5 changes generated by the LGBTQIA+ community

• Has been a force for change in American politics.
• From the establishment of foundations to activism
• Learn how has impacted the world.

What changes have been brought about by the LGBTQIA+ community? Discover their entire historical legacy!

There was a time when being part of this group was frowned upon; for religious groups, it was considered a sin, while for the scientific community, it was seen as a mental disorder that needed to be treated and corrected.

Today, the fight for equality continues, but the legacy of the early activists has been notable. It was in 1924 when the first organization for the rights of homosexual people was founded, thanks to the efforts of a group of activists led by Henry Gerber.

Thirty years later, The Mattachine Society was formed, a society that aimed to fight for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and acceptance in society: Discover the changes that have arisen since then!

1960’s Decade: Changes made by the LGBTQIA+ community

In July 1961, the state of Illinois became the first entity in the United States to decriminalize homosexuality, which in various parts of the country was considered a crime.

Among the arguments in favor of criminalizing homosexuality was that it was an act against morality and good customs; among the counterarguments was the fight to prevent the unjustified persecution of men.

That same year, the first documentary about homosexuality was broadcast on open television, a fact that marked the beginning of a greater openness towards the LGBTQIA+ community, which, in part, contributed to more people joining the fight for the rights of its members.

In 1969, ‘The Advocate’ was founded, an exclusive LGBTQIA+ publication, thanks to the efforts of the PRIDE group (Personal Rights in Defense and Education).

In 1973, the Lambda Foundation became the first association in favor of the rights of homosexual and lesbian individuals.

And on January 1 of the same year, the state of Maryland passed a law that prohibited the legal union between two people of the same sex.

One of the most notable facts of the 1970s is that the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the list of mental disorders.

Which helped to reduce the stigma towards community members.

The 1980s were preceded, just two months before their start, by the first national march for the rights of gays and lesbians in Washington.

It was a historic event that brought together approximately 125,000 people for the same cause.

In 1983, the Lambda group won the first lawsuit for HIV-related discrimination when a group of neighbors tried to evict a doctor who treated HIV patients.

On October 11, 1988, the first International Coming Out Day was celebrated.

1990’s Decade: A dark time for the LGBTQIA+ community

In 1993, President Bill Clinton approved the ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, which prohibited harassment of men and women rumored to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

That same policy banned openly gay and lesbian individuals from serving.

In 1996, President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibited federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

Three months later, a judge in Hawaii ruled that the state had no right to deny the LGBTQIA+ community the right to marry, making Hawaii the first state to approve legal unions between people of the same sex.

2000’s Decade:

On May 17, 2004, the first legal union between two people of the same sex took place in Massachusetts; in subsequent years, several states joined the fight for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, leading to the legalization of civil unions in various states.

In 2011, the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy was ended, allowing gays and lesbians to serve the country without any retaliation.

Five years later, the fight included allowing transgender military personnel to serve, which was realized in 2018 when the first contract for a transgender person to join the U.S. military service was signed.

The 2000s have been one of the most prolific in terms of advances and laws in favor of the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, and although there is still a long way to go, the fight of activist groups aims to protect the rights of all its members to create a safe environment where everyone feels welcomed.