pouring SWIIPA to support The Stonewall Inn Gives Back initiative and queer communities around the world.

In 2019 The Stonewall Inn celebrated the 50th anniversary of the historic Stonewall Uprising and welcomed World Pride to NYC. To commemorate this milestone in LGBTQ history we have partnered with Brooklyn Brewery to craft THE STONEWALL INN IPA. Brooklyn Brewery will be contributing a portion of the proceeds to the official charitable giving organization of the Stonewall Inn, The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI).

Please support SIGBI's mission to bring critically needed educational and financial assistance to grassroots organizations providing advocacy, guidance, and shelter to LGBTQ youth in mostly rural and underserved communities throughout the United States and abroad.

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Since 2017 we have proudly partnered with The Brooklyn Brewery to create The Stonewall Inn IPA, a spirited, session IPA brewed to benefitThe Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative The Stonewall Inn IPA is a fearless IPA for all. With unabashed notes of citrus peel and grapefruit, this unapologetic and refreshing IPA reminds us of where we've been and celebrates where we're going.

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Bringing our history to life through the voices of the people who lived it.

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With the call for diverse media representation growing louder than ever, movies that feature LGBTQ+ stories and characters are finally getting some time in the spotlight. We've put together the best LGBTQ+ movies that highlight a wide range of identities and experiences for families and teens craving better representation in their lives. These picks celebrate love, perseverance, and the real-life icons who have led the LGBTQ+ community to where it is today. For more stories with great representation, check out our lists of TV Shows with LGBTQ+ Characters and Books with LGBTQ+ Characters.

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With the call for diverse media representation growing louder than ever, movies that feature LGBTQ+ stories and characters are finally getting some time in the spotlight. We've put together the best LGBTQ+ movies that highlight a wide range of identities and experiences for families and teens craving better representation in their lives.

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Discover Additional Places with LGBTQ Heritage

The National Park Service cares for America's more than 400 national parks...and works in almost every one of her 3,141 counties. We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun. Find a few selected important places outside the parks here and explore the links for more. Then explore what you can do to share your own stories and the places that matter to you.

Many places have an LGBTQ history, but it is not mentioned in their interpretations. For those sites, visit the LGBTQ America HistoryPin project. Mapping these places helps to make this heritage more visible.

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LGBTQ Heritage Featured Places - Telling All Americans' Stories (U.S. National Park Service)

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The National Park Service cares for America's more than 400 national parks...and works in almost every one of her 3,141 counties. We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.

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GLAAD | GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance.

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GLAAD is a non-profit LGBTQ advocacy organization focused on cultural change to ensure fair, accurate, and inclusive representation to advance LGBTQ acceptance.

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Harvey Milk's radical vision of equality - Lillian Faderman

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Opponents Call It the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill. Here’s What It Says. (Published 2022)

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The Florida bill limits what educators can say about gender and sexuality, and could affect mental health services for all students.

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Before the 1960s, almost everything about living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) person was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for LGBTQ+ civil rights and provided momentum for a movement.

15-Part Video Series

To honor the 5th anniversary of the establishment of Stonewall NM watch this 15-part video series, new episode premiere on Fridays

Stonewall Forever

Stonewall Forever invites visitors to experience the living monument and Christopher Park from anywhere in the world.

Last updated: August 13, 2022

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Stonewall National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

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Before the 1960s, almost everything about living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) person was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for LGBTQ+ civil rights and provided momentum for a movement.

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Collections by Follett is a new, collaborative way for educators to collect and share resources from anywhere, at any time, and with anyone.

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Explore the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement in New York, including monuments, museums, memorials, bars and more.

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Tim Ramsey: Is my child too young to learn about being gay? | Tim Ramsey | TEDxOxford | TED Talk

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Can a child be too young to learn about being LGBT? The answer: no child is ever too young. In this humorous and moving talk, Tim Ramsey argues that only when every parent explores about LGBT identities with their child from birth will we address the well being crisis facing LGBT young people. Tim…

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List of gay, lesbian or bisexual people: L - Wikipedia

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The high prevalence of people from the West on this list may be due to societal attitudes towards homosexuality. The Pew Research Center's 2013 Global Attitudes Survey found that there is "greater acceptance in more secular and affluent countries," with "publics in 39 countries [having] broad acceptance of homosexuality in North America, the European Union, and much of Latin America, but equally widespread rejection in predominantly Muslim nations and in Africa, as well as in parts of Asia and in Russia.

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2018

Lesbian and Bisexual Health Fact Sheet removed from HHS website (2018, February) The resource was also removed from a list on the Office on Women's Health (OWH) fact sheets page. A pdf file with similar content is live as of June 2018 but is not linked from the OWH website, making it generally inaccessible.

2017

Removal of LGBT content from White House, Department of Labor, and State Department websites immediately after Donald Trump's inauguration (2017, January)

2016

National Park Guide - LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History (companion Pride Guide released June 2019)

Springate, Megan E. (Ed.). LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History. Washington, D.C.: National Park Foundation, 2016.

2016

Presidential Proclamation -- Establishment of the Stonewall National Monument. (2016, June 24).

2016

Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students. (2016, May 13).

2012
Tammy Baldwin First Openly Gay Senator Elected

2011
Department of Education Youth Summit

2009
Fact Sheet: Presidential Memorandum on Federal Benefits and Non-Discrimination

1996

Defense of Marriage Act

Public Law 104-199 [H.R. 3396], September 21, 1996
Defined marriage as between one woman/one man and allowed states to not recognize same-sex marriages from other states

1994

First use of "transgender" in Congressional Record (Jesse Helms, NEA funding)

Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 103 rd Congress, Second Session. Vol. 140 pt. 12. July 25, 1994, p. 17792.

1994

Sexual Orientation Discrimination in Employment: Legislation and Issues in the 103rd Congress (file courtesy of ProQuest)First of a series of CRS reports discussing the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

1990

Americans with Disabilities Act

101 P.L. 336; 104 Stat. 327; 1990 Enacted S. 933; 101 Enacted S. 933, July 26, 1990
Specified that the term "disabled" or "disability" shall not apply to transvestites.

1990

In the Matter of Representative Barney Frank

U.S. House. Committee on Standards of Conduct. In the Matter of Representative Barney Frank. H. rpt. 101-610. 101 st Congress, Second Session.
Frank was outed during investigation into affair with a male prostitute

1989

Rep. William Dannemeyer publishes anti-gay book, Shadow in the Land: Homosexuality in America, followed by a Congressional speech on sodomy in 1990

Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 101st Congress, Second Session. Extension of Remarks. March 1, 1990, p.E482.

1983

Rep. Gerry Studds becomes first openly gay member of Congress

U.S. House. Committee on Standards of Conduct. In the Matter of Representative Gerry E. Studds. H. rpt. 98-295. 98 th Congress, First Session.
Studds was outed during investigation into the Congressional page scandal

1974

Equality Act of 1974 (file courtesy of ProQuest)
U.S. House. H.R. 14752. 93rd Congress, Second Session. Introduced May 14, 1974. To prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, marital status, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes

1967

Loving v. Virginia, 388 U. S. 1 (1967)
Invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage

1958

One, Incorporated v. Olesen, 355 U. S. 371 (1958) (per curiam)First SCOTUS case dealing with homosexuality; held for right to free speech

1954

Investigation of Communist Activities in the State of California (part 6 not available)

U.S. House. Investigation of Communist Activities in the State of California. Part 6: Hearing Before the Committee on Un-American Activities. 83rd Congress, Second Session, April 20, 1954.

1950

Employment of Moral Perverts by Government Agencies (McClellan Report) (file courtesy of ProQuest)

U.S. Senate. Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments. S. rpt. 1746. 81st Congress, Second Session, 1950.

1950

Report of the Investigations of the Junior Senator of Nebraska on the Infiltration of Subversives and Moral Perverts into the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government (file courtesy of ProQuest)

U.S. Senate. Committee on Appropriations for the District of Columbia. S. print 4179. 81st Congress, Second Session, 1950.

1848

Report of the Secretary of the Navy, communicating copies of returns of punishments in the Navy, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate. Serial Set 510 (file courtesy of ProQuest)

S.exdoc.69. 30th Congress, first session
Sodomy conviction and punishment in the Navy

1843

Laws passed by the Legislature of Florida. Message from the President of the United States, transmitting laws passed by the Governor and Legislative Council of Florida

U.S. House of Representatives. Serial Set 420, Session 3, H.Doc. 72. 27th Congress, Third Session. January 19, 1843.
Sodomy and buggery laws

1830

Laws for the District of Columbia

U.S. House. Committee on the District of Columbia. Laws for the District of Columbia. Serial Set 200, H.rpt.269. 21st Congress, 1st session.
Sodomy and buggery laws

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LibGuides: Government Information: LGBTQ History in Government Documents

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2018 Lesbian and Bisexual Health Fact Sheet removed from HHS website (2018, February) The resource was also removed from a list on the Office on Women's Health (OWH) fact sheets page. A pdf file with similar content is live as of June 2018 but is not linked from the OWH website, making it generally inaccessible.

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June 28, 1969 marks the beginning of the Stonewall Uprising, a series of events between police and LGBTQ+ protesters which stretched over six days. It was not the first time police raided a gay bar, and it was not the first time LGBTQ+ people fought back, but the events that would unfold over the next six days would fundamentally change the discourse surrounding LGBTQ+ activism in the United States. While Stonewall became well known due to the media coverage and the subsequent annual Pride traditions, it was a culmination of years of LGBTQ+ activism. Historians have noted that the shift in activism, if Stonewall truly represented one at all, was a shift primarily for white cisgender people, as people of color and gender non-conforming people never truly had the benefit of concealing their marginalized identities.

While the events of Stonewall are often referred to as "riots," Stonewall veterans have explicitly stated that they prefer the term Stonewall uprising or rebellion. The reference to these events as riots was initially used by police to justify their use of force.

"The rebellion ( it was never a 'riot') lasted five inconsecutive nights ( they were not 'riots')..." -STONEWALL Veterans' Association

It is important to note that there were a number of uprisings against police & state brutality, harassment and entrapment of the LGBT+ communities in the U.S. in the years before Stonewall. These events and the people involved have not received as much historical attention as Stonewall, but are just as central to understandings of U.S. LGBTQIA+ histories. Some of the pre-Stonewall uprisings included:

Pepper Hill Club Raid, Baltimore, Maryland in 1955. Over 162 people arrested.

Hazel's (Hazel's Inn), Sharp Park, California February 1956

Coopers Do-Nut Raid, Los Angeles, California, 1959

Black Nite Brawl, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 5, 1961

Compton's Cafeteria Raid, San Francisco, California, 1966

Black Cat Raid, Los Angeles, California, 1967

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Research Guides: LGBTQIA+ Studies: A Resource Guide: 1969: The Stonewall Uprising

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The collections of the Library of Congress tell the rich and diverse story of LGBTQ+ life in America and around the world. This research guide serves as an introduction into the excellent collection of LGBTQ+ resources available at the Library of Congress

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There is no definitive answer to this question. Along with cis males and cis females are trans men and trans women, transgender, nonbinary, genderfluid, genderqueer, and agender individuals, among many other possible definitions. Facebook offers users dozens of potential gender identities to select for their profiles, while other experts suggest that there may be 100 genders or more and different cultures may use different identifications for one gender or another. The key, advocates suggest, is not pinning down a definitive list of gender possibilities but to be accepting of each individual's declared gender.

