Lgbtq timeline

LGBTQ Activism in Seattle History Project

Arthur Denny colonizing party lands at Alki Point Comstock Laws passed, prohibiting circulation of “obscene” materials WA State unanimously passes anti-sodomy law; Great Northern transcontinental railroad line reaches Seattle Klondike gold rush brings predominantly male population to Seattle; local economy booms First known drag performance in Seattle by nationally recognized female impersonator Edward Stewart First recorded raid of a gay bathhouse occurs in Modern York City, resulting in several sodomy convictions Sodomy code made more specific Emma Goldman speaks out in favor of homosexual rights WA voters go by Prohibition via Initiative 3 Eighteenth Amendment prohibits sale and production of alcohol First homosexual rights corporation, Society for Human Rights, founded in Chicago Joseph Bellotti opens the Casino Pool Hall, a dance club allowing same-sex dancing National Prohibition ends Bellotti opens the Double Header, which may be

Project partners:

Central Connecticut Mention University HIST class, “Exploring GLBTQ Archives”

Professor William J. Mann

Anna Fossi

Eve Galanis

Ria Amerson

Joshua Bouchard

Kacie Brennan

Lauren Cavaliero

Sara Conlon

Chelsea DiNeno

Michelle Gil

Jayme Hebert

Elizabeth Klopp

Daniel MacNeil

Kevin Milewski

Carrie Mott

Nicholas Palomba

Katherine Samuels

Victoria Troche

Christina Volpe

Connecticut Museum of Tradition and History

Ilene Frank, Chief Curator/Chief Operating Officer

Andrea Rapacz, Director of Exhibitions & Collections

Ben Gammell, Exhibit Developer

With special thanks to Richard Nelson, whose timeline of Connecticut LGBTQ history provided a basis for the students’ research.

The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History is grateful to this project’s donors.

Special thanks to our proposal sponsors below:

Duff Ashmead & Eric Ort

Louis Lista & Paul DeVeau

Dan Sullivan & Rob Biddleman

Archival Document Sets

Timeline of LGBT History

Henry Gerber forms the Society for Human Rights, the first queer group in the Combined States, but the organization is quickly shut down.

President Eisenhower signs Executive Order , banning homosexuals from working for the federal government or any of its private contractors. The Order lists homosexuals as security risks, along with alcoholics and neurotics.

In the landmark case One, Inc. v. Olesen, the United States Supreme Court rules in favor of the First Amendment rights of the LGBT magazine "One: The Homosexual Magazine." The suit was filed after the United States Postal Service and FBI declared the magazine obscene material, and it makes the first time the United States Supreme Court rules in favor of homosexuals.

Bayard Rustin, noted civil rights activist and gay man, is the chief organizer behind the historic March on Washington, which culminates with Dr. Martin Luther King's legendary "I have a dream" speech The first lgbtq+ rights demonstration in the USA takes place on September 19th

Timeline: Key moments in brawl for gay rights

June marks Pride Month for the LGBTQIA+ community. Many people celebrate and show their pride with rainbow flags and parades.

But the quest for equal civil rights for the community has been fraught with strife and violence. From bricks thrown at Stonewall to "Don't Say Gay" legislation, the fight for equality continues. Here is a look at some of the key moments in LGBTQIA+ history and the fight for equal rights.

Though police raids on homosexual bars were common in the '60s, on June 28, , patrons of New York's Stonewall Inn said "enough." They fought back, riots broke out and supporters poured into the West Village, igniting the gay rights movement in the U.S. Within six months, two lgbtq+ activist organizations were formed in New York, and three newspapers were launched for gays and lesbians.

Harvey Milk became one of the first openly same-sex attracted men elected to common office in the Joined States when he won a seat on the board of supervisors in An outspoken advocate for gay rights, he urged others