LGBTQ+ History

LGBTQ+ history includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. Key moments in LGBTQ+ history include the Stonewall Riots, the assassination of Harvey Milk, the AIDS crisis and marriage equality.

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Illustration by Eduardo Ramón Trejo. Photos from Getty Images.

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Before the Stonewall Riots, these activists helped set the stage for advances in the LGBTQ civil rights movement.

Harlem drag balls thrived during the post-Civil War era, creating a space where trans and queer people of color later broke out to develop House Ballroom.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt—with 1,920 individual panels, each inscribed with the names of people lost to AIDS—was displayed for the first time on October 11, 1987. It has grown ever since.

The Court ruled in favor of gay rights as early as 1958. But its decisions haven't always sided with the LGBT community.

Trans Rights

Cooper Do-nuts Protest Sparks the Trans Rights Movement

In 1959, Cooper Do-nuts set the stage for the trans rights movement.

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LGBTQ+ History

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

LGBTQ+ History

Cooper Do-nuts Protest Sparks the Trans Rights Movement

In 1959, Cooper Do-nuts set the stage for the trans rights movement.

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LGBTQ+ History

5 Turning Points in LGBTQ+ History

From the underground activism of the 1920s to a landmark Supreme Court victory in 2015, explore five defining moments in LGBTQ+ history.

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LGBTQ+ History

How the Stonewall Riots Sparked a Movement

The 1969 Stonewall Inn Riots sparked the beginning of the gay rights movement in America. Learn how.

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LGBTQ+ History

How the Queer Community Embraced—and Influenced—Halloween

As Halloween became increasingly popular in America, it also became a holiday where LGBTQ+ Americans could safely express themselves.

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LGBTQ+ History

Leonard Matlovich's Sacrifice for LGBTQ Rights

Don't Ask Don't Tell. This controversial policy was repealed to allow LGBTQ people to openly serve in the US military. But well before this historic moment, one soldier fought for his right to serve.

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LGBTQ+ History

More to History: How STAR Saved Houseless LGBTQ+ Youth in NYC

Shortly after the historic Stonewall protest in 1969, two transgender activists, Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson, embarked on a mission to protect one of New York City's most vulnerable communities.

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In 1966, three men walked into a bar, stated they were gay and ordered drinks. When they were denied service, a movement began.

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Batwoman's arrival in 1956 wasn't just about spicing up Batman and Robin’s routine.

Get the history behind the Comics Code Authority and how it kept some characters out of mainstream superhero stories for more than three decades.

Zdeněk Koubek had already set a record in the women's 800-meter dash, when he announced in 1935 that he was going to be living as a man.

The Stonewall Riots served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement.

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Harlem drag balls thrived during the post-Civil War era, creating a space where trans and queer people of color later broke out to develop House Ballroom.

Some of the Golden Age of Hollywood's brightest stars were suspected to have been in "lavender" marriages—for the sake of their careers.

Before the Stonewall Riots, these activists helped set the stage for advances in the LGBTQ civil rights movement.

The 1969 Stonewall Riots marked a historic turning point for gay rights, but several smaller uprisings preceded Stonewall as LGBTQ+ communities pushed back against harassment and inequality.

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