Rebecca

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1776-1980: The Moments That Defined Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Rights in America

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Since the U.S. was founded in 1776, visibility of the lesbian, bisexual and gay communities has increased. Though progress has not been linear, this timeline of key events explores how rights related to politics, healthcare, military service and marriage have developed over time and brought us to where we are today. 1776 Before the United States is founded, people who live in the colonies are often subjected to laws that make sodomy, or gay sex, a capital offense. 1786 Pennsylvania is the first state to pass “An Act Amending the Penal Laws,” which states that those convicted of “robbery, burglary, […]

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185 Years of Gay Cruising: A Brief History

While it’s widely believed that cruising culture has existed for hundreds of years, the official term emerged in the 1960s as gay slang referring to a discreet method of men seeking out anonymous same-sex encounters in parks, bathrooms, waterfronts, bathhouses and other such places. Here are 23 key moments that shaped cruising culture in the United States. 1842 While a homosexual subculture is growing in New York City, the general public still refers to gay people as “sodomites,” as the word “homosexual” isn’t coined until 1868. Newspapers regularly publish articles calling out and expressing their disgust of suspected sodomites. One reader writes a letter to the […]

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Conversion Therapy Since 1886: A Dark History of the Discredited Practice

Throughout history, the belief that homosexuality is a disease that needs treatment has been pervasive. During the Cold War, the moral panic from the “lavender scare” caused many folks to view homosexuals as national security risks. And many still believe that homosexuality is a threat to the nuclear family. Since at least the 1800s, doctors and religious organizations have createdvarious types of conversion therapy in an effort to cure LGBTQ people. But over time, the practice has become widely condemned by major medical organizations, 24 states have banned it for minors and a United Nations expert has said it “may amount to torture.” Despite this, the Supreme Court appears set to […]