The LGBT community has been fighting for ages for equality. LGBT history even dates back to ancient times, but advancements in equality in modern times didn’t start until quite recently.
Join us as we talk about 5 interesting facts in LGBT history and see if you know all of these! Let’s jump in.
1. Society for Human Rights
Although homosexuality has been around since ancient times, the very first gay rights group came to be in 1924. Henry Gerber, a World War I Veteran, founded The Society for Human Rights.
The group aimed to protect and support the community, even mentioning the fact that those within the community are barred from the pursuit of happiness that is guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence. In addition to the first gay rights group, Gerber created the first American gay rights and interests publication. It served as the group’s newsletter but unfortunately stopped after two issues due to censorship.
2. The Stonewall Riots
The Stonewall Riots are a crucial event in LGBT history as it really ignited the start of the LGBT movement. On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn, which was a gay bar, was raided by New York police. The customers decided to protest the raids, and these protests turned into day-long riots.
Now, every year we celebrate the Stonewall Riots with the Pride Parade. It’s usually held late June, on or around the anniversary of Stonewall, letting us remember what we fought for and to be proud of who we are while enjoying the pretense of floats, rainbow condoms, and drag queens. If you want to read more on famous drag queens, then check out this post on drag queens.
3. Homosexuality as a Mental Illness
If you didn’t know, homosexuality used to be recognized as a mental illness. It wasn’t until 1973 that the American Psychiatric Association removed it from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
4. Scotty Bowers and Gay Hollywood
While movie stars are still relevant and adored by many, they’re nowhere near the status they were in old Hollywood. In old Hollywood, stars were everything; they were money, appeal, and really what made the movie. So, most stars lived double lives, having their persona for the people and then their shadows (who they really were).
For stars who were in the LGBT community, it was even more difficult to live their lives. Luckily, Scotty Bowers was able to help out by facilitating meet-ups between stars of Hollywood and a vast network of sex workers, allowing the stars to express themselves and explore their sexualities.
5. Love Wins
Despite all the advancements the LGBT community made through the years, they were still unable to unite through marriage. But on June 26, 2015, almost 46 years after the Stonewall Riots, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage was a Constitutional right and same-sex couples could not be denied marriage across the United States.
LGBT History Is Not Over
Despite the wins throughout LGBT history, the LGBT community is still oppressed, victimized, and hated by a large number of people, many of those people in positions of power. As civilization ages, society must grow, making way for change, acceptance, and love. Never stop fighting for what’s right.
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