Many people are comfortable as masculine or feminine, also known as the gender binary. When people who do not identify as male or female follow "traditional" masculine or feminine behaviors and routines anyway, because of reluctance or fear of declaring their true gender identity, they could be said to be practicing gender conformity. Despite a generally greater openness to other genders today, the public world is still generally geared toward the gender binary. Ironically, though, many elements of what are now seen as distinctly male or female behaviors were once quite different. For example, not so long ago, men wore wigs and heels and favored the color pink, all now considered stereotypically feminine. Understanding how fluid our binary expectations have actually been over time could lead to greater acceptance of alternative gender roles today.

People can become aware of their gender identity at any time. Some become conscious of their identity in childhood, and may be aware from a young age of not conforming with the gender to which they were assigned at birth. This feeling of discomfort or distress while trying to live within the gender binary is often referred to as gender dysphoria. Such feelings of gender dissonance can develop into depression or even suicidal ideation until one can find gender resonance, often after encountering others with the same gender identity and with whom they can identify. But non-cisgender individuals may still struggle with their identities if their family, their peers, or their community is not supportive of identities along the gender spectrum.

A young person revealing to their parent or parents that they are nonbinary, transgender, or genderqueer may be experiencing significant anxiety, even if they believe their parents could be supportive. Parents who can remain calm during their discussions, focus on listening, trust their child's instincts, and remember that what's happening is more about their child's mental health than about their own can offer tremendous relief and support to their child. Afterward, parents can research gender differences on their own, find support, and stand up for their child in their extended family and, if necessary, their community.

People who identify as genderqueer may place themselves on the spectrum of gender identity between male and female. Neither transgender nor seeking to transition, they may see themselves as neutrally gendered, and adopting gender less pronouns like "they." While deeply uncomfortable being associated with a binary gender, they may experience gender fluidity, moving closer to male or female at different times. Other terms that genderqueer people may adopt include third-gender, demigender, bigender, neutrois, androgyne, or pangender. Some research suggests that more people who identify as genderqueer were born female.

They often do. According to the Mental State of the World report, transgender people report significantly lower mental well-being than cisgender males or females, and surveys by the Trevor Project suggest that nearly half of trans or nonbinary youth had experienced suicidal ideation in the previous year. Other research has found that while rates of depression are higher in nonbinary communities, the risk is mitigated by family support (but surprisingly, less so by identification with an active trans community), and, for those who are transitioning, by starting, completing, and living longer with the results of interventions that lead to higher body satisfaction.

Yes, according to research, and it may be even more deeply held than many people imagine. A computer-based study of people's attitudes toward humanity in general found that most people associated human concepts, such as the term "person" with men more than with women, reflecting what researchers called an "androcentric" bias with ramifications for bias in the economy, medical care, and even safety: Until recently, more car safety features were tested on dummies representing the size of males, for example. This bias is much more pronounced in men than women, the research found, but exists across society.

It may be, although the idea has generated a great deal of controversy. In 2019, the American Psychological Association issues guidelines for psychologists working with men and boys stating that "traditional masculinity-marked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance, and aggression-is, on the whole, harmful. Men socialized in this way are less likely to engage in healthy behaviors." While it has been shown that a "macho" orientation can lead to less flexibility and poorer relationships, among other concerns, it does not always serve men poorly. The feeling that one must strive to meet that ideal, however, or "masculinity-contingent self-worth" can lead not only to personal struggles to embrace one's true self but also to a higher tendency to discriminate against those perceived to violate gender norms.

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All humans are born with biological characteristics of sex, either male, female, or intersex. Gender, however, is a social construct and generally based on the norms, behaviors, and societal roles expected of individuals based primarily on their sex. Gender identity describes a person's self-perceived gender, which could be male, female, or otherwise.

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Open a world of reading. Try Sora, the new reading app for students, by OverDrive.

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The Landmark Society believes that this groundbreaking new initiative will offer a unique opportunity to educate the Rochester community about the history of the local LGBTQ movement and add to the sense of pride about the place that our city occupies in the fight for civil rights & human dignity throughout our nation's history .

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Nicole Maines: The trans story includes you

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As actress Nicole Maines points out, we all unwittingly play supporting roles in each others' life stories -- for better or worse. With charm and aplomb, she shares her experience growing up as a trans youth, emphasizing the big and small ways community acceptance can affect the course of a deeply personal journey.

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HOMOSEXUAL RIGHTS BILL IS PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL IN 21-TO-14 VOTE

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The New York City Council ended an often intense and emotional 15-year battle last night and approved a homosexual rights bill by an unexpectedly wide margin of 21 to 14. The Council vote, which came after a long and dramatic but unusually decorous Council hearing, was greeted by cheers and tears…

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gender identity, an individual's self-conception as a man or woman or as a boy or girl or as some combination of man/boy and woman/girl or as someone fluctuating between man/boy and woman/girl or as someone outside those categories altogether. It is distinguished from actual biological sex-i.e., male or female. For most persons, gender identity and biological sex correspond in the conventional way. Some individuals, however, experience little or no connection between sex and gender; among transgender persons, for example, biological sexual characteristics are distinct and unambiguous, but the affected person identifies with the gender conventionally associated with the opposite sex.

The nature and development of gender identity have been studied and disputed by psychologists, philosophers, and social activists since the late 20th century. So-called essentialists hold that gender identity is fixed at birth by genetic or other biological factors. Social constructivists argue that gender identity, or the manner in which gender identity is expressed, is "socially constructed"-i.e., determined by social and cultural influences. Social constructivism of the latter type is not necessarily incompatible with essentialism, because it is possible for a supposedly innate gender identity to be expressed in different ways in different cultures. Finally, a variation of social constructivism known as performatism holds that gender identity is constituted, rather than expressed, by the continuous "performance" of gendered behaviour (actions and speech). According to the originator of this view, the American philosopher Judith Butler, gender "is performatively constituted by the very 'expressions' that are said to be its results."

Basic gender identity (whether innate or constructed) is generally established in children by the age of three and is extremely difficult to modify thereafter. In cases where biological sex was ambiguous at birth and errors in sexing were made, it has been almost impossible to reestablish a conventional gender identity later in childhood or adolescence. Furthermore, a secondary gender identity can be developed over the core identity, as sex-associated behaviours may be adopted later in life; heterosexual or homosexual orientations also develop later.

Aspects of gender identity develop by means of parental example, social reinforcement, and language. Parents teach what they perceive as sex-appropriate behaviour to their children from an early age, and this behaviour is reinforced as the children grow older and enter a wider social world. As children acquire language, they also learn very early the distinction between "he" and "she" and understand which pertain to themselves.

Since the late 20th century the recognition that many people have gender identities that are not conventionally associated with their biological sex and that some people have nonbinary gender identities (i.e., neither or both man/boy and woman/girl) have spurred discussions of a " gender continuum" and broadened support for the general use in English and other languages of gender-neutral pronouns ( they, them, and their) in place of masculine or feminine pronouns ( he, she, him, her, his, hers). Such usage, it is argued, enables speakers and writers to avoid attributing a false gender identity to a person based on perceived biological sex. The adoption of gender-neutral pronouns also has been advocated by those who object to the use of generic masculine pronouns and other masculine-gendered words to refer to people in general, as in "No one in his right mind would believe that" and "Man is a political animal."

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Gender identity | Definition, Theories, & Facts

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Gender identity, an individual's self-conception as a man or woman or as a boy or girl or as some combination of man/boy and woman/girl or as someone fluctuating between man/boy and woman/girl or as someone outside those categories altogether. Gender identity is distinct from biological sex.

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20 Amazing Shows With LGBTQ+ Characters To Watch With Your Kids

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Representation matters, and these family-friendly LGBTQ+ shows for kids are a great way to celebrate Pride Month.

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Proud to call you my transgender son | Skip Pardee | TEDxReno

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The legal landscape for LGBTQ people is constantly evolving. If you think you have been discriminated against and would like our assistance, please visit our Report LGBTQ and HIV Discrimination Page and we can help you figure out whether you are protected under federal or state laws.

Can an employer discriminate against me because of my sexual orientation or gender identity?

Your rights

Employers with 15 or more employees are prohibited by Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act from discriminating on the basis of sex. Some courts have ruled that Title VII also bans discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Supreme Court recently announced it will take up this question in three cases. In addition, many states and cities have laws that ban this kind of discrimination.

If you believe that your rights have been violated

If you think that you have experienced discrimination at work, you can file a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which has taken the position that LGBTQ people are protected under Title VII. Try to document everything like emails or HR papers that might be relevant.

We encourage you to contact your local ACLU affiliate or the national ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Project for help weighing your options.

Additional resources

If you've been discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the ACLU may be able to help. Contact us by filling out an intake form.

Can a landlord refuse to rent to me?

Your rights

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits sex discrimination by most landlords and, as the Supreme Court held in 2020 ( Bostock v. Clayton County) , discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is sex discrimination. Thus, The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. State and local laws where you live may also bar this discrimination. Housing discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS, or people perceived to have HIV/AIDS, is also illegal under the Fair Housing Act's protections against disability discrimination. Housing providers that receive funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or have loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), as well as lenders insured by FHA, are subject to HUD's Equal Access Rule, which bans discrimination in HUD programs on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

If you believe your rights have been violated

What you can do depends largely on where the discrimination took place, whether any state or local laws there might apply to your situation, and where things stand under the current administration. It helps immensely if you document every interaction and exchange that could show what happened. We encourage you to contact your local ACLU affiliate or the national ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Project for help weighing your options.

Additional resources

If you've been treated unfairly in housing based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the ACLU may be able to help. Contact us by filling out an intake form.

Am I protected from discrimination in public accommodations, like shops and restaurants?

Your rights

There is no federal law that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in public accommodations, like restaurants, theaters and other businesses. However, state and local laws where you live may ban this kind of discrimination.

Additional resources

If you've been discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the ACLU may be able to help. Contact us by filling out an intake form.

Are LGBTQ students protected from discrimination in schools?

Your rights

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 bans discrimination on the basis of sex by public schools, and the Supreme Court held in 2020 ( Bostock v. Clayton County) that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is sex discrimination. Thus, Title IX prohibits students from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Federal courts have held that Title IX requires public schools to respond to harassment based on appearance or behavior that doesn't conform to gender stereotypes: boys who wear makeup, girls who wear pants, or students who are transgender or non-binary. The First Amendment right to free expression can also apply to school dress codes, especially when there are different rules for boys than there are for girls. Your constitutional right to privacy makes it illegal for your school to "out" you to anyone without your permission, even if you're out to other people at school. The First Amendment protects your right to express yourself in public schools. That includes bringing a same-sex date to prom or any school event and talking about LGBTQ topics. Your right to be yourself in school includes the right to be transgender or non-binary, and to transition at school. While the law in this area is evolving, a growing number of courts have found that Title IX and the Constitution protect transgender students' right to access sex-separated programs and facilities consistent with their gender identity. Some state and local laws also explicitly protect transgender students from discrimination in schools.

If your rights are violated

Document everything. Take notes and keep copies of any emails with school administrators, relevant school forms, etc.

If anyone at school is harassing or threatening you, it's crucial that you report every incident to a principal or counselor. Usually schools must be put on notice before they can be held legally responsible for protecting you.

If you have reported harassment or any other kind of discrimination to your school officials and they have done little or nothing to stop it, we encourage you to contact your local ACLU affiliate or the national ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Project for help weighing your options.

Additional resources

If you've been discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the ACLU may be able to help. Contact us at our national office here , or you can find your local ACLU office here .

Here are open letters on a variety of LGBTQ issues that you can use when advocating for your rights with school administrators.

