Early LGBTQ+ advocacy emerged in the 1920s, with groups like the Society for Human Rights forming in Chicago. However, widespread societal stigma and legal discrimination limited visibility. Repression increased in the post-WWII era, in particular during the McCarthy era, as homosexuality was criminalized and labeled as a mental illness.
Acceptance of queer identities in postwar bohemian circles like the Beat Generation brought increased visibility, while the formation of organizations like the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis marked the beginning of organized resistance. The humanist and sexual liberation movements of the 1960s made great cultural progress, though not without backlash; culminating in the Compton’s Cafeteria riot in San Francisco in 1966, and the Stonewall riot in New York in 1969, pivotal events that galvanized the movement and led to the first Pride marches.
The 1970s saw the emergence of more radical activism, focusing on LGBTQ+ rights, health, and visibility. The AIDS crisis in the 1980s, along with the government’s callous inaction to the epidemic, led to the formation of advocacy groups like ACT UP, which fought for medical research and rights.
The fight for legal rights intensified, leading to significant milestones, such as the repeal of discriminatory laws and the recognition of same-sex relationships. Activism increasingly focused on marriage equality, culminating in landmark legal victories.
The legalization of same-sex marriage in the US and many countries marked a major victory. Current movements address broader issues, particularly the rights of trans and gender-nonconforming people, intersectionality, and global LGBTQ+ issues. Activists continue to combat discrimination, violence, and systemic inequalities.