1969: Falsetto singer Tiny Tim, perceived by many to be gay because of his voice and mannerisms, marries his girlfriend, Miss Vicki on national television. 1970: Nine leaders of the women’s liberation movement – including Gloria Steinem and Susan Brownmiller – hold a press conference in NYC to express their “solidarity with the struggle of homosexuals … Read More
1983: Mel Brook‘s To Be or Not To Be, a remake of the Lubitsch classic becomes the first mainstream film to not only acknowledge Nazi persecution of homosexuals, but also makes it a key plot element.
1973: The Board of the American Psychiatric Association votes to recommend that homosexuality no longer be classified as a mental illness. 1977: The provincial government of Quebec adds gay men and lesbians to the list of groups whose civil rights are legally protected under the province’s Charter of Human Rights.
1980: French film La Cage aux Folles ends its nineteen month run at New York City’s 68th Street Playhouse. 1988: The film adaptation of Harvey Fierstein‘s Torch Song Trilogy opens in New York City.
1970: A struggling young pianist and songwriter takes a day job performing at New York’s Continental Baths. His name is Barry Manilow.
1973: Gay Activist Mark Allan Segal interrupts a live broadcast of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite by holding up a sign that reads “Gays Protest CBS Prejudice” 1975: George Moscone is elected Mayor of San Francisco. 1986: Austin, TX passes an ordinance prohibiting discrimination against people with AIDS in employment, housing, business, medical … Read More
1924: The state of Illinois issues a charter to a nonprofit corporation named the Society for Human Rights, located in Chicago. It becomes the earliest documented gay rights organization in the United States. 1971: Nixon Supreme Court Nominee William H. Rehnquist is confirmed by the U.S. Senate. 1989: More than 5,000 activists show up in … Read More
1975: The Washington Star begins a series on homosexuality in American Sports. Inspired, Washington Redskins linebacker Dave Kopay agrees to come out to the series’ author, Lynn Rosellini.
1981: The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus becomes the first openly gay musical group to play at Carnegie Hall with their Christmas concert.
1970: Lesbian painter Romaine Brooks, dies in Nice, France at age 96.