The recognition of PRIDE month may seem like a fact of everyday life in U.S. society. However, most will know that this was not always the case. With this posting, we would like to highlight a few important historical leaders and events that have led to the strength of the LGBTQ+ movement and a more open recognition of gay and lesbian employees, students, and community leaders.
Historic Facts [1]
- In 1869, Karl-Heinrich Ulrichs or the “Father of the LGBTQ+ Movement” was first to speak out for gay rights in Germany
- In 1929, the first gay rights organization in United States was founded, but was shut down within a few months
- In 1945, the first LGBTQ+ veterans group was formed
- In 1969, the Stonewall Riots in New York gained national attention for gay rights
- In 1970, the first Gay Liberation Day March was held in N.Y.C. with similar events occurring in L.A. and San Francisco
- In 1973, “homosexuality” was removed from the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic handbook for mental disorders
- In 1979, the first national gay rights march was held in Washington, D.C.
- In 1982, Wisconsin became the first state to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing and public accommodations
Fast-forward to 1990 [1]
- In 1993, Minnesota passed the first statewide law prohibiting discrimination against transgender individuals
- In 1996, the Supreme Court ruled that gays and lesbians have the same rights as non-LGBTQ+ individuals to be protected against discrimination
- That same year, President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law
- In 2004, Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize same-gender marriage
- In 2009, President Obama signed a law declaring it a federal crime to assault someone because of sexual orientation or gender identity
- In the same year, President Obama declared June LGBTQ+ Pride Month
- In 2010, President Obama put an end to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy established in 1993 allowing LGBTQ+ individuals to serve in the military as long as they are closeted
- In 2012, 7 LGBTQ+ candidates won election into the U.S. House and Senate
- In 2013, the Dept. of the Treasury announced that legal same-gender marriages will be recognized for federal tax purposes
- In 2014, the Dept. of Justice announced that legally married same-gender couples will receive equal protection as non-same-gender couples in every program it delivers
- In 2015, the Supreme Court legalized marriage equality nationwide
- In 2016, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it will no longer require transgender athletes to go under reassignment surgery in order to compete
For a complete timeline, please click here.
About PRIDE Month [2]
- LGBTQ+ Pride Month is celebrated in June in honor of the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan which are considered a “tipping point” for the Gay Liberation Movement in the U.S.
- The purpose of PRIDE month is to recognize the local, national, and international impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had and continue to have in the U.S.
The Workplace
Open recognition and inclusion of LGBTQ+ employees in the workplace often occurs through affinity groups and/or employee resource groups. Many hospitals, universities and Fortune 500 firms have these groups in place, providing career guidance, mentorship, and other opportunities to support one another. Companies also have unique ways to celebrate inclusion and diversity during PRIDE month. For example, here are the unique ways that American Airlines is celebrating Inclusion and Diversity.
Please share with us your organization’s ways of celebrating PRIDE month.
Resources:
- Diversity, Inc. (2016). LGBT Pride Month Timeline. Retrieved from http://www.diversityinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/MIB_LGBT_2016-timeline-KD-PDF-m.pdf
- Library of Congress. (2017). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month 2017. Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/