Image from Amnesty International
Topics on the Page
Stonewall
Important Gay Rights Organizations & History of the Rainbow Flag
Pioneering Political Leaders and LGBTQ Candidates for Public Office
Historical Biography Cross-Links
LGBTQ-Inclusive Curriculum in Public Schools
LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Schools
Picture of the AIDS quilt in front of the Washington Monument
Historical Events Cross-Links for LGBTQ Civil Rights
Cross-Link: AP United States History Key Concept 8.2: Civil Rights and Expanding Roles for Government
eBook Connection: Liberty in Conflict with Equality or Authority
Milestones in the American Gay Rights Movement, PBS
Stonewall
Event Summary
The Stonewall uprising were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community in response to a police raid that took place at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, on June 28, 1969.
At that time, homosexuality was illegal in most states, and police raids on gay bars were common. However, on that night, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back against the police, sparking a three-day uprising that is widely regarded as the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Stonewall was a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and paved the way for the formation of activist groups and the push for legislative change to secure civil rights and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. Today, the anniversary of the Stonewall riots is celebrated as Pride Month, which is recognized worldwide as a time to celebrate and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. (ChatGPT)
Resources
Stonewall Riots (Article w/Video)
How the Stonewall Riots Sparked a Movement | History (Video)
Even People Who Were There Still Don’t Agree on How Stonewall Started. Here’s What We Do Know (Article w/Video)
American Experience; Stonewall Uprising; Interview with Virgina Apuzzo Series 1-3 (Video/Interview)
Stonewall Forever Monument (VR Model)
Police push protestors back outside of the Stonewall Inn in the early hours of June 28, 1969.
Davies, Diana, 1938-, Photographer. Stonewall Inn. Image ID: 1582272
Davies, Diana, 1938-, Photographer. Stonewall Inn. Image ID: 1582272
Important Gay Rights Organizations
The Society for Human Rights was founded in 1924 by Henry Gerbert in Chicago, becoming the first gay rights organization in the United States.
Mattachine Society was founded in 1950 in Los Angeles by Harry Hay and became an important gay organization.
The Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) was the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States. It was founded in 1955 in San Francisco by Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin.
Barbara Gittings
History of the Rainbow Flag
Curious about the history of the rainbow flag and what each color represents?
More information at American National Symbols, Flags, Monuments
Pioneering Political Leaders and LGBTQ Candidates for Public Office
How Many LGBTQIA+ Candidates were Elected in 2022 Midterms?
Historic Number of LGBTQ Candidates Won 2022 Midterm Elections
678 candidates on Ballot (most ever)
340 Won Elections (most ever)
Historical Developments
Link to Influential Biography page for Harvey Milk, Gay Civil Rights Leader
Elaine Noble became the first openly gay person to be elected to a state office in the United States in 1974. She was elected to the Massachusetts State Legislature.
Coretta Scott King speaks out supporting gay rights.
LGBTQ-Inclusive Curriculum in Public Schools
LGBTQ Curriculum Laws Interactive Map (2023).
Six States Have Passed LGBTQ+ Inclusive Curriculum Laws -- Each with a Different Definition of Inclusion (June 17, 2021).
LGBTQ-Inclusive Curriculum as a Path to Better Public Health, American Bar Association (July 5, 2022).
California becomes the first state to require that LGBTQ history be included in curriculum in 2011; teachers began using new curriculum framework in 2017-2018.
California is Adopting LGBTQ-Inclusive History Textbooks (November 14, 2017)
New Jersey is the second state: N.J. Governor Signs LGBTQ-Inclusive Curriculum into Law (February 1, 2019)
Illinois, like California and Colorado, passed a law in 2019, focused primarily on history and social science. The law, which took effect beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, requires that history textbooks include the contributions of LGBTQ+ people.
Nevada became the sixth state to pass a law mandating LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum and, like Oregon, specifically includes contributions of LGBTQ+ people, Native and Indigenous people, people of minority racial groups, and people with disabilities to science and history. Nevada’s law requires that inclusive history be taught beginning in kindergarten.
Oregon LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan
LGBT-Inclusive Curriculum from GLSEN
'History UnErased' brings LGBTQ topics to the classroom
Efforts at Banning LGBTQ Curriculum in Schools
#Dont Erase Us: FAQ about Anti-LGBT Curriculum Laws, Lambda Legal
More than a dozen states propose "Don't Say Gay" bills
LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Schools
Incorporating LGBTQ and Gender Studies into Grade 9-12 History Curriculum: Sarah Pesaturo, 2016 University of Massachusetts Amherst Undergraduate Honors Thesis
LGBT Rights Milestones: Fast Facts, CNN
Unheard Voices: Stories of LGBT History, GLSEN
LGBTQ Rights Timeline in American History, Teaching LGBTQ History
Five Myths about Transgender Students Educators Need to Unlearn
Gay-Straight Alliance Network's website with information, resources, events and school programs to "empower youth activists to fights homophobia and transphobia in schools"
And Tango Makes Three is a children's book from 2005 in which two male penguins from the Central Park Zoo are given an egg to raise. The book was one of the most challenged books between 2005 and 2010 because of its controversy with same-sex marriage and homosexuality.
Videos of 4th grade students and teachers discussing stereotypes, labels, and how kids learned the words not usually highlighted in class:
It's Elementary Part 1
and It's Elementary Part 2
This free quarterly newsletter is designed to keep you informed about important school climate issues and NSCC's work nationwide with articles available via PDF download.
National School Climate Center
Welcoming Schools is a project of the Human Rights Campaign. The site provides resources for students and educators to learn how to deal with bullying and harassment situations.
Welcoming Schools
The Human Rights Campaign's trailers for bullying information and awareness:
Welcoming Schools Film: What Do You Know?
What Can We Do? Bias, Bullying and Bystanders
How can teachers/tutors/adults/students talk with students about the terms transgender, gay, and lesbian and resist/oppose the use of offensive slurs?