Governing with Pride

Background and Selected Timeline

© Sources:  PBS, Teaching LGBTQ History, Wikipedia, Bill of Rights Institute, Library of Congress, Britannica, American Bar Association, US Capitol Historical Society

The LGBTQ+ political history in the USA spans from pre-World War II activism to the landmark Supreme Court decisions of the 21st century, marked by significant advancements in rights and representation, including the legalization of same-sex marriage. 

Pre-Stonewall Era (1940s-1960s):•	Early Activism: Organizations like the Mattachine Society (for gay men) and the Daughters of Bilitis (for lesbians) emerged, advocating for civil rights and challenging societal norms. •	McCarthy Era: Senator Joseph McCarthy's investigations into homosexuals in government led to the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals. •	Civil Rights Movement Influence: The burgeoning civil rights movement, with figures like Bayard Rustin (a gay man and organizer for Martin Luther King Jr.), inspired LGBTQ+ activists to demand similar rights. •	Stonewall Riots (1969): A police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York City sparked a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, with patrons fighting back against police harassment. 

Post-Stonewall Era (1970s-1990s):•	Gay Liberation Movement: The Stonewall Riots galvanized the LGBTQ+ community, leading to the formation of new organizations and a surge in activism. •	Decriminalization: States began to decriminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults in private. •	Electoral Politics: Openly gay and lesbian individuals, such as Harvey Milk (San Francisco Board of Supervisors) began running for and winning political office. •	HIV/AIDS Epidemic: The AIDS epidemic brought attention to the need for public health resources and LGBTQ+ rights. •	Anti-Discrimination Efforts: Activists lobbied for anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing, and public accommodations. 

21st Century:•	Same-Sex Marriage: After decades of legal battles, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). •	Military Service: The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which prohibited openly gay individuals from serving in the military, was repealed in 2010. •	Supreme Court Rulings: The Supreme Court has issued several landmark rulings impacting LGBTQ+ rights, including Lawrence v. Texas (2003), which struck down sodomy laws, and Bostock v. Clayton County (2020), which ruled that employers cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity. •	Increased Representation: The number of openly LGBTQ+ individuals in Congress and other elected offices has increased. 

Ongoing Challenges:•	Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation: Some states have passed laws that restrict LGBTQ+ rights, such as bans on transgender athletes in sports or restrictions on gender-affirming care. •	Discrimination: LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face discrimination in employment, housing, and other areas. •	Intersectionality: LGBTQ+ activists continue to work to address the intersectional challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals of color, immigrants, and other marginalized groups.

Recommended Media

Web Resources: General

TOP 30: https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/pride-lgbtq-leaders-politics-government/index.html 
TOP 17: https://www.advocate.com/exclusives/2022/9/06/17-groundbreaking-lgbtq-politicians-and-public-officials#rebelltitem1 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RESOURCES: https://www.loc.gov/collections/lgbtq-politics-and-political-candidates-web-archive/about-this-collection/ 
OVERVIEW: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_history_in_the_United_States# 
MILESTONES: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/stonewall-milestones-american-gay-rights-movement/
TIMELINE: https://lgbtqhistory.org/lgbt-rights-timeline-in-american-history/ 
TREVOR PROJECT: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/LGBTQ-History.pdf
OVERVIEW RESOURCES: https://www.glsen.org/lgbtq-history 

Tammy Baldwin

Pete Buttigieg

Barney Frank

Web Resources: Print

TAMMY BALDWIN:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_BaldwinTAMMY BALDWIN: https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a61241277/tammy-baldwin-senate-wisconsin-race-interview-2024/PETE BUTTIGIEG: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_ButtigiegPETE BUTTIGIEG: https://time.com/6286592/pete-buttigieg-interview-lgbtq-rights/ BARNEY FRANK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_FrankBARNEY FRANK: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Barney-Frank TINA KOTEK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Kotek TINA KOTEK: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2024/10/has-oregon-gov-tina-koteks-popularity-in-the-portland-area-changed-what-the-oregonians-poll-found.html KATHY KOZACHENKO: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/meet-lesbian-who-made-political-history-years-harvey-milk-n1174941KATHY KOZACHENKO: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_KozachenkoDR. RACHEL LEVINE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_LevineDR. RACHEL LEVINE: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/01/06/nx-s1-5235449/dr-rachel-levine-hhs-public-health-service-anti-transgender-laws HARVEY MILK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_MilkHARVEY MILK: https://milkfoundation.org/about/harvey-milk-biography ELAINE NOBLE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_NobleELAINE NOBLE: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/pride50-america-s-first-out-lawmaker-elaine-noble-n1010831 JARED POLIS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Polis JARED POLIS: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/07/governors-colorado-jared-polis-00172910MAUREE TURNER: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauree_TurnerMAUREE TURNER: https://www.thecut.com/article/mauree-turner-lgbtq-rights-oklahoma-nex-benedict.html 

Tina Kotek

Dr. Rachel Levine

Harvey Milk

Web Resources: Video

TAMMY BALDWIN ON GUTTING OF DoE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyRV_d38JKE PETE BUTTIGIEG ON PARENTHOOD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1-Gc6vU45k PETE BUTTIGIEG ON AMERICAN SECURITY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU5F_BospisBARNEY FRANK ON BEING GAY IN POLITICS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mihdqe2UlHY BARNEY FRANK ON HIS MEMOIR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkkK_kBjOn4 TINA KOTEK ON CLIMATE CHANGE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DLgvJ8t9c4KATHY KOZACHENKO OVERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8A5BOGQaJE KATHY KOZACHENKO OVERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZmCVc0nwrw DR. RACHEL LEVINE ON TRANSPHOBIA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D9FxzbvNYU DR. RACHEL LEVINE SENATE CONFIRMATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m_dAzlj3Uk HARVEY MILK OVERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDkDlfNHGM8 HARVEY MILK TEDEd TALK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr3kUfW2fM0 ELAINE NOBLE OVERVIEW INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kqloLWYj94 JARED POLIS ON FAMILY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdEEiudFwJU JARED POLIS: INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7u3rWreBtU MAUREE TURNER 2020 TV SEGMENT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQsZ25-JOngMAUREE TURNER OVERVIEW:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8erQvjugNt0