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The society for Human Rights
Henry Gerber founded the Society for Human Rights in Chicago. This was the first gay rights organization. The organization then received a grant from the state of Illinois and published the first-ever publication of homosexuals in America. Later on, the society was gone because of politics. From prior knowledge, politics and sexuality would be a problem. SOURCE:
https://legacyprojectchicago.org/milestone/society-human-rights -
President Eisenhower signs an Executive order
President Dwight Eisenhower signs an executive order that bans homosexuals from working for the federal government. This executive order expanded the security criteria for government jobs and added reasons for job termination, including sexual orientation. SOURCE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_10450 -
The Daughters of Bilitis (DOB)
This organization was the first lesbian rights organization in San Francisco. This organization hosted private social functions. Mainly because they feared the police because there were many police officers who were against Gay Rights. SOURCE:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Daughters-of-Bilitis -
Supreme Court case on First Amendment rights of the lesbian
In a Supreme Court case "Inc v. Olesen" the Ninth Circuit court of Appeals ruled that a magazine published for homosexuals was offensive and wasn't constitutionally protected by the First Amendment ( freedom speech and press). This was the first time The United States Supreme Court rules in favor of homosexuals. SOURCE
https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/406/one-inc-v-olesen-9th-cir -
First state to decriminalize homosexuality
Illinois becomes the first U.S. state to make homosexuality illegal. -
The Board of the American Psychiatric Association
Around this time people who identified themselves as gay or another gender were seen as people who were crazy and didn't know what they were saying. Hence, the Board of the American Psychiatric Association decided to remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. SOURCE:
https://www.hrc.org/blog/flashbackfriday-today-in-1973-the-apa-removed-homosexuality-from-list-of-me -
Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk wins a seat at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He is the one that introduced a gay rights ordinance protecting gays and lesbians from being fired from their jobs. Milk leads a campaign to go against a proposition that forbids homosexual teachers. SOURCE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Milk -
The Department of Defense
The Department of Defense prohibits the U.S. Military from excepting applicants from service based on their sexual orientation. Applicants can't be asked or reveal if they are homosexuals. SOURCE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_ask,_don%27t_tell -
Romer v. Evans
This United States Supreme Court decided that Colorado's second amendment, denying gays and lesbians protections against discrimination, is unconstitutional. SOURCE:
https://quizlet.com/134524713/romer-v-evans-flash-cards/ -
President Clinton Defense of Marriage Act
President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act into law. This law made marriage between a man and a woman legal and that no state is required to recognize same-sex marriage. Many people of the LGBTQ community went against this because why can only a man and a woman get married, not a woman and a woman and a man with a man? SOURCE:
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2015/10/30/9642602/clinton-doma-constitutional-amendment -
President Obama and same sex marriage
President Barack Obama signs a Presidential Memorandum allowing same-sex partners of federal employees to receive certain benefits.l However, the memorandum does not cover full health coverage. SOURCE:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/06/26/obama-on-same-sex-marriage-ruling-we-have-made-our-union-a-little-more-perfect/ -
Marriage becomes legal
In the Supreme Court case "Obergefell v. Hodges" a 5-4 decision was made where same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states. This was protected by the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This is a huge deal for the LGBTQ community because for them it is legal to marry who they love because before it was illegal to marry someone of the same sex. SOURCE:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33290341