Know Your Pride

Learn about the Important People and Events in the History of Pride and LGBTQ+ Advocacy

• Harvey Milk: An iconic figure in LGBTQ rights, Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., advocating for gay rights and social change before his assassination in 1978.

• Marsha P. Johnson: A prominent activist in the Stonewall Riots and a key figure in the early LGBTQ rights movement, Marsha P. Johnson advocated for transgender rights and AIDS awareness.

• Sylvia Rivera: Co-founder of STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries), Sylvia Rivera was a fierce advocate for transgender rights and LGBTQ equality, particularly for marginalized communities.

• Edith Windsor: As the plaintiff in the landmark case United States v. Windsor, Edith Windsor played a pivotal role in the fight for marriage equality in the U.S.

• Bayard Rustin: An influential organizer of the Civil Rights Movement and a prominent openly gay activist, Bayard Rustin worked tirelessly for social justice and LGBTQ rights.

• 1924

  1. Society for Human Rights: The first documented gay rights organization in the United States, the Society for Human Rights, is founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago.

• 1950

  1. Mattachine Society: Harry Hay and others found the Mattachine Society, one of the earliest homophile organizations, which works to support the rights of homosexuals.

• 1955

  1. Daughters of Bilitis: The first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States, the Daughters of Bilitis, is founded in San Francisco.

• 1969

  1. Stonewall Riots: A series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ community against a police raid that took place at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. This event is widely considered to be the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

• 1970

  1. First Pride Marches: The first Pride marches are held in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago on the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

• 1973

  1. APA Declassifies Homosexuality: The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.

• 1978

  1. Harvey Milk: Harvey Milk becomes one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., serving as a city supervisor in San Francisco.

• 2003

  1. Lawrence v. Texas: The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down sodomy laws in Texas and, by extension, 13 other states, making same-sex sexual activity legal in every U.S. state and territory.

• 2010

  1. Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell": President Barack Obama signs the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," allowing gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals to serve openly in the military.

• 2013

  1. United States v. Windsor: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional, allowing legally married same-sex couples to receive federal benefits.

• 2015

  1. Obergefell v. Hodges: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right, effectively legalizing it nationwide.

• 2020

  1. Bostock v. Clayton County: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, also protects employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

• 2021

  1. Equality Act: The U.S. House of Representatives passes the Equality Act, which seeks to amend existing civil rights laws to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics. The Act is yet to pass in the Senate.