Eat Your Colors - June / July 2024

The Long Journey to Equality

A Timeline of the Gay Rights Movement

1950s-1960s: The Early Years

• Homosexuality is criminalized in the US, with laws prohibiting samegender relationships and cross-dressing.

• Gay bars and underground clubs become gathering places for the LGBTQ+ Community, but are often raided by the police.

June 28, 1969: The Stonewall Riots

• Police aggressively raid the Stonewall Inn, a very popular gay bar in New York City's Greenwich Village.

• Patrons and community members finally fight back, sparking several days of protests and riots. Some of their pictures and names were often taken and they would appear in local papers. Quite often, they would lose jobs.

• The Stonewall Riots often mark the beginning of the modern gay rights movement and activism.

1970s: Organization and Activism

• The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) forms with chapters in cities across the US.

• The first Pride marches are held in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco to commemorate the Stonewall Riots.

• Activists like Harvey Milk and Sylvia Rivera become prominent figures in the movement.

1980s: The AIDS Epidemic

• The AIDS epidemic devastates the LGBTQ+ community with thousands dying from the disease.

• Activists like Act Up and Queer Nation form to demand action from the government and medical communities.

•The Red Ribbon becomes a symbol of solidarity and awareness.

1990s-2000s: Progress and Setbacks

• The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is enacted, allowing LGBTQ+ individuals to serve in the military but only if they hide their sexual orientation.

• The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is passed, defining marriage as only between a man and a woman.

• Same-sex marriage is legalized in some states, but progress is slow.

2010s: Marriage Equality and Beyond

• The repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" allows LGBTQ+ individuals to serve openly in the military.

• The Supreme Court strikes down DOMA and legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide in the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges.

• The transgender community gains visibility and acceptance, with activists like Laverne Cox and Janet Mock leading the way.

Present Day

• The LGBTQ+ community continues to face discrimination and violence, but progress is slowly being made and gaining momentum. There’s a focus on our Transgender and Drag communities that are affecting all of us. We must stand united and an attack on one group (and even one person) is an attack on all of us.

• Activists are pushing for greater inclusivity and acceptance, with a focus on intersectionality and queer liberation.

• The Pride March is now a global event, with millions participating in cities around the world. In fact, now there’s WorldPride.

WorldPride is typically held every two years and is licensed by InterPride, which also selects the host cities. The next WorldPride will take place in Washington, DC from May 23 to June 8, 2025.

This article is a brief overview of the gay rights movement, from the early days to the present. There is still much work to be done, but the progress made so far is a testament to the power of activism and community.

https://www.nycpride.org/events