February marks the 20th anniversary of LGBT+ History Month in the UK. It was started by a charity called Schools OUT. In the US, LGBTQ History Month was started in 1994, by a teacher named Rodney Wilson, and occurs every October. Seeing as how we are in February, we thought it would be a good time to talk about some of queer history’s most important people, places and eras. Consider this a highlight reel, and think about using this guide as a motivation to do deeper research.

 

The 1960s: Foundation of the Queer Rights Movement

🌈 1961 - The Power of Representation:

 The British film Victim, starring Dirk Bogarde, was released in 1961. It dealt with a married (and closeted) lawyer fighting against blackmailing of the gay community. (Heartthrob Bogarde was also closeted, as was the demands of the times.) In this powerful film, gay men were not the bad guys and were, as the title implies, victims due to their place in society. It showed a man struggling against his gay desires in a society that wouldn’t let him be who he was. We clearly see the destruction this does to his psyche.

 

🔥 1966 - The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot

Five years after Victim, in August 1966, a queer riot happened at San Francisco’s Compton’s Cafeteria. Compton’s was a hangout for trans folks all the way back to the 1940s, and importantly, was open 24 hours, which was a welcoming policy for folks who may have needed a break from the harsh life on the streets. As with Stonewall, it began with police interference, this time when an officer chose to target a trans woman for cross-dressing. According to the Los Angeles Public Library, the hectic scene that followed included a newsstand going up in flames, chairs flying, and broken police car windows.

 

📜 1967 - Partial Decriminalization in England & Wales

In 1967, the Sexual Offences Act allowed male homosexuality in England and Wales as long as both parties were over 21. (Lesbianism had never officially been made illegal.)

 

⚡ 1969 - The Stonewall Riots

Stonewall, which took place in New York on June 28, 1969, was the most well-known and arguably most important queer rights event. It happened at New York’s Stonewall Inn (hence the name) when queer people decided, after yet another police raid, that they just weren’t going to be treated like second-class citizens any further. This erupted into almost a week of protests and marked a new era for queer liberation. Several gay rights organizations, like the Gay Liberation Front, developed as a direct result of the Stonewall Riots. Transgender activists Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson were also part of the Riots. While it is not 100% proven, it is suspected Rivera threw the second molotov cocktail, while Marsha supposedly threw something heavy on a police car.

 

💡 Queer Love Then vs. Now

Before the 1960s, LGBTQ+ relationships were hidden, and dating often took place in secret. Today, queer love is celebrated, and we have more ways to meet, from online dating to LGBTQ+ speed-dating events.

The 1970s: Building the Movement

🏳️‍🌈 1970 - The First Pride Marches

 1970 marked the founding of the Gay Liberation Front in the UK, created by Bob Mellors, a student at the London School of Economics, and Aubrey Walter. Meanwhile, in America, the queer rights movement continued with the Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day March, which eventually became New York’s annual Pride parade.

 

🛤️ 1973 - Trans Activism Takes Center Stage

Also in 1970, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, commonly known as STAR, which gave support to trans youth. In 1973, Sylvia gave a memorable speech to the queer community, at the Christopher Street Liberation Day Rally on how trans women were being left behind in the movement. (We strongly recommend you watch it, and feel moved!)

 

1975 - South Australia legal 

In 1975, South Australia legalized homosexuality.(By 1997, the last state in Australia, Tasmania, legalized it.)

 

📣 1977 - Harvey Milk Elected

In 1977, San Francisco led the queer rights movement in politics with the election of Harvey Milk to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors. But just a year later, in 1978, he, along with Mayor George Moscone, were assasinated by former Board of Supervisor member Dan White, who received a paltry five-year sentence for the crime. This miscarriage of justice led to the White Night Riots.

 

💡 Queer Dating in the 70s

 LGBTQ+ bars and underground communities were key meeting spots. Today, queer dating is more accessible through dedicated apps and inclusive events.

The 1980s: Struggles & Progress

 

🦠 1981 - The AIDS Crisis Begins

The 1980s were unfortunately dominated by another tragedy in the queer community, AIDS, first recognized in America in 1981. That same year, the UK saw its first AIDS death. AIDS was thrown more into the limelight as it took major names like actor Rock Hudson and musician Liberace.

💖 Princess Diana’s Advocacy

 Unfortunately, President Ronald Reagan had a notoriously bad reputation when it came to the crisis, while Princess Diana was at the forefront of AIDS activism, a risky move for a member of the royal family in that era.

 

🎬 Queer Representation in Film Grows

On a more positive note, the 1980s was a time where queer films showing endearing portrayals really started to flourish, like Desert Hearts, Torch Song Trilogy, and Parting Glances, a film about AIDS starring Steve Buscemi.

 

🚫 1988 - Section 28 in the UK

In the UK, it was a mixed time for gay rights. In 1980, homosexuality was legalized in Scotland; but in 1988 the UK saw the beginning of the homophobic Section 28 legislation, which kept educators from being able to discuss homosexuality in schools. (This would last until the early aughts.) 

 

💡 Queer Dating in the 80s

 The AIDS crisis heavily impacted queer intimacy. Today, LGBTQ+ health awareness is stronger, and safe spaces for dating continue to grow.

The 1990s: LGBTQ+ Culture in the Mainstream

 

EuroPride started in London in 1992, and continues to be celebrated today.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton ushered in the era of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which allowed gay people to serve in the military as long as they were not vocal about it.

 

💊 1996 - Breakthrough in HIV/AIDS Treatment

1996 was a monumental turning point for the AIDS crisis with the introduction of protease inhibitors. It turned HIV from a death sentence into a manageable condition.

📺 1997 - Ellen Comes Out on TV

Television was a major part of the queer rights movement in the 1990s. Ellen and Will & Grace forever changed the landscape of American television.

 

🏳️‍⚧️ Hate Crimes Spark Activism

The 1990s saw the tragic hate crimes of trans man Brandon Teena, whose life would inspire the film Boys Don’t Cry, and Matthew Shepard, whose life would inspire the play The Laramie Project.

 

 Finally, closing out the 90s, Clinton proclaimed June Gay and Lesbian Pride month in 1999.

 

💡 Queer Dating in the 90s: Gay bars remained a staple, but increased representation in media started normalizing LGBTQ+ relationships.

The 2000s & Beyond: The Fight for Equal Rights

💍 2001 - Same-Sex Marriage Begins

 The 2000s were all about the right for queer folks to marry. The Netherlands was the first to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001, and other countries slowly followed throughout the next 20+ years.

 

📺 2004 - The L Word Premieres

The L Word, a boundary-breaking show for the lesbian community, premiered on American cable station Showtime in 2004, paving the way for shows like Pose and Orange is the New Black.

🎉 2014 - Marriage Equality in the UK

Same-sex marriage was finally legalized in England, Wales, and Scotland.

💡 Queer Dating Today

LGBTQ+ dating has evolved from hidden relationships to dating apps, speed-dating, and curated events tailored for the community.

 

Your Turn: Make Your Own Queer History!

And that brings us to today. While the queer rights movement is far from over, we want to celebrate the progress we’ve made thus far, so in honor of LGBT+ History Month, we are doing a dating event on Feb 27, and we’d love for you to come!

 

💖 What to Expect? 🎲 Social games to spark conversation
🎨 A hands-on activity to discover chemistry naturally
🔥 A welcoming, low-pressure vibe to meet potential matches

✨ Ready to make a little queer history of your own?

So why don’t you join us? You can find the link to the event here. Maybe you’ll even make a little queer history of your own.