Embedded Files
Introduction:
Introduction:
This page is designed to provide closeted, openly gay and students struggling with sexual identity a sense of history and pride in the heroes that fought for gay rights. Gay rights history is complex because religion and biological arguments have been used to justify acts of hostility and denial of rights for Americans. For example, Barbara Gittings, Frank Kameny and Dr. John Fryer (image above) protested the Psychiatric Association's classification of homosexuality a mental disorder in 1972. Prior to their work, homosexuality was viewed as a mental disorder, which meant one could discriminate against gays and argue the reason was due to their mental illness. Prior to their work, groups like Mattachine and the Daughters of Bilitis published journals to educate Americans. Their goal was to educate society and argue against the belief that homosexuals were deviant and to educate Americans struggling with their own sexual identity. The sources here provide some historical information about the struggle of homosexuals in America. For additional historic resources see Mattachine Society tab.
1920's
1920's
Labels in Homosexuality.pptxThis Power Point covers the origins of labels and the arguments used against homosexuals. At times, homosexuals were called sexual inverts. Gay women were called variants. If you complete the t-chart, you will recognize that many of the arguments used to explain homosexuality were rooted in social constructs and expectations for men and women.
TEDDY ROOSEVELT.pptxTheodore Roosevelt's "manly" demeanor and suggestion of mollycoddling also did not help. Mollycoddle became a way to suggest man would want to be with man because mom spent too much time with the man in question.
1950's
1950's
Californias Program for the Sexual Psychopath.pdfThis source explains how homosexuality was lumped into the same category as rapists and other sexual "deviants." The Dachau for Queers would see many homosexuals jailed and experimented on due to their homosexual behavior.
One Inc.pptxAfter WWII, the military removed known homosexuals from the armed forces. One Inc. published articles in journals designed to change public opinion and explain homosexuality. The group's journal was later targeted by the FBI and labeled too obscene.
For additional magazines see Mattachine Tab
1965_Ladder_Vol10_No02_Nov.pdf1964_Ladder_Vol08_No07_Apr.pdfThe Ladder was the work of the Daughters of Bilitis. Their journals was similar to Mattachine's One but primarily for gay women or the variant.
fbi and mattachine.PDFThis is a file from the FBI that outlines the government's case against the Mattachine Society
Small list of Heroes
Small list of Heroes
1. Karl Heinrich Ulrich
2. Emma Goldman
3. Walt Whitman
4. Magnus Hirschfeld and Henry Gerber
5. Harry Hay Jr.
6. Frank Kameny
7. Barbara Gittings
8. Morris Kight
9. Butterfly Brigade
10. Harvey Milk
11. Carl Wittman Gay Manifesto 1970s
12. Hank Wilson
Suggested Books
Suggested Books
glsen.pdfGLSEN is an organization that has surveyed schools in America. Their work suggests middle and high schools as homophobic institutions.
Songs
Songs
“This Book is Gay” by Juno Dawson
"It Gets Better" by Dan Savage
"Stonewall" by David Carter
"The Gay Past" by by Salvatore J. Licata and Robert P. Petersen
"Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader" by Henry Abelove
"Out for Good" by Dudley Clendinen
Lectures by Nancy C. Unger
https://www.c-span.org/person/?nancyunger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLlggM_4wA4
Stewart "The Killing of Georgie"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EkksZis3S8
Sylvester "You Make me Feel"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyAHULpMXKQ
Judy Garland "Somewhere over the Rainbow"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyAHULpMXKQ
Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive"
You
You
If you are struggling with coming out, being transgender, living closeted or anything similar to these struggles be proud of who you are and remember that you are a human being that matters. Regardless of what someone says to you, what society says about you or any law designed to deny you rights remember that you matter. Be proud of your history! Below is from a letter written by a former student.
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