Does the law protect my right to use the restroom consistent with my gender identity?

Your rights

State and local laws that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression should protect transgender people's right to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity. We believe that laws that ban sex discrimination should also be interpreted by the courts to protect transgender people. While federal law in this area is uncertain, most courts to address this question have found in favor of transgender people being able to access facilities most consistent with their gender identity.

In some places, state and local nondiscrimination laws are much clearer about transgender people's right to use gender identity-appropriate public restrooms. Many businesses, universities, and other public places are converting their restrooms to all-gender spaces.

How the law varies in different states and cities

Some places - for example, states like Colorado, Iowa, Oregon, and Washington, and cities like San Francisco and New York City - specifically grant transgender people the right to use gender identity-appropriate restrooms in public spaces.

Other places, like Chicago, continue to allow businesses to decide whether transgender patron may access men's or women's restrooms based on the gender on their ID, which may or may not reflect accurately the person's gender identity.
Some cities - like Austin, Texas, New York City, Philadelphia, and West Hollywood - require that single-stall public restrooms be labeled as all-gender.

If you believe your rights are violated

What you can do depends largely on where the discrimination took place, whether any state or local laws there might apply to your situation, and where things are with federal lawsuits currently in play. We encourage you to contact your local ACLU affiliate or the national ACLU LGBT & HIV Project for help weighing your options.

Additional resources

If you've been discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the ACLU may be able to help. Contact us by filling out an intake form.

What if I have different gender markers on different IDs or records?

Your rights

There is no legal obligation to have consistent gender markers on various documents, and you should obtain the gender marker on each document that is most comfortable for you.

Different gender markers on documents may cause administrative confusion if you show them at the same time, or if there is a discrepancy between the gender marker on your ID and the marker in your record. The confusion may be uncomfortable when interacting with an agent, but can usually be cleared up with a conversation.

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The legal landscape for LGBTQ people is constantly evolving. If you think you have been discriminated against and would like our assistance, please visit our Report LGBTQ and HIV Discrimination Page and we can help you figure out whether you are protected under federal or state laws.

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Why I chose my LGBTQ daughter over the Evangelical Church | Susan Cottrell | TEDxMileHigh

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You don't have to be out to be protected under the Constitution from anti-LGBTQ discrimination. You don't even have to be LGBTQ. Discrimination based on perceived sexual orientation or gender identity violates your constitutional rights, as may discrimination based on your friendship, family relationship or other association with LGBTQ people.

Title IX
A federal law called Title IX, which bans discrimination based on sex, protects students at schools that receive federal funds. Courts have agreed that the sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX not only includes discrimination for being a girl or boy, but also includes sexual harassment and discrimination for failing to conform to gender stereotypes. LGBTQ targets of sex discrimination and harassment have successfully relied on Title IX's protections in several court cases involving schools.

State Antidiscrimination Laws and Antibullying Laws
A growing number of states are taking additional steps to protect LGBTQ youth by explicitly including sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in laws that protect against discrimination and harassment in schools. States can vary widely in how they structure, apply and enforce these laws, and you should consult Lambda Legal ( www.lambdalegal.org/help) or a local attorney if you are facing discrimination and need more specific information about laws in your area.

Detailed safeguards exist in California, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and a growing number of other states. Laws in all of these states require local school boards to enact antiharassment policies that specifically include sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. The policies must allow for complaints and investigations, impose consequences for violations and protect students who report harassment from retaliation. Schools must also make sure students learn about these policies.

While laws in other states may not take the same form or go into the same detail, they may still protect against abuse and discrimination at school. For example, in addition to the states listed above, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington State have laws barring discrimination against students based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

A growing number of courts are interpreting laws addressing sex discrimination to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity/expression.

Many other states have enacted antibullying laws without specifically mentioning sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. But this doesn't mean that schools can ignore anti-LGBTQ bullying. Remember, Title IX covers all schools that receive federal funds (nearly all schools in the country). The federal Constitution requires states to apply antibullying protections equally to all public school students.

Local Laws and School District Policies
Even if your state legislature hasn't specifically banned anti-LGBTQ discrimination and harassment in school, city ordinances and local school districts within your state may have done so. More and more communities-from small rural towns to large urban areas like Dallas, Miami-Dade, Nashville and Philadelphia - have enacted rules protecting students from discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Consult with a friendly school official, a local attorney or Lambda Legal ( www.lambdalegal.org/help) to learn more.

Student Expression
In addition, LGBTQ students have the right:

to voice your support for LGBTQ equality at school

to wear T-shirts or distribute leaflets expressing LGBTQ-positive statements without censorship based on your opinion or viewpoint

to hang posters, make announcements and hold meetings for LGBTQ-related groups on the same terms as other student organizations

to write a column or article in a personal or student-led publication addressing LGBTQ issues without discrimination based on your LGBTQ-supportive ideas

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You don't have to be out to be protected under the Constitution from anti-LGBTQ discrimination. You don't even have to be LGBTQ. Discrimination based on perceived sexual orientation or gender identity violates your constitutional rights, as may discrimination based on your friendship, family relationship or other association with LGBTQ people.

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Housing nondiscrimination laws protect LGBTQ people from being unfairly evicted, denied housing, or refused the ability to rent or buy housing on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This map shows state housing nondiscrimination laws that explicitly enumerate sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected classes, as well as states that explicitly interpret existing sex protections to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Additionally, in states without state protections, municipalities may provide local-level nondiscrimination protections. See our maps tracking local-level nondiscrimination ordinances . Other rights may exist or be recognized where you live; this map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights. If you have experienced discrimination, contact
Lambda Legal's Help Desk or otherwise seek legal advice.

*NOTE: In green stripe states, the state's nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation or gender identity, but the state's civil/human rights commission has explicitly stated it interprets the state's existing protections against sex discrimination to include protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity. See the "Citations & More Information" button beneath the map legend for more detail for every state. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

currently interprets the Fair Housing Act's ban on sex-based discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ people who believe they have experienced housing discrimination may be able to pursue claims through this avenue. However, local ordinances, state laws, federal court rulings, and more create a patchwork of nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people across the country. Given this patchwork, individuals who have experienced discrimination should contact Lambda Legal's Help Desk or otherwise seek legal advice. This map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights. https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/non_discrimination_laws/housing

Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Housing Nondiscrimination Laws."

Percent of Adult LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ adult population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBTQ adult population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here.

53 % of LGBTQ population lives in states prohibiting housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

17 % of LGBTQ population lives in states explicitly interpreting existing prohibition on sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity

2 % of LGBTQ population lives in states prohibiting housing discrimination based on sexual orientation only

29 % of LGBTQ population lives in states that do not prohibit housing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity (including 2% of LGBTQ population living in states that preempt local nondiscrimination laws)

Public accommodation nondiscrimination laws protect LGBTQ people from being unfairly refused service, denied entry to, or otherwise discriminated against in public places based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Public accommodation laws generally cover anywhere someone is when they are not at home, work, or school, including retail stores, restaurants, parks, hotels, doctors' offices, and banks. This map shows state public accommodation nondiscrimination laws that explicitly enumerate sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected classes, as well as states that explicitly interpret existing sex protections to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Additionally, in states without state protections, municipalities may provide local-level nondiscrimination protections. See our map tracking local-level nondiscrimination ordinances . Other rights may exist or be recognized where you live (see below); this map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights. If you have experienced discrimination, contact
Lambda Legal's Help Desk or otherwise seek legal advice.

NOTE: In green stripe states, the state's nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation or gender identity, but the state's civil/human rights commission has explicitly stated it interprets the state's existing protections against sex discrimination to include protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity. See the "Citations & More Information" button beneath the map legend for more detail for every state. Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Public Accommodations Nondiscrimination Laws."
https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/non_discrimination_laws/public-accommodations. Accessed 11/28/2022.

Percent of Adult LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ adult population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBTQ adult population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here.

52 % of LGBTQ population lives in states prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity

15 % of LGBTQ population lives in states explicitly interpreting existing prohibition on sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity

2 % of LGBTQ population lives in states prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations based on sexual orientation only

31 % of LGBTQ population lives in states that do not prohibit discrimination in public accommodations based on sexual orientation or gender identity (including 2% of LGBTQ population living in states that preempt local nondiscrimination laws)

Credit and lending nondiscrimination laws protect people from being unfairly denied credit and lending services, such as opening a bank account, taking out a loan, and more. This map shows state credit and lending nondiscrimination laws that explicitly enumerate sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected classes, as well as states that explicitly interpret existing sex protections in credit law to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Other rights may exist or be applicable where you live, including through broadly-defined public accommodations laws (see the State-by-State Statutes for additional information).

This map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights. If you have experienced discrimination, contact or otherwise seek legal advice.

NOTE: In green stripe states, the state's nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation or gender identity, but the state's civil/human rights commission has explicitly stated it interprets the state's existing protections against sex discrimination to include protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity. See the "Citations & More Information" button beneath the map legend for more detail for every state.

Individuals who have experienced discrimination should contact Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Credit Nondiscrimination Laws." Lambda Legal's Help Desk or otherwise seek legal advice. This map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights. https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/non_discrimination_laws/credit. Accessed 11/28/2022.

Percent of Adult LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ adult population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBTQ adult population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here.

42 % of LGBTQ population lives in states prohibiting credit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

4 % of the LGBTQ population lives in states that explicitly interpret existing prohibition on sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity

0 % of LGBTQ population lives in states prohibiting credit discrimination based on sexual orientation only

54 % of LGBTQ population lives in states that do not prohibit credit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity

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Housing nondiscrimination laws protect LGBTQ people from being unfairly evicted, denied housing, or refused the ability to rent or buy housing on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This map shows state housing nondiscrimination laws that explicitly enumerate sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected classes, as well as states that explicitly interpret existing sex protections to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

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This timeline is organized in units that are typically taught in middle school and high school U.S. History classrooms and is consistent with the people and events listed in the new California History-Social Science Framework (2016). Our Family Coalition will be updating the timeline over time.
It is important to note that there existed lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, communities, and relationships long before these terms became commonplace. Gay and lesbian relationships existed in ancient Rome and Greece communities and are shown in a variety of art from that time. The years when common terms began to be used are listed first followed by important LGBTQ history events:

Lesbian - 1732 - the term lesbian first used by William King in his book, The Toast, published in England which meant women who loved women.

Homosexual - 1869 - Hungarian journalist Karl-Maria Kertheny first used the term homosexual.

Bisexual - 1894/1967. 1872 - the pamphlet, "Psychopathia Sexualis" was translated from German and one of the first times the term bisexual is used. 1967: Sexual Freedom League formed in San Francisco in support of bisexual people.

Gay - 1955 - the term gay was used throughout Europe earlier, but this is the year most agree that gay came to mean same-sex relationships between men.

Transgender - 1965 - John Oliven, in his book, Sexual Hygiene and Pathology, used the term transgender to mean a person who identifies with a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth.

Colonial Life and Founding of the Nation (1607-1770)

1607 - Founding of Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in America.

1619 - Approximately 20 Africans sold into slavery in Jamestown, Virginia.

1624 - Richard Cornish of the Virginia Colony is tried and hanged for sodomy.

1630 - Massachusetts Bay Colony was established believing they had made a "covenant with God to build an ideal Christian community."

1631 - Massachusetts Bay General Court, in accordance with Puritan religious and moral beliefs, declared that the following were considered sex crimes and were punishable by whipping, banishment or execution: fornication, adultery, rape, and sodomy.

1637, 1638 - Trials of Anne Hutchinson in the Massachusetts colony for holding religious meetings in her home since she was not allowed to hold these types of meetings in the male-dominated churches. She was banned from the community.

1687 - New England Primer published and used in colonial schools (90 pages). Some consider this as the first school-based textbook. Content included letters and words, as well as religious-based prayers and instruction such as, "God created man, male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures."

1714 - Sodomy laws in place in the early colonies and in the colonial militia. These laws remained in place until challenged in 1925.

American Revolution, Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution (1770-1787)

1776 - Declaration of Independence.

1778 - Lieutenant Gotthold Frederick Enslin of the Continental Army becomes the first documented service member to be dismissed from the U.S. military for homosexuality. Read more at U.S. History Naval Institute Blog / Timeline of Military Gay History.

1779 - Thomas Jefferson proposes Virginia law to make sodomy punishable by mutilation rather than death. It was rejected by the Virginia legislature

The New Republic / Divergent Paths of the American People (1787-1850)

1788 - U.S. Constitution adopted. Includes a three-fifths clause that counted each slave as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of congressional representation and tax apportionment.

1839 - Margaret Fuller begins hosting conversations about the "great questions" regarding their role and gender around Boston.

1848 - Seneca Falls Convention held in Seneca, NY. First women's rights convention of 300 men and women. Many signed the "Declaration of Sentiments" which listed the variety of ways women had been disenfranchised from American society.

1848 - The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed between the U.S. and Mexico that ended the Mexican-American War and added land which is today California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado.

1848 - Gold discovered in California, which begins the gold rush. The non-native population in California grew from 1000 to 100,000 by 1849 and was mostly men. The population of San Francisco grew from 850 in 1848 to 25,000 in 1850.

1849 - Lifelong partners Jason Chamberlain and John Chaffee sail from Boston to California to seek their fortunes in the California gold rush. They lived together in Groveland, Ca until Chamberlain died in 1903.

1850 - California becomes a state.

Civil War and Civil Rights (1850-1870)

1861 - 1865 - Civil War. Read more at U.S. History Naval Institute Blog / Timeline of Military Gay History

1868 - Fourteenth Amendment Ratified. This is the most cited amendment in Supreme Court civil rights cases and has been the basis for landmark civil rights cases such as Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade and Obergefell v. Hodges. Gay rights advocates cite this amendment in support of equality for future court cases.

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law, which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

1868 - Two-Spirit, We'wha, a Zuni Native American, meets with President Grover Cleveland.

Industrialization, Westward Expansion, Immigration and Religion (1870-1890)

1870 - Nearly 500,000 Americans had crossed the continental U.S. to the western territories since 1840. Just 10% of these travelers were women.

1879 - Death of Charley Parkhurst, well-known stagecoach driver in Central California who was born a woman, but lived as a man. Buried in Watsonville, Ca.

1889 - Jane Addams, along with other women, open Hull House in Chicago that provided daycare, libraries, classes and an employment bureau for women.

1890 - The term, Lesbian, first used in a medical dictionary.

1890 - Hull House, founded by Jane Addams and other women opens in Chicago, IL with funding from her partner, Mary Rozet Smith.

1890 - Birth of Alan Hart who pioneered the use of the X-Ray for tuberculosis diagnosis and one of the first transgender men in history.

U.S. Rise as a World Power, World War 1, Harlem Renaissance and the Great Depression (1890 - 1939)

1892 - The pamphlet, "Psychopathia Sexualis" is translated from German and one of the first times the term bisexual is used. Written by Richard van Kraft-Ebbing. Translated by Charles Gilbert Chaddock.

1895 - Trial of Oscar Wilde (writer and novelist) in London, England and convicted for gross indecency (relationships with other men) and served two years in jail.

1896 - Magnus Hirschfeld, a Jewish German physician and sexologist issued a pamphlet, Sappho and Socrates, on homosexual love (under the pseudonym Th. Ramien).

1907 - Hirschfeld, a Jewish German physician and sexologist, testified at a trial in Germany about a gay relationship and stated, "homosexuality was part of the plan of nature and creation just like normal love."

1914 - 1918 - World War I

Read more at U.S. History Naval Institute Blog / Timeline of Military Gay History

1917-1935 - The Harlem Renaissance. Historians have stated that the renaissance was "as gay as it was black." Some of the lesbian, gay or bisexual people of this movement included writers and poets such as Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and Zora Neale Hurston; Professor Alain Locke; music critic and photographer Carl Van Vechten, and entertainers Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters and Gladys Bentley.

1924 - The Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization, was founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago who had emigrated from Germany. The organization ceased to exist after most of its members were arrested.

World War II (1930-1945)

1944-1945 - As the war came to an end, U.S., British and Soviet forces liberated people held in Nazi concentration camps in Germany.

1945 - German Homosexual men, designated by a pink triangle on their clothing, were the last group to be released from the Nazi concentration camps after liberation by the Allied forces because Paragraph 175 of the German Criminal Code stated that homosexual relations between males to be illegal.

Social Transformation and Foreign Policy Post WW2 / Lavender Scare (1945-1960)

1948 - Alfred Kinsey, an American biologist and sexologist at Indiana University issues the first report, Sexual Behavior of the Human Male, was published and discussed male homosexuality (Also known as the Kinsey report).

1950 - U.S. Congress issues the report entitled " Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts in Government " is distributed to members of Congress after the federal government had covertly investigated employees' sexual orientation. The report states that since homosexuality is a mental illness, homosexuals "constitute security risks" to the nation.

1950 - The Mattachine Society formed in Los Angeles, California by activist Harry Hay and is one of the first sustained gay rights groups in the United States. The Society focused on social acceptance and other support for homosexuals. Various branches formed in other cities. The organization continues today with different objectives.

1952 - Christine Jorgensen became one of the most famous transgender people when she underwent a sex change operation and went on to a successful career in show business.

1952 - The American Psychiatric Association' s diagnostic manual lists homosexuality as a sociopathic personality disturbance that could be treated.

1952 - U.S. Congress passed and President Harry S. Truman signed into law the Immigration Act that barred "aliens afflicted with a psychopathic personality, epilepsy or mental defect." Congress made clear that this was meant to exclude "homosexuals and sex perverts."

1953 - Kinsey Report, Sexual Behavior in the Human Female, was published and discussed female homosexuality.

1953 (April 27) - Executive Order 10450 issued by President Dwight D. Eisenhower banning homosexuals from working for the federal government stating they are a security risk. This order stays in place until 1993 when President Bill Clinton and the U.S. Congress enact the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.

Read more at U.S. History Naval Institute Blog / Timeline of Military Gay History

1955 - Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian rights organization is founded in San Francisco, California by Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin. They hosted private social functions, fearing police raids, threats of violence and discrimination in bars and clubs. The organization lasted until 1969.

1957 - Frank Kameny, an astronomer for the U.S. Army Map Service, was released from government service because of his homosexuality, an outgrowth of Executive Order 10450. He had earned his doctorate in astronomy from Harvard University and was a professor of astronomy at Georgetown University before taking a government position. Kameny appealed the decision to the Supreme Court but was rejected.

Civil Rights, Space Race, Vietnam and Protests (1960-1975)

1962 - Illinois becomes the first state to decriminalize homosexual acts between two consenting adults in private.

1963 - Bayard Rustin, an associate of Martin Luther King, and a gay African American man helped organize the March on Washington that culminated with King's 'I Have a Dream' speech.

1967 - The Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop opened in New York City by Craig Rodwell. The bookshop was the first of its kind in the U.S. that was devoted to gay history and gay rights.

1969 - Gay Liberation Front organization formed in New York following the Stonewall Riots to advocate for sexual liberation for all people.

1969 - The Gay Activist Alliance formed in New York by a group who were not satisfied with the direction of the Gay Liberation Front. Their purpose was more political and they wanted to "secure basic human rights, dignity and freedom for all gay people."

1970 - The first gay pride marches were held in multiple cities across the United States on the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, including San Francisco and Los Angeles / West Hollywood.

1971 - The "Body Politic" Magazine began publishing in Toronto, Canada. Became one of the most widely read publication regarding LGBT rights.

1972 - The National Bisexual Liberation Group formed in New York.

1972 - The play, "Coming Out!" written by Jonathan Ned Katz, is performed for the first time in New York and provides a historical perspective of gay life from the colonial period to the present.

1973 - The American Psychiatric Association, after considerable advocacy by Frank Kameny and members of the Mattachine Society, changed the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder. It was not until 1987 that homosexuality was completely removed from the APA list of mental disorders. The APA found that "the latest and best scientific evidence shows that sexual orientation and expressions of gender identity occur naturally...and that in short, there is no scientific evidence that sexual orientation, be it heterosexual, homosexual or otherwise, is a freewill choice."

1974 - Elaine Noble becomes the first openly gay person to be elected as a state legislator; she served in the Massachusetts State House of Representatives for two terms.

The Conservative Resurgence (1975-2000)

1977 - Anita Bryant, former American singer and Miss America Pageant winner formed a group called "Save Our Children" to protest against a Dade County, Florida ordinance preventing discrimination against homosexuals. Her campaign was successful and the law was repealed. Gay and lesbian activists and organizations, including Harvey Milk, condemned the action and in response, boycotted Florida Citrus Commission products, for which Bryant was a spokesperson. In 1980, Bryant was fired as the spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Commission and in 1998, a new gay and lesbian rights ordinance was passed. This was one of the first times the LGBT community realized the political power they possessed.

1978 - The Briggs Initiative, a statewide proposition in California, was defeated by 58% of the voters. The initiative would have banned gays and lesbians from working in California's public schools.

1976 - The book, Gay American History: Lesbians and Gay Men in the U.S.A., is written by Jonathan Ned Katz based on his play of 1972. This was the first book that documented gay history in the U.S.

1978 (June 25) - In San Francisco, the Rainbow Flag is first flown during the Gay Freedom Parade; the flag becomes a symbol of gay and lesbian pride.

1978 (Nov. 27) - San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk is assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone. Supervisor Dan White is convicted of voluntary manslaughter and is sentenced to seven years in prison.

1979 - National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Over 100,000 people gathered in support of gay and lesbian rights.

1979 - Chapters of the national organization of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) are founded across the United States.

1981 (June 5) - AIDS Epidemic begins. The U.S. Center for Disease Control reported the first cases of a rare lung disease, which would be named AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) the following year. There were a total of 583, 298 U.S. men women and children who would die from AIDS through 2007.

1983 - San Francisco AIDS Foundation co-founded by Cleve Jones, Marcus Conant, Frank Jacobson and Richard Keller.

1983 - Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Watkins v. United States Army. The New York Times published an article in 1991 detailing Perry Watkins' settlement with the U.S. Army following his win in the courts.

1985 - Rock Hudson dies. He was a leading actor in many movies in the 1950s and 1960s. He died of complications related to AIDS. After his death, it was revealed that he was gay and had several male relationships.

1985 - The AIDS Quilt concept was conceived and implemented by Cleve Jones, an LGBT activist in San Francisco.

1987 - The organization, ACT UP formed in New York. The purpose of ACT UP was to impact the lives of people living with AIDS, to advocate for legislation, medical research and treatment, and to bring an end to the disease. The organization is still active today.

1988 (Dec. 1) - The World Health Organization (WHO) declared December 1 as the first World AIDS Day.

1993 - The U.S. Congress passed and President Bill Clinton signed "Don't Ask Don't Tell" that allowed gay and lesbian people to serve in the military. They would not be asked their sexual orientation during enlistment screening.

1994 - Greg Louganis, four-time Olympic gold medalist and considered one of the greatest divers in history, publicly came out as gay as part of the Gay Games in New York City. He subsequently wrote a book entitled Breaking the Surface that was published in 1996. In it he revealed his Olympic experiences, coming out journey, and that he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988.

1997 - Ellen DeGeneres, a comedian, TV actor and television host was one of the first popular entertainers who publicly came out as a lesbian during an interview on the Oprah Winfrey show and then became the first openly gay character on the TV show, "Ellen." She was then highlighted on the cover of Time Magazine and other news organizations.

1998 - Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming, was brutally attacked and tied to a fence in a field outside of Laramie, Wyo. and left to die because he was gay. He died from his wounds several days later. This was one of the most notorious anti-gay hate crimes in America and resulted in a federal law passed 10 years later in 2009 called the "Hate Crimes Prevention Act", a federal law against bias crimes directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people.

The 21st Century Transformation (2000-Present)

2008 (November) - Proposition 8 passes with a 52% yes vote in California declaring that marriage is between a man and a woman.

2010 - The U.S. Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" so that gay and lesbian people could serve openly in the military. One person present at the signing ceremony in the White House was Frank Kameny who had been released from military service in 1958 because of discriminatory policies against gay and lesbian people.

Read more at U.S. History Naval Institute Blog / Timeline of Military Gay History

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LGBTQ Rights Timeline in American History " Teaching LGBTQ History

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LGBTQ Rights Timeline in American History This timeline is organized in units that are typically taught in middle school and high school U.S. History classrooms and is consistent with the people and events listed in the new California History-Social Science Framework (2016). Our Family Coalition will be updating the timeline over time.

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When children ask questions about LGBTQ+ words, it is often best to offer simple and direct answers. You might choose to answer a student's question with another question to figure out what they are really asking -- is it about name-calling, a classmate's two dads or something they saw on the internet. Listening first helps you respond.

Here are a few items to keep in mind when defining terms for children:

Use examples to help children understand definitions.

Questions about LGBTQ+ words can provide teachable moments on topics like understanding difference and treating people with respect.

If a student uses an LGBTQ+ term in a derogatory way, ask them if they know what it means. If they don't, give a short definition and explain how using an identity as a slur is mean and emphasize that the word is not a bad word.

The following list can serve as a starting place for educators to respond to questions about LGBTQ+ words. These suggested definitions can help to ensure that you feel confident in your own knowledge and ability to communicate these ideas to students. Use your own expertise to modify definitions based upon the age of your students.

Gender

Cisgender: When your gender identity (how you feel) is the same as what doctors/midwives assigned to you when you were born (girl/boy or sex assigned at birth).

Gender Binary: A way of seeing gender as two distinct and opposite groups-girl and boy. This idea doesn't include all the ways we can have a gender identity and express our gender.

Gender Expansive: Some people feel that the traditional ways of being a "boy" or "girl" do not fit for them. They live their lives showing that there are many ways to be a girl, boy, both or neither.

Gender Expression: People express themselves in many ways, such as through clothes or hairstyles. Sometimes people think that these things go with certain genders, but really you cannot guess someone's gender or pronouns from how they look. In our school we respect that every person is unique and different, and we don't tease or bully anyone about their personal expression.

Gender Identity: How you feel. Girl, boy, both or neither. Everyone has a gender identity.

Intersex: An umbrella term that refers to people who are born with bodies that are naturally different from what is traditionally considered female or male. (This occurs in about 2% of babies born, similar to the percentage for redheads.)

Non-Binary: People who do not feel like the words "girl" or "boy" fits. They may feel like both or neither. They sometimes use pronouns such as they, them, theirs.

Sex Assigned At Birth: When a baby is born, a doctor or midwife looks at the baby's body/anatomy and says they are a boy, girl or intersex.

Transgender or Trans: When your gender identity (how you feel) is different than what doctors/midwives assigned to you when you were born (girl/boy or sex assigned at birth).

Who You Love

Bisexual: People who love people of more than one gender. [In grades 3 - 5, you might say people who love or are attracted to people of more than one gender.]

Gay: People who love people of the same gender. [In grades 3 - 5, you might say people who love or are attracted to people of the same gender.]

Heterosexual: People who identify as women who only love [or are attracted to] people who identify as men. Also, people who identify as men who only love [or are attracted to] people who identify as women.

Lesbian: People who love people of the same gender. Two women. [In grades 3 - 5, you might say people who love or are attracted to people of the same gender.]

Pansexual: People who love people of any gender. [In grades 3 - 5, you might say people who love or are attracted to people of any gender.]

Sexual Orientation: Who you love. [In grades 3 - 5, you might say who you love or are attracted to.]

Gender and Who You Love

LGBTQ+: Acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer people plus community members who use different language to describe identity.

Queer: People use this word as a way to identify with and celebrate people of all gender identities and all the ways people love each other. When used in a mean way, it is a word that hurts.

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When children ask about LGBTQ+ words, it is often best to offer simple and direct answers. Here are some possible responses and ideas to keep in mind when defining terms for children.

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9 Landmark Supreme Court Cases That Shaped LGBTQ Rights in America

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The path of LGBTQ rights in America has not been simple. As the battle was fought in the culture, it was also fought in the Supreme Court.

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Social movements, organizing around the acceptance and rights of persons who might today identify as LGBT or queer, began as responses to centuries of persecution by church, state, and medical authorities. Where homosexual activity or deviance from established gender roles/dress was banned by law or traditional custom, such condemnation might be communicated through sensational public trials, exile, medical warnings, and language from the pulpit. These paths of persecution entrenched homophobia for centuries-but also alerted entire populations to the existence of difference.

Whether an individual recognized they, too, shared this identity and were at risk, or dared to speak out for tolerance and change, there were few organizations or resources before the scientific and political revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries. Gradually, the growth of a public media and ideals of human rights drew together activists from all walks of life, who drew courage from sympathetic medical studies, banned literature, emerging sex research, and a climate of greater democracy.

By the 20th century, a movement in recognition of gays and lesbians was underway, abetted by the social climate of feminism and new anthropologies of difference. However, throughout 150 years of homosexual social movements (roughly from the 1870s to today), leaders and organizers struggled to address the very different concerns and identity issues of gay men, women identifying as lesbians, and others identifying as gender variant or nonbinary. White, male, and Western activists whose groups and theories gained leverage against homophobia did not necessarily represent the range of racial, class, and national identities complicating a broader LGBT agenda. Women were often left out altogether.

What is the prehistory of LGBT activism? Most historians agree that there is evidence of homosexual activity and same-sex love, whether such relationships were accepted or persecuted, in every documented culture. We know that homosexuality existed in ancient Israel simply because it is prohibited in the Bible, whereas it flourished between both men and women in Ancient Greece. Substantial evidence also exists for individuals who lived at least part of their lives as a different gender than assigned at birth. From the lyrics of same-sex desire inscribed by Sappho in the seventh century BCE to youths raised as the opposite sex in cultures ranging from Albania to Afghanistan; from the "female husbands" of Kenya to the Native American "Two-Spirit," alternatives to the Western male-female and heterosexual binaries thrived across millennia and culture.

These realities gradually became known to the West via travelers' diaries, the church records of missionaries, diplomats' journals, and in reports by medical anthropologists. Such eyewitness accounts in the era before other media were of course riddled with the biases of the (often) Western or White observer, and added to beliefs that homosexual practices were other, foreign, savage, a medical issue, or evidence of a lower racial hierarchy. The peaceful flowering of early trans or bisexual acceptance in different indigenous civilizations met with opposition from European and Christian colonizers.

In the age of European exploration and empire-building, Native American, North African, and Pacific Islander cultures accepting of "Two-Spirit" people or same-sex love shocked European invaders who objected to any deviation from a limited understanding of "masculine" and "feminine" roles. The European powers enforced their own criminal codes against what was called sodomy in the New World: the first known case of homosexual activity receiving a death sentence in North America occurred in 1566, when the Spanish executed a Frenchman in Florida.

Against the emerging backdrop of national power and Christian faith, what might have been learned about same-sex love or gender identity was buried in scandal. Ironically, both wartime conflict between emerging nations and the departure or deaths of male soldiers left women behind to live together and fostered strong alliances between men as well. Same-sex companionship thrived where it was frowned upon for unmarried, unrelated males and females to mingle or socialize freely. Women's relationships in particular escaped scrutiny since there was no threat of pregnancy. Nonetheless, in much of the world, female sexual activity and sensation were curtailed wherever genital circumcision practices made clitoridectomy an ongoing custom.

Where European dress-a clear marker of gender-was enforced by missionaries, we find another complicated history of both gender identity and resistance. Biblical interpretation made it illegal for a woman to wear pants or a man to adopt female dress, and sensationalized public trials warned against "deviants" but also made such martyrs and heroes popular: Joan of Arc is one example, and the chilling origins of the word "faggot" include a stick of wood used in public burnings of gay men.

Despite the risks of defying severe legal codes, cross-dressing flourished in early modern Europe and America. Women and girls, economically oppressed by the sexism which kept them from jobs and economic/education opportunities designated for men only, might pass as male in order to gain access to coveted experiences or income. This was a choice made by many women who were not necessarily transgender in identity. Women "disguised" themselves as men, sometimes for extended periods of years, in order to fight in the military (Deborah Sampson), to work as pirates (Mary Read and Anne Bonney), attend medical school, etc. Both men and women who lived as a different gender were often only discovered after their deaths, as the extreme differences in male vs. female clothing and grooming in much of Western culture made "passing" surprisingly easy in certain environments.

Moreover, roles in the arts where women were banned from working required that men be recruited to play female roles, often creating a high-status, competitive market for those we might today identify as trans women, in venues from Shakespeare's theatre to Japanese Kabuki to the Chinese opera. This acceptance of performance artists, and the popularity of "drag" humor cross-culturally, did not necessarily mark the start of transgender advocacy, but made the arts an often accepting sanctuary for LGBT individuals who built theatrical careers based around disguise and illusion.

The era of sexology studies is where we first see a small, privileged cluster of medical authorities begin promoting a limited tolerance of those born "invert." In Western history, we find little formal study of what was later called homosexuality before the 19th century, beyond medical texts identifying women with large clitorises as "tribades" and severe punishment codes for male homosexual acts.

Early efforts to understand the range of human sexual behavior came from European doctors and scientists including Carl von Westphal (1869), Richard von Krafft-Ebing (1882) and Havelock Ellis (1897). Their writings were sympathetic to the concept of a homosexual or bisexual orientation occurring naturally in an identifiable segment of humankind, but the writings of Krafft-Ebing and Ellis also labeled a "third sex" degenerate and abnormal. Sigmund Freud, writing in the same era, did not consider homosexuality an illness or a crime and believed bisexuality to be an innate aspect beginning with undetermined gender development in the womb. Yet Freud also felt that lesbian desires were an immaturity women could overcome through heterosexual marriage and male dominance.

These writings gradually trickled down to a curious public through magazines and presentations, reaching men and women desperate to learn more about those like themselves, including some like English writer Radclyffe Hall who willingly accepted the idea of being a "congenital invert." German researcher Magnus Hirschfeld went on to gather a broader range of information by founding Berlin's Institute for Sexual Science, Europe's best library archive of materials on gay cultural history. His efforts, and Germany's more liberal laws and thriving gay bar scene between the two World Wars, contrasted with the backlash, in England, against gay and lesbian writers such as Oscar Wilde and Radclyffe Hall. With the rise of Hitler's Third Reich, however, the former tolerance demonstrated by Germany's Scientific Humanitarian Committee vanished. Hirschfeld's great library was destroyed and the books burnt by Nazis on May 10, 1933.

In the United States, there were few attempts to create advocacy groups supporting gay and lesbian relationships until after World War II. However, prewar gay life flourished in urban centers such as New York's Greenwich Village and Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. The blues music of African-American women showcased varieties of lesbian desire, struggle, and humor; these performances, along with male and female drag stars, introduced a gay underworld to straight patrons during Prohibition's defiance of race and sex codes in speakeasy clubs.

The disruptions of World War II allowed formerly isolated gay men and women to meet as soldiers and war workers; and other volunteers were uprooted from small towns and posted worldwide. Many minds were opened by wartime, during which LGBT people were both tolerated in military service and officially sentenced to death camps in the Holocaust. This increasing awareness of an existing and vulnerable population, coupled with Senator Joseph McCarthy's investigation of homosexuals holding government jobs during the early 1950s outraged writers and federal employees whose own lives were shown to be second-class under the law, including Frank Kameny, Barbara Gittings, Allen Ginsberg, and Harry Hay.

Awareness of a burgeoning civil rights movement (Martin Luther King's key organizer Bayard Rustin was a gay man) led to the first American-based political demands for fair treatment of gays and lesbians in mental health, public policy, and employment. Studies such as Alfred Kinsey's 1947 Kinsey Report suggested a far greater range of homosexual identities and behaviors than previously understood, with Kinsey creating a "scale" or spectrum ranging from complete heterosexual to complete homosexual.

The primary organization for gay men as an oppressed cultural minority was the Mattachine Society, founded in 1950 by Harry Hay and Chuck Rowland. Other important homophile organizations on the West Coast included One, Inc., founded in 1952, and the first lesbian support network Daughters of Bilitis, founded in 1955 by Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin. Through meetings and publications, these groups offered information and outreach to thousands.

These first organizations soon found support from prominent sociologists and psychologists. In 1951, Donald Webster Cory published "The Homosexual in America," asserting that gay men and lesbians were a legitimate minority group, and in 1953 Evelyn Hooker, PhD, won a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study gay men. Her groundbreaking paper, presented in 1956, demonstrated that gay men were as well-adjusted as heterosexual men, often more so.

But it would not be until 1973 that the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as an "illness" classification in its diagnostic manual. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, gay men and lesbians continued to be at risk for psychiatric lockup as well as jail, losing jobs, and/or child custody when courts and clinics defined gay love as sick, criminal, or immoral.

In 1965, as the civil rights movement won new legislation outlawing racial discrimination, the first gay rights demonstrations took place in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., led by longtime activists Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings. The turning point for gay liberation came on June 28, 1969, when patrons of the popular Stonewall Inn in New York's Greenwich Village fought back against ongoing police raids of their neighborhood bar. Stonewall is still considered a watershed moment of gay pride and has been commemorated since the 1970s with "pride marches" held every June across the United States. Recent scholarship has called for better acknowledgment of the roles that drag performers, people of color, bisexuals, and transgender patrons played in the Stonewall Riots.

The gay liberation movement of the 1970s saw myriad political organizations spring up, often at odds with one another. Frustrated with the male leadership of most gay liberation groups, lesbians influenced by the feminist movement of the 1970s formed their own collectives, record labels, music festivals, newspapers, bookstores, and publishing houses, and called for lesbian rights in mainstream feminist groups like the National Organization for Women. Gatherings such as women's music concerts, bookstore readings, and lesbian festivals well beyond the United States were extraordinarily successful in organizing women to become activists; the feminist movement against domestic violence also assisted women to leave abusive marriages, while retaining custody of children became a paramount issue for lesbian mothers.

Expanding religious acceptance for gay men and women of faith, the first out gay minister was ordained by the United Church of Christ in 1972. Other gay and lesbian church and synagogue congregations soon followed. Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), formed in 1972, offered family members greater support roles in the gay rights movement. And political action exploded through the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Human Rights Campaign, the election of openly gay and lesbian representatives like Elaine Noble and Barney Frank, and, in 1979, the first march on Washington for gay rights.

The increasing expansion of a global LGBT rights movement suffered a setback during the 1980s, as the gay male community was decimated by the Aids epidemic, demands for compassion and medical funding led to renewed coalitions between men and women as well as angry street theatre by groups like Aids Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) and Queer Nation. Enormous marches on Washington drew as many as one million gay rights supporters in 1987 and again in 1993. Right-wing religious movements, spurred on by beliefs that Aids was God's punishment, expanded via direct mail. A New Right coalition of political lobby groups competed with national LGBT organizations in Washington, seeking to create religious exemptions from any new LGBT rights protections.

In the same era, one wing of the political gay movement called for an end to military expulsion of gay, lesbian, and bisexual soldiers, with the high-profile case of Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer publicized through a made-for-television movie, "Serving in Silence." In spite of the patriotism and service of gay men and lesbians in uniform, the uncomfortable and unjust compromise "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" emerged as an alternative to decades of military witch hunts and dishonorable discharges. Yet more service members ended up being discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

During the last decade of the 20th century, millions of Americans watched as actress Ellen DeGeneres came out on national television in April 1997, heralding a new era of gay celebrity power and media visibility-although not without risks. Celebrity performers, both gay and heterosexual, continued to be among the most vocal activists calling for tolerance and equal rights. With greater media attention to gay and lesbian civil rights in the 1990s, trans and intersex voices began to gain space through works such as Kate Boernstein's "Gender Outlaw" (1994) and "My Gender Workbook" (1998), Ann Fausto-Sterling's "Myths of Gender" (1992) and Leslie Feinberg's "Transgender Warriors" (1998), enhancing shifts in women's and gender studies to become more inclusive of transgender and nonbinary identities.

As a result of hard work by countless organizations and individuals, helped by internet and direct-mail campaign networking, the 21st century heralded new legal gains for gay and lesbian couples. Same-sex civil unions were recognized under Vermont law in 2000, and Massachusetts became the first state to perform same-sex marriages in 2004; with the end of state sodomy laws ( Lawrence v. Texas, 2003), gay and lesbian Americans were finally free from criminal classification. Gay marriage was first legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Canada; but the recognition of gay marriage by church and state continued to divide opinion worldwide. After the impressive gains for LGBT rights in postapartheid South Africa, conservative evangelicals in the U.S. began providing support and funding for homophobic campaigns overseas. Uganda's dramatic death penalty for gays and lesbians was perhaps the most severe in Africa.

The first part of the 21st century saw new emphasis on transgender activism and the increasing usage of terminology that questioned binary gender identification. Images of trans women became more prevalent in film and television, as did programming with same-sex couples raising children. Transphobia, cissexism, and other language (such as "hir" and "them") became standardized, and film and television programming featured more openly trans youth and adult characters. Tensions between lesbian and trans activists, however, remained, with the long-running Michigan Womyn's Music Festival boycotted by national LGBT groups over the issue of trans inclusion; like many woman-only events with a primarily lesbian base, Michfest had supported an ideal of ingathering women and girls born female. The festival ended after its 40th anniversary in August 2015.

Internet activism burgeoned, while many of the public, physical gathering spaces that once defined LGBT activism (bars, bookstores, women's music festivals) began to vanish, and the usage of "queer" replaced lesbian identification for many younger women activists. Attention shifted to global activism as U.S. gains were not matched by similar equal rights laws in the 75 other countries where homosexuality remained illegal. As of 2016, LGBT identification and activism was still punishable by death in 10 countries: Iran, Iraq, Mauritania, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, and Yemen; the plight of the LGBT community in Russia received intense focus during the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, to which President Obama sent a contingent of out LGBT athletes. Supportive remarks from the new Pope Francis ("Who am I to judge?") gave hope to LGBT Catholics worldwide.

Perhaps the greatest changes in the U.S. occurred between spring 2015 and spring 2016: in late spring 2015 Alison Bechdel's lesbian-themed Broadway production Fun Home won several Tony awards, former Olympic champion Bruce Jenner transitioned to Caitlyn Jenner, and then in June of 2015, the Supreme Court decision recognized same-sex marriage ( Obergefell v. Hodges). By spring 2016 the Academy Awards recognized films with both lesbian and transgender themes: Carol and The Danish Girl. And the Supreme Court had avowed that a lesbian family adoption in one state had to be recognized in all states.

However, the United States also saw intense racial profiling confrontations and tragedies in this same period, turning LGBT activism to "intersectionality," or recognition of intersections issues of race, class, gender identity, and sexism. With the June 12, 2016, attacks on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, that intersectionality was made plain as straight allies held vigils grieving the loss of young Latino drag queens and lesbians of color; with unanswered questions about the killer's possible identification with ISIS terrorism, other voices now call for alliances between the LGBT and Muslim communities, and the greater recognition of perspectives from those who are both Muslim and LGBT in the U.S. and beyond. The possible repression of identity which may have played a role in the killer's choice of target has generated new attention to the price of homophobia-internalized, or culturally expressed-in and beyond the United States.

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A brief history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social movements

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Most historians agree that there is evidence of homosexual activity and same-sex love, whether such relationships were accepted or persecuted, in every documented culture.

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As our world becomes more accepting of broader and more diverse identities, you may have questions about how you can better support the LGBTQ+ community, or what LGBTQ+ even stands for. Every person has their own journey in understanding what it means to support LGBTQ+ people, whether you're LGBTQ+ or not. We hope this resource can help you begin that journey.

Being an LGBTQ+ Ally is designed to help build understanding and comfort. If you are new to LGBTQ+ issues, we will answer many of your questions. Or, if you have known LGBTQ+ people for years and are looking to find new ways to show your support, you can skim this resource and take the pieces that are relevant to you. It's ok to not know everything - we're here to help.

The Human Rights Campaign reports on news, events and resources of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation that are of interest to the general public and further our common mission to support the LGBTQ+ community.

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This resource can help you build understanding of LGBTQ identities and issues, and that you can use this newfound knowledge to be an ally to the LGBTQ community as a whole.

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Facing Foster Care in Alaska v. HHS

Plaintiffs Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA), Family Equality, True Colors United, Inc., and Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders...

Court: The United States District Court for the District of Columbia

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Plaintiffs Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA), Family Equality, True Colors United, Inc., and Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders... Court: The United States District Court for the District of Columbia

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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as "Gay Pride Day," but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the "day" soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months. National Coming Out Day (October 11), as well as the first "March on Washington" in 1979, are commemorated in the LGBTQ community during LGBT History Month.

Annual LGBTQ+ Pride Traditions

The first Pride march in New York City was held on June 28, 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. Primary sources available at the Library of Congress provide detailed information about how this first Pride march was planned and the reasons why activists felt so strongly that it should exist. Looking through the Lili Vincenz and Frank Kameny Papers in the Library's Manuscript Division, researchers can find planning documents, correspondence, flyers, ephemera and more from the first Pride marches in 1970. This, the first U.S. Gay Pride Week and March, was meant to give the community a chance to gather together to "...commemorate the Christopher Street Uprisings of last summer in which thousands of homosexuals went to the streets to demonstrate against centuries of abuse ... from government hostility to employment and housing discrimination, Mafia control of Gay bars, and anti-Homosexual laws" (Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee Fliers, Franklin Kameny Papers). The concept behind the initial Pride march came from members of the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations (ERCHO), who had been organizing an annual July 4th demonstration (1965-1969) known as the " Reminder Day Pickets," at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. At the ERCHO Conference in November 1969, the 13 homophile organizations in attendance voted to pass a resolution to organize a national annual demonstration, to be called Christopher Street Liberation Day.

As members of the Mattachine Society of Washington, Frank Kameny and Lilli Vincenz participated in the discussion, planning, and promotion of the first Pride along with activists in New York City and other homophile groups belonging to ERCHO.

By all estimates, there were three to five thousand marchers at the inaugural Pride in New York City, and today marchers in New York City number in the millions. Since 1970, LGBTQ+ people have continued to gather together in June to march with Pride and demonstrate for equal rights.

Watch documentary footage of the first Pride march, "Gay and Proud," a documentary by activist Lilli Vincenz:

Gay and Proud

Footage of one of the earliest Gay Pride demonstration marches, the first Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade, held in New York City, New York, on June 28, 1970, to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

Executive and Legislative Documents

The Law Library of Congress has compiled guides to commemorative observations, including a comprehensive inventory of the Public Laws, Presidential Proclamations and congressional resolutions related to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender and Queer Pride Month.

Images Used on this Site

[Arthur Laurents, director La Cage aux Folles]

Walt Whitman
1819-1892

Lilli Vincenz
(The Ladder), January 1966, Lilli Vincenz Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress

Frank Kameny (in suit), June 1948, Box 137, Folder 10, Frank Kameny Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress

Pauli Murray of New York, winner of a 1946 Mademoiselle Merit Award for signal achievement in law

Bayard Rustin
1912 - 1987

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announces the Library's acquisition of the AIDS Memorial Quilt Archive during a ceremony in the Great Hall, November 20, 2019. Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress External .

The cast of Queer Eye discuss LGBTQ+ youth issues during a conversation with moderator Jonathan Capehart, April 3, 2019. Photo by Shawn Miller.

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About | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month | Library of Congress

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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.

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Just Like Us, the LGBT+ young people's charity, works with schools and young people across the UK to ensure LGBT+ young people can thrive.

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Updated at 5:52 p.m.
In a historic decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex. The ruling was 6-3, with Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Trump's first appointee to the court, writing the majority opinion. The opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's four liberal justices.

"Today," Gorsuch said, "we must decide whether an employer can fire someone simply for being homosexual or transgender. The answer is clear." He found such discrimination is barred by the language in the 1964 law that bans discrimination in employment based on race, religion, national origin or sex.

The decision is a huge victory for the LGBTQ community and a major loss for the Trump administration, which had sided with employers in three cases before the court.

Two involved employees who sued after contending they had been fired because they were gay. One of them, Gerald Bostock, won awards for his work as a child welfare coordinator for Clayton County, Ga, but said he was fired after he joined a gay recreational softball league. As he told NPR in October, "Within months, I was fired for being gay. I lost my livelihood. I lost my medical insurance, and I was recovering from prostate cancer at the time. It was devastating." The second case involved Donald Zarda, a now-deceased skydiving instructor who was gay.

The third case was brought by Aimee Stephens, who had worked for six years as a male funeral director in Livonia, Mich., but was fired two weeks after she told her boss that she was transgender and would be coming to work as a woman. She died earlier this year, but her case lived on.

Gorsuch couched his opinion in terms of the text of the 1964 statute and its ban on discrimination because of sex.

"It is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating ... based on sex," the justice wrote. He gave the example of two employees attracted to men - one male, the other female. "If the employer fires the male employee for no reason other than the fact that he is attracted to men," but not the woman who is attracted to men, that is clearly a firing based on sex, he said.

The Gorsuch opinion drew two dissents, one from the court's other Trump appointee, Brett Kavanaugh, so that Trump's two appointee were in a verbal version of what Yale Law Professor William Eskridge called "trench warfare."

Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, wrote the lead dissent. It accused the majority of sailing under a "textualist flag," essentially pretending to remain true to the words of the statute but instead updating it "to better reflect the current values of society."

John Bursch, who represented the funeral home in the transgender firing case, agreed. "They followed the culture, not the law," he said.

Gorsuch acknowledged that Congress in 1964 likely did not have the LGBTQ community in mind when it banned discrimination based on sex. But he said the words of the statute are clear. And he pointed to several major court rulings since the law's passage have read it expansively - for instance, to bar discrimination against women because they have children and to ban sexual harassment against both women and men.

As Gorsuch said of Title VII, "the limits of the drafters' imagination supply no reason to ignore the law's demands."

At the end of his 33-page opinion, however, Gorsuch invoked several potential caveats.

He noted, for instance, that some employers might have valid religious objections to hiring gay or trans workers. But he added that worries about how the 1964 civil rights law "will intersect with religious liberty are nothing new," pointing to the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act as a "super statute" that may offer a potential lifeline to employers who object, on religious grounds, to hiring gay and trans individuals.

That said, Monday's ruling was remarkable in many respects. Nearly half the states have no legal protection for LGBTQ employees. Now, the federal law will protect employees in those states from firing and other adverse employment decisions made on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The decision is a direct rebuke to the Trump administration, which sided with the employers in these cases, and has used its rule-making power to issue new directives that take away previous protections for transgender individuals.

Although LGBTQ advocates acknowledge that there may well be legal bumps ahead, Stanford Law School professor Pam Karlan voiced her optimism that few LGBTQ workers will face discrimination from large employers such as corporations, hospitals and universities.

"We didn't see really anybody other than the Conference of Catholic Bishops come in and make an argument that there are large numbers of employers who refuse as a blanket matter to hire people who are lesbian, who are gay or bisexual or who are transgender," said Karlan, who argued one of the Title VII cases before the Supreme Court in October.

Yale's professor Eskridge agreed. He noted that the liberal Supreme Court of the 1960s, headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren, interpreted an immigration statute that barred psychopaths from entering the country to apply to homosexuals.

"LGBT people have come a long way in the last generation; the country has come a long way in the last generation; and the Supreme Court has come a long way in the last generation," said Eskridge, who is the coauthor of a forthcoming book, Marriage Equality: From Outlaws to In-Laws, about the history of same-sex marriage equality in the United States.

Evan Wolfson, founder of Freedom to Marry, added, "One big lesson from this opinion is don't give up. You have to believe that you can change things."

Speaking to reporters, Trump said of the ruling: "They've ruled and we live with the decision of the Supreme Court." He called the opinion "very powerful."

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, praised the Supreme Court's decision in a statement, saying, "Today, by affirming that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination are prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Supreme Court has confirmed the simple but profoundly American idea that every human being should be treated with respect and dignity."

The opinion is available here.
Emmett Witkovsky-Eldred contributed to this report.

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Supreme Court Delivers Major Victory To LGBTQ Employees

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Updated at 5:52 p.m. In a historic decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex. The ruling was 6-3, with Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Trump's first appointee to the court, writing the majority opinion.

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When I was 19, I had surgery for sex reassignment, or what is now called gender affirmation surgery. The callow young man who was obsessed with transitioning to womanhood could not have imagined reaching middle age. But now I'm closer to 50, keeping a watchful eye on my 401(k), and dieting and exercising in the hope that I'll have a healthy retirement.
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In terms of my priorities and interests today, that younger incarnation of myself might as well have been a different person - yet that was the person who committed me to a lifetime set apart from my peers.

There is much debate today about transgender treatment, especially for young people. Others might feel differently about their choices, but I know now that I wasn't old enough to make that decision. Given the strong cultural forces today casting a benign light on these matters, I thought it might be helpful for young people, and their parents, to hear what I wish I had known.

I once believed that I would be more successful finding love as a woman than as a man, but in truth, few straight men are interested in having a physical relationship with a person who was born the same sex as them. In high school, when I experienced crushes on my male classmates, I believed that the only way those feelings could be requited was if I altered my body.

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It turned out that several of those crushes were also gay. If I had confessed my interest, what might have developed? Alas, the rampant homophobia in my school during the AIDS crisis smothered any such notions. Today, I have resigned myself to never finding a partner. That's tough to admit, but it's the healthiest thing I can do.

As a teenager, I was repelled by the thought of having biological children, but in my vision of the adult future, I imagined marrying a man and adopting a child. It was easy to sacrifice my ability to reproduce in pursuit of fulfilling my dream. Years later, I was surprised by the pangs I felt as my friends and younger sister started families of their own.

The sacrifices I made seemed irrelevant to the teenager I was: someone with gender dysphoria, yes, but also anxiety and depression. The most severe cause of dread came from my own body. I was not prepared for puberty, nor for the strong sexual drive typical for my age and sex.

Surgery unshackled me from my body's urges, but the destruction of my gonads introduced a different type of bondage. From the day of my surgery, I became a medical patient and will remain one for the rest of my life. I must choose between the risks of taking exogenous estrogen, which include venous thromboembolism and stroke, or the risks of taking nothing, which includes degeneration of bone health. In either case, my risk of dementia is higher, a side effect of eschewing testosterone.

What was I seeking for my sacrifice? A feeling of wholeness and perfection. I was still a virgin when I went in for surgery. I mistakenly believed that this made my choice more serious and authentic. I chose an irreversible change before I'd even begun to understand my sexuality. The surgeon deemed my operation a good outcome, but intercourse never became pleasurable. When I tell friends, they're saddened by the loss, but it's abstract to me - I cannot grieve the absence of a thing I've never had.

Where were my parents in all this? They were aware of what I was doing, but by that point, I had pushed them out of my life. I didn't need parents questioning me or establishing realistic expectations - especially when I found all I needed online. In the early 1990s, something called Internet Relay Chat, a rudimentary online forum, allowed me to meet like-minded strangers who offered an inexhaustible source of validation and acceptance.

I shudder to think of how distorting today's social media is for confused teenagers. I'm also alarmed by how readily authority figures facilitate transition. I had to persuade two therapists, an endocrinologist and a surgeon to give me what I wanted. None of them were under crushing professional pressure, as they now would be, to "affirm" my choice.

I may well have transitioned even after waiting a few years. If I hadn't transitioned, I likely would have suffered from the world in other ways. In other words, I'm still working out how much regret to feel, but I'm comfortable with the ambiguity.

What advice would I pass on to young people seeking transition? Learning to fit in your body is a common struggle. Fad diets, body-shaping clothing and cosmetic surgery are all signs that countless millions of people at some point have a hard time accepting their own reflection. The prospect of sex can be intimidating. But sex is essential in healthy relationships. Give it a chance before permanently altering your body.

Most of all, slow down. You may yet decide to make the change. But if you explore the world by inhabiting your body as it is, perhaps you'll find that you love it more than you thought possible.

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Opinion | What I wish I'd known when I was 19 and had sex reassignment surgery

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When I was 19, I had surgery for sex reassignment, or what is now called gender affirmation surgery. The callow young man who was obsessed with transitioning to womanhood could not have imagined reaching middle age. But now I'm closer to 50, keeping a watchful eye on my 401(k), and dieting and exercising in the hope that I'll have a healthy retirement.

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Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month at The Center

The Center is celebrating Pride Month with our theme, Forward Together. As our community faces an onslaught of anti-gay, anti-trans, anti-women, and racist legislation, The Center is a safe space for celebration, healing, advocacy and joy.

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LGBTQ Pride Month is a time for activation, celebration, community, & joy at The NYC LGBT Community Center!

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The Center for Brooklyn History provides this guide for researchers of LGBTQ+ history in Brooklyn, primarily, and New York City, secondarily. The collections include oral history interviews with members of Brooklyn's LGBTQ+ community, activism and AIDS-related materials, newspaper clippings, local newsletters, books, as well as New York City-related resources held outside of these collections. Currently, there is no primary keyword to search for LGBTQ+ histories across the collections. Try searching names of individuals (e.g. "Walt Whitman," "Ella Wesner," "Mabel Hampton," "Hart Crane,"), events (e.g. the "AIDS" epidemic, "Stonewall,"), locations (e.g. "Coney Island," "Brooklyn Navy Yard" "Brooklyn Heights," the "Brooklyn waterfront"), and other entities (e.g. the "Committee of Fourteen") that are connected to LGBTQ+ history. The book When Brooklyn Was Queerby Hugh Ryan is an excellent starting place. It is available in the Center for Brooklyn History library (noncirculating) and throughout the Brooklyn Public Library system (circulating). Additional titles on this subject can be found in the booklist curated for this guide. In addition to these materials, researchers are encouraged to browse the collections and research guides for resources that may be relevant to their work. To create an appointment or ask a question, please contact cbhreference@bklynlibrary.org.

Archival Collections

Gay Friends & Neighbors, Ltd. Brooklyn.

Drawer 5: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT)

Drawer 1: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ)

Box: 16 Item : 9 Boggan, E. Carrington, Marilyn G. Haft, et al., The Rights of Gay People

Box: 18 Item : 12 Hunter, John Francis, The Gay Insider/USA

Box: 391 Folder: 57 Human Rights day / Esty / Caubochaino (?) gay rights / Sally Krause Lower School bake sale

Box: 17 Folder: 25 Gay Life

Oral History Collections

This is a collection of oral histories collected for the AIDS/Brooklyn exhibition, undertaken by the Brooklyn Historical Society in the early 1990s. The project attempted to document the impact of the AIDS epidemic on Brooklyn communities. Because the project was exhibited, Brooklyn Historical Society also holds a collection of physical materials that were exhibited, including pamphlets, articles, and books. See the "General Archival Collection" section of this guide to learn more about the physical collection.

This collection includes oral histories conducted by Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) (now the Center for Brooklyn History), Brooklyn Movement Center (BMC), and Weeksville Heritage Center (WHC) beginning in 2016 and collected and arranged by BHS in 2017. The assembled collection was part of broader programming efforts by the three organizations to commemorate and examine the transforming Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn a quarter-century after the August 1991 conflicts and unrest sometimes called "the Crown Heights riot." Items of particular interest to those researching LGBTQ+ topics include:

Included are transcripts and audio recordings of interviews conducted by twenty-five oral historians with 107 narrators. Also included are photographs of the narrators and their families. The oral histories were conducted as life history interviews; topics of discussion include self and identity; religion and tradition; laws and mores; food and celebration; love and marriage; parents and children; race and ethnicity; and cultural preservation. Items of particular interest to those researching LGBTQ+ topics include:

The interviews reflect varying approaches to religious observance among Muslim Brooklynites in relation to a wide range of communities and traditions within Islam, including Sunni, Shi'i, Sufi, Nation of Islam, W. D. Mohammed community, Five Percent, Dar ul Islam, and Ansaarullah. Collectively, there is particular focus on cultural and religious customs, practices, and gender roles within these communities; education and the arts; immigration from South Asia and the Middle East; the Nation of Islam; Islamophobia in the wake of the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center as well as after the 2016 presidential election; political activism and engagement; and community relations with law enforcement and government officials. Items of particular interest to those researching LGBTQ+ topics include:

The assembled collection took shape in 2008 under the project title "Brooklyn History Makers." The ongoing oral history collection, retitled in 2016, features a diverse range of narrators; all longtime neighborhood residents who describe the changes they have observed in their neighborhoods over decades. Items of particular interest to those researching LGBTQ+ topics include:

Images

The Center for Brooklyn History's digital images collections hold few photographs of prominent figures in Brooklyn's LGBTQ+ history. However, there are numerous images of locations associated with Brooklyn's early queer spaces, including Coney Island, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn Heights, and the Brooklyn waterfront, as well as the professions typically found in those areas: performers, sailors, and, for women during World War II, Navy Yard workers.

While the Center for Brooklyn History is merging the Brooklyn Public Library's and the former Brooklyn Historical Society's collections, images can be access through two portals:

Books

This booklist highlights some of the Center for Brooklyn History's titles pertaining to LGBTQ+ history. Researchers are encourage to browse the catalog for additional titles. As the book collection is non-circulating, titles cannot be placed on hold online. To request books, please contact us at cbhreference@bklynlibrary.org. Click the heart beside the book title to create your own booklist (sign in to your account first).

Newspapers

The Brooklyn Newsstand is an excellent resource for researching histories of figures and events in LGBTQ+ history, from performer Ella Wesner to poet Hart Crane. Use quotation marks around search terms longer than one word (e.g. "Ella Wesner"). A tutorial on the newsstand is available.

Lectures

When Brooklyn Was Queer
May 2018

In this video recording of a Brooklyn Public Library program, journalist and curator Hugh Ryan highlights the ways in which, for more than a century, the waterfront spaces in Brooklyn supported Brooklyn's queer community - providing work, entertainment, and anonymity. From Coney Island to Red Hook, the Navy Yard to Brooklyn Heights, these areas offered a sense of freedom and belonging not found anywhere else in the borough. Ryan speaks about his book, When Brooklyn was Queer, in anticipation of its 2019 release, and about the exhibit "On the (Queer) Waterfront," which opened in 2019 at the former Brooklyn Historical Society.

Other Archival Resources in NYC

Black Gay and Lesbian Archive, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801

LaGuardia & Wagner Archives: The LGBTQ Collection
3110 Thomson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
718-482-5065

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center Archive
208 W 13th Street, New York, NY 10011
212-620-7310

Lesbian Herstory Archives
484 14th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
lesbianherstoryarchives@gmail.com
718-768-DYKE

Manuscripts and Archives Division of the New York Public Library, Gay and Lesbian Collections & AIDS/HIV Collections
476 Fifth Avenue, Room 328, New York, NY 10018
Link to make an appointment: http://archives.nypl.org/mss/request_access
Link to collections: https://www.nypl.org/lgbtqcollections

Online Archival Resources

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LGBTQ+ History | Brooklyn Public Library

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Welcome to the Asexual Visibility and Education Network. AVEN hosts the world's largest online asexual community as well as a large archive of resources on asexuality. AVEN strives to create open, honest discussion about asexuality among sexual and asexual people alike.

Unlike celibacy, which is a choice to abstain from sexual activity, asexuality is an intrinsic part of who we are, just like other sexual orientations. Asexual people have the same emotional needs as everybody else and are just as capable of forming intimate relationships. To find out more about asexuality, click here. For media and speaking requests, or to get involved with ace and aro visibility & education activities, please email aven.pt@gmail.com. If you have a question about asexuality, please email aven.qa@gmail.com.

You may also like to check out our forums. (On occasion our forums may be undergoing maintenance: if so please visit our backup board.)

We appreciate any donations to help with our server costs. Please go here.

NEW - The UK asexuality conference is to be held online on 10-11 September 2022. All are welcome, from any country! If you haven't yet, please register for the conference here.

We are also holding a baking competition themed fundraiser event for the conference - Ace Baker. This will be held at 1700 UK time (1200 Eastern time) on Saturday, 20 August! For more information about this event, please visit the Facebook event listing and register on Eventbrite.

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The Asexual Visibility and Education Network | asexuality.org

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Welcome to the Asexual Visibility and Education Network. AVEN hosts the world's largest online asexual community as well as a large archive of resources on asexuality. AVEN strives to create open, honest discussion about asexuality among sexual and asexual people alike.

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Last Updated June 2020 | Download as a PDF

The LGBTQ+ community at a glance

Approximately 4.5% of adults in the U.S. identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ+). That means that there are more than 11.3 million LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. ( Conron, 2019).

Recent reports from the Williams Institute estimate that 1.4 million adults (.6% of adults) in the U.S. identify as transgender ( Conron 2019; Flores et al 2016).

Roughly half of the LGBTQ+ population identify as bisexual. ( Gates, Marriage and Family 2015).

What do LGBTQ+ families look like?

Like other parents, LGBTQ+ parents are married, unmarried and cohabiting, separated or divorced, and single. There are intact families and blended families, and children who live between households.

According to a 2019 Census Bureau estimate, there are over 469,000 same-sex couples who are unmarried and living together. ( Press Release 2019).

How many LGBTQ+ families are there?

Between 2 million and 3.7 million children under age 18 have an LGBTQ+ parent. Many of these children are being raised by a single LGBTQ+ parent, or by a different-sex couple where one parent is bisexual. Approximately 191,000 children are being raised by two same-sex parents. Overall, it is estimated that 29% of LGBTQ+ adults are raising a child who is under 18 ( LGBT Demographic Data, 2019; Press Release 2019; Gates, Marriage and Family 2015).

How are LGBTQ+ families formed?

The legal and social climate for LGBTQ+ people has a direct impact on how LGBTQ+ people form families and become parents. Historically, in the face of an anti-LGBTQ+ legal and social climate, LGBTQ+ people have tended to come out later in life, oftentimes after having a different-sex relationship. As such, most children today who are being raised by a same-sex couple were conceived in a different-sex relationship.

However, this trend is changing as the legal and social climate has become more accepting of LGBTQ+ people and same-sex relationships. Today, LGBTQ+ people are coming out earlier in life, and an increasing number of same-sex couples are planning and creating their families through assisted reproduction and surrogacy, as well as adoption and foster care. 63% of LGBTQ+ people planning families expect to use ART, foster care, or adoption to become parents ( Family Equality Council 2019; Gates, Marriage and Family 2015).

LGBTQ+ people and same-sex couples are more likely to adopt and foster children, compared to their non-LGBTQ counterparts; specifically, same-sex couples are seven times more likely to foster or adopt than different-sex couples ( Goldberg 2018).

LGBTQ+ families at a glance

Among LGBTQ+ adults under 50 living alone or with a spouse or partner, 48% of women and 20% of men are raising a child who is under 18 years old. ( Gates 2013). When looking specifically at those who live together, the US Census Bureau estimates that 16% of all same-sex couples are raising children under 18 in their household: 9.3 % of male couples and 23% of female couples ( Characteristics, 2018).

Nearly all research shows that individuals in same-sex couples have higher levels of education; however, this is not true for those raising children. Only one third of same-sex couples raising children have a college degree. ( Characteristics, 2018; Gates, Marriage and Family 2015).

Discrimination against LGBTQ+ families

The LGBTQ+ community has seen considerable legal and social progress in recent years. However, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and social stigma remain.

There is no comprehensive federal nondiscrimination law expressly protecting LGBTQ+ people and less than half of states have state nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people.

Parenting and foster and adoption laws, practices, and procedures vary throughout the U.S., and many states do not have express protections for LGBTQ+ parents. Thus, depending on the law of a given state, LGBTQ+ parents may feel vulnerable to discrimination or retribution. This is especially true for transgender parents who have historically faced discrimination in the courts, custody disputes, foster care, and adoption, and a non-biological parent who does not have legally-established rights to her or his child.

In the last few years, there has been a notable increase in hate crimes and hostility toward LGBTQ+ people.

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Facts about LGBTQ+ Families - Family Equality

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How many LGBTQ+ people live in the United States? How many LGBTQ+ families are there, and how did they form their families?

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The Center is the largest LGBT community center on the East Coast. Founded in 1983 The Center provides programs, services, and spaces for health, wellness, and community connection.

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Pride Month 2024: Origins, Parades & Dates | HISTORY

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The history of Pride Month began with the June 1969 Stonewall Riots and continues today with celebrations honoring the LGBTQ+ community.