Gay minority rights

DSM on homosexuality

Homosexuality was considered a mental illness from 1950 until 1972. No therapy can alter sexual orientation.

Legalisation of homosexuality

1962 by Illinois, 2003 federally

Lavender Scare (1950s)

Dimension of the red scare of the 1950s that targeted the homosexual community as loyalty and because of their perceived lack of morality and security risks because communist influences could use blackmailing threats of exposing closeted homosexuals for American intelligence.

US postal services on gay magazines

In 1958, the postal services banned a gay magazine as being obscene

Sip-in

1966, organised by New York gays who refused to leave a bar until they were served. Following year, led to a human rights bill meaning bars must serve gays

NACHO

North American Congress of Homophile Organisations created the Gay Bill of Rights in 1968. It demanded that consensual adult gay sex be legalised and that homosexuals would not face discrimination in employment, citizenship or military service

Stonewall Riots

28th June 1969, the Stonewall Inn in gay Greenwich Village was being raided as usual by police, but the heavy-handed manner led to direct gay confrontation, causing the police to barricade themselves inside the bar.

First gay pride

1970 in New York City, Chicago and San Francisco on the direct anniversary of Stonewall

Kathy Kozachenko

1964, first openly lesbian woman voted into office in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Harvey Milk

First gay politician elected to the Californian office, opposed the 1978 Proposition 6 and supported other civil rights movements. his assassination in 1978 by Dan White sparked outrage as he only got 5 years in prison. 5,000 protesters march and 120 are injured

National March on Washington for gay rights

1979 - 100,000 people march for lesbian and gay rights.

Progress in 1980

Democratic Party says they won't discriminate against gays in their policies, between 1979-81 four gays were elected to government positions in California, in 1980 a gay child sued his school for not allowing him to bring a man to prom

New Right pushback

Anita Bryant led the Citrus Commission and blocked gay-sympathetic legislation in Florida, Save Our Children and Rally for Decency, rise of the religious right e.g Ronald Reagan