Pride Movement History

World War I veteran Henry Gerber founded the Society for Human Rights in Chicago. The group was the first gay rights group in America, and its newsletter, “Friendship and Freedom,” was the United States’ first recorded gay rights publication

Robert Cowell, a Second World War fighter pilot, and professional racing driver, decided to change his life. Instead, he chose to become “a woman physically, psychologically, glandular and legally” as so stated in her autobiography.

In San Francisco, transgender women and drag queens fought back against police harassment at Compton's Cafeteria, marking one of the first recorded LGBTQIA+ uprisings in the United States.

Decriminalization of Homosexuality: This act decriminalized homosexual acts in private between two men over the age of 21 in England and Wales, marking a significant step towards legal recognition of gay rights

Of all historical LGBT events, The Stonewall Riots are among the most infamous. On June 28 1969, The Stonewall Inn, an LGBT bar in New York City was subjