Part One: LGBTQ Political Movement History
The Stonewall Riots is the most common origin story known as the beginning of political action by the LGBTQ community. This would mean that the LGBTQ community started fighting for gay rights in late 1960s, but many don’t know the true origin that started political action for gay rights.
The Society For Human Rights
One of the earliest queer political actions took place in the 1920s when a U.S. soldier by the name of Henry Gerber was station in Germany from 1920 to 1923 he witnessed the rise of homophile organizations (the former term for gay rights groups). When Gerber returned to Chicago in 1924 he founded The Society For Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the U.S. and produced the first gay rights newsletter called “Friendship and Freedom.”
Shortly after the newsletter was dispersed the police raided Gerber’s home and arrested him, with the police confiscating the rest of his newsletters. This arrest lead to Gerber losing his job and life savings, with his organization falling apart. He later moved to New York City to start writing activist works again under the pen name ‘Parisex’ and continued his work until his death in the 1970s.
The Mattachine Society
This gay rights group formed in the early 1950s by Harry Hay, with the organization starting in California. The Society quickly spread across the country to providing gays and lesbians support, through gatherings discussing experiences.
The Society was formed during the time when a gathering discussing homosexuality was considered breaking the law in certain states and marked homosexuals as an “oppressed minority.” They found that developing a community would help triumph over oppression and called for anti-gay legislation in the U.S. needed to be overturned.
In 1953 the radical ideas of the Society evolved for accommodation ideals, stating that homosexuals need to adapt instead of combat heterosexual lifestyles to obtain equality. The Mattachines dissolved at the end of the 1960s when gay rights activism became more aggressive.
This is only the beginning of history behind the politics of LGBTQ rights and for more on the history of the LGBTQ community, check out the video above.
-
Jackson Pierce Arrested for Second-Degree Murder and Tampering with Evidence in St. Peters Homicide Case The St. Peters Police...
-
The Trump campaign is optimistic about winning the Iowa caucuses, anticipating a significant margin as a litmus test. A...
-
President Biden takes action in response to attack on U.S. service members Early Christmas morning, three U.S. service members...
-
Neal Brij Sidhwaney Faces Potential Prison Sentence for Voiced Threats Against Unnamed Supreme Court Justice. Neal Brij Sidhwaney, a...
-
Silver Sedan Hits Secret Service Vehicle in Wilmington Incident; President and First Lady Safely Evacuated. President Joe Biden and...
-
Concerns Rise as Inner Circle Signals Retribution Against Opponents and Media Recent statements from key allies within Donald Trump’s...
-
President Biden’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service takes crucial steps to protect wolverines in the face of climate change,...
-
President Biden invokes the Defense Production Act to strengthen American supply chains. In a strategic move to fortify American...
-
An alarming surge in harassment prompts security concerns, as court staff, including Judge Engoron and his clerk, grapple with...
-
President Biden adds a touch of humor to the annual Thanksgiving turkey Jokes ceremony. President Joe Biden marked his...
-
Former First Lady’s Legacy Lives On in Dedication to Caregiving, Peace, and Mental Health Reform The Carter Center announces...
-
Is the Tension Between China and the U.S. Increasing? Following four hours of straightforward summit talks on the outskirts...