The LGBT movements and Libraries

This timeline that shows important events in the history of the LGBT rights movement and important milestones in libraries' treatment of and service to the GLBTQ community.

1st June 1962

Homosexuality Decriminalized in Illinois

Illinois becomes the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults in private

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22nd Jun 1969 - 28th Jun 1969

ALA Conference 1969

This conference marked the formation of the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) Concern for human and economic rights was an important element in the founding of SRRT and remains an urgent concern today. SRRT believes that libraries and librarians must recognize and help solve social problems and inequities in order to carry out their mandate to work for the common good and bolster democracy.

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28th June 1969

Stonewall Riots

The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the gay community against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. They are widely considered to constitute the single most important event leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for gay and lesbian rights in the United States.

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1st June 1970

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table founded

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Round Table of the American Library Association is committed to serving the information needs of the GLBT professional library community, and the GLBT information and access needs of individuals at large. We are committed to encouraging and supporting the free and necessary access to all information, as reflected by the missions of the American Library Association.

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20th June 1971

First Gay Book Award

The Gay Book Award first awarded in 1971 to Patience and Sarah, a historical novel by Alma Routsong as Isabel Miller. Originally it was a "grassroots acknowledgment" of GLBT publishing.

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24th June 1971

Hug A Homosexual

At the 1971 ALA conference,the SRRT set up the “Hug A Homosexual” booth in the main exhibit hall. This has been reported to be the first gay kissing booth. The booth was divided into men only and women only sides. They offered free hugs and kisses to conference goers

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1st June 1973

APA declares homosexuality not a mental disorders

The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its official list of mental disorders.

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1st June 1980

Democrats take stance supporting gay rights

At the 1980 Democratic National Convention held at New York City's Madison Square Garden, Democrats took a stance supporting gay rights, adding the following to their plank: "All groups must be protected from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, language, age, sex or sexual orientation."

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1st June 1982

Wisconsin outlaws gay discrimination

Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

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1st June 1984

Berkley offers domestic partner benefits

The city of Berkeley, California, becomes the first city to offer its employees domestic-partnership benefits.

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1st June 1985

Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues

The first meeting of what later came to be known as the SCLGI was called at the 1985 American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting in New York City.

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1st June 1986

Gay Book Award oficially adopted by the ALA

At the 1986 conference in New York, the Gay Task Force was able to announce that they had finally overcome all the hurdles and bureaucracy to establish the Gay/Lesbian/ Bisexual Book Award--which they'd been handing out since 1971--as an official award of the ALA.

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1st June 1988

Intl thesaurus of gay & lesbian index terms

in 1988 The Task Force on Gay Liberation convened a thesaurus committee to combine a number of existing subject term lists and produce something more uniform, the International thesaurus of gay and lesbian index terms.

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1st June 1992

AALL Anual Meeting Relocation campaign

In 1992, the SCLGI successfully spearheaded a campaign that led to the relocation of AALL’s 1998 Annual Meeting from Denver to Anaheim, California. The SCLGI lobbied for this change because of the recent passage of Amendment Two of Colorado’s constitution, which prohibited “sexual orientation” from being a protected class in any state, county, or municipal law.

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1st July 1992

Gay & Lesbian Task force American Libraries Cover

During the 1992 ALA Conference members of the gay and lesbian task force chose to march in the San Francisco Pride Parade. A photo from the parade was chosen for the American Libraries summer issue cover. "Several callers criticized the 'very poor taste' and the 'very poor editorial decision' of selecting the offending cover photo”

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1st June 1993

Don't Ask Don't Tell

The “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy is instituted for the U.S. military, permitting gays to serve in the military but banning homosexual activity. President Clinton's original intention to revoke the prohibition against gays in the military was met with stiff opposition; this compromise, which has led to the discharge of thousands of men and women in the armed forces, was the result.

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1st June 2000

Vermont Legally Recognizes Civil Unions

Vermont becomes the first state in the country to legally recognize civil unions between gay or lesbian couples. The law states that these “couples would be entitled to the same benefits, privileges, and responsibilities as spouses.”

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1st June 2004

Same Sex Marriage becomes legal in Massachusetts

Just months after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that barring gays and lesbians from marrying violates the state constitution, same-sex marriages become legal in Massachusetts.

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12th April 2005

"And Tango Makes Three" wins Bergh Award

And Tango Makes Three is a 2005 children's book based on the true story two male Penguins who formed a couple and were given an egg to raise. It has since won numerous awards. However, It has become one of the most challenged library books in recent years.

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1st June 2007

Rainbow Project founded

The Rainbow Project was created as a grass-roots effort in 2007 to provide young people with books that reflect GLBTQ individuals, groups, and experiences. Although many more books with glbtq content are available to this audience than in the past, many of these are not identified as such, necessitating such a bibliography.

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4th November 2008

Proposition 8 Bans same-sex marriage in california

In 2008 the California Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. By November 3rd, more than 18,000 same-sex couples have married. On November 4, California voters approved a ban on same-sex marriage called Proposition 8.

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1st June 2009

Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire legalize gay marriage

The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously rejects the state law banning same-sex marriage. The Vermont Legislature votes to override Gov. Jim Douglas's veto of a bill allowing gays and lesbians to marry, legalizing same-sex marriage. It is the first state to legalize gay marriage through the legislature. New Hampshire governor John Lynch signs legislation allowing same-sex marriage. New Hampshire is the sixth state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage.

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1st June 2010

First Stonewall Children’s and YA Literature Award

The new award is for an English-language book “of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered experience.” The first award went to "he Vast Fields of Ordinary" by Nick Burd

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18th December 2010

Don't Ask Don't Tell repealed

The U.S. Senate votes 65 to 31 in favor of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the Clinton-era military policy that forbids openly gay men and women from serving in the military. On Dec. 18, President Obama officially repeals the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military policy.

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1st June 2012

President Obama endorses same-sex marriage

"It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married," he said.

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The LGBT movements and Libraries

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Gay Rights Movement

President Obama endorses same-sex marriage

1st June 2012

"It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married," he said.

Gay Rights Movement

Don't Ask Don't Tell repealed

18th December 2010

The U.S. Senate votes 65 to 31 in favor of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the Clinton-era military policy that forbids openly gay men and women from...

Library History and Events

First Stonewall Children’s and YA Literature Award

1st June 2010

The new award is for an English-language book “of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered experience.” The first...

Gay Rights Movement

Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire legalize gay marriage

1st June 2009

The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously rejects the state law banning same-sex marriage. The Vermont Legislature votes to override Gov. Jim Douglas's veto...

Gay Rights Movement

Proposition 8 Bans same-sex marriage in california

4th November 2008

In 2008 the California Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. By November 3rd, more than 18,000 same-sex...

Library History and Events

Rainbow Project founded

1st June 2007

The Rainbow Project was created as a grass-roots effort in 2007 to provide young people with books that reflect GLBTQ individuals, groups, and...

Library History and Events

"And Tango Makes Three" wins Bergh Award

12th April 2005

And Tango Makes Three is a 2005 children's book based on the true story two male Penguins who formed a couple and were given an egg to raise. It has...

Gay Rights Movement

Same Sex Marriage becomes legal in Massachusetts

1st June 2004

Just months after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that barring gays and lesbians from marrying violates the state constitution,...

Gay Rights Movement

Vermont Legally Recognizes Civil Unions

1st June 2000

Vermont becomes the first state in the country to legally recognize civil unions between gay or lesbian couples. The law states that these “couples...

Gay Rights Movement

Don't Ask Don't Tell

1st June 1993

The “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy is instituted for the U.S. military, permitting gays to serve in the military but banning homosexual activity....

Library History and Events

Gay & Lesbian Task force American Libraries Cover

1st July 1992

During the 1992 ALA Conference members of the gay and lesbian task force chose to march in the San Francisco Pride Parade. A photo from the parade was...

Library History and Events

AALL Anual Meeting Relocation campaign

1st June 1992

In 1992, the SCLGI successfully spearheaded a campaign that led to the relocation of AALL’s 1998 Annual Meeting from Denver to Anaheim, California....

Library History and Events

Intl thesaurus of gay & lesbian index terms

1st June 1988

in 1988 The Task Force on Gay Liberation convened a thesaurus committee to combine a number of existing subject term lists and produce something more...

Library History and Events

Gay Book Award oficially adopted by the ALA

1st June 1986

At the 1986 conference in New York, the Gay Task Force was able to announce that they had finally overcome all the hurdles and bureaucracy to...

Library History and Events

Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues

1st June 1985

The first meeting of what later came to be known as the SCLGI was called at the 1985 American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting in New York...

Gay Rights Movement

Berkley offers domestic partner benefits

1st June 1984

The city of Berkeley, California, becomes the first city to offer its employees domestic-partnership benefits.

Gay Rights Movement

Wisconsin outlaws gay discrimination

1st June 1982

Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Gay Rights Movement

Democrats take stance supporting gay rights

1st June 1980

At the 1980 Democratic National Convention held at New York City's Madison Square Garden, Democrats took a stance supporting gay rights, adding the...

Gay Rights Movement

APA declares homosexuality not a mental disorders

1st June 1973

The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its official list of mental disorders.

Library History and Events

Hug A Homosexual

24th June 1971

At the 1971 ALA conference,the SRRT set up the “Hug A Homosexual” booth in the main exhibit hall. This has been reported to be the first gay kissing...

Library History and Events

First Gay Book Award

20th June 1971

The Gay Book Award first awarded in 1971 to Patience and Sarah, a historical novel by Alma Routsong as Isabel Miller. Originally it was a "grassroots...

Library History and Events

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table founded

1st June 1970

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Round Table of the American Library Association is committed to serving the information needs of...

Gay Rights Movement

Stonewall Riots

28th June 1969

The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the gay community against a police raid that took place in the...

Library History and Events

ALA Conference 1969

22nd Jun 1969 - 28th Jun 1969

This conference marked the formation of the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) Concern for human and economic rights was an important...

Gay Rights Movement

Homosexuality Decriminalized in Illinois

1st June 1962

Illinois becomes the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults in private

1962

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The LGBT movements and Libraries

This timeline that shows important events in the history of the LGBT rights movement and important milestones in libraries' treatment of and service to the GLBTQ community.

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President Obama endorses same-sex...

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