Inequality for gays 

​The 1960s and 70s were times of political, economic, and social upheaval. Victories in the civil rights movement gave other activists the momentum needed to launch similar campaigns for progressive social change. Among these campaigns was the gay rights movement. During this era, LGBT citizens experienced discrimination and prejudice in many areas of life:
  • Homosexual sex was illegal in every state except Illinois
  • In the late 1960s, the American Psychiatric Association still classified homosexuality as a mental disorder
  • Gay men and lesbian women received almost universal moral condemnation from mainstream religions
  • The act of homosexual sex, even in private homes, was punishable by a light fine, 20 years in prison, or even a life sentence.
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Article on homosexuality, 1969, Christianity Today

Turning point

PictureStonewall uprising, 1969, The New York Daily News
At 1:20 A.M. on the morning of June 28, 1969, with 200 people occupying the building, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in the Greenwich Village section of New York City.  When the patrons refused to cooperate with the officers’ demands, violence ensued. The Stonewall riots  were a catalyst for the gay rights movement , paving the way for the LGBT community to openly explore their sexual orientation and put their rights at the forefront of American politics.

National movement 

Gay pride has been celebrated in the month of June to honor the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Following the riots, several political humans rights advocacy groups began to gear their efforts towards LGBT equality. Smaller groups of activists were formed,  inspired by the response of the people at Stonewall. These smaller organizations have evolve into large advocacy groups that have brought change for the LGBT community and continue to advance through today.

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Gay Pride March in Minneapolis, 1974, Minnesota Historical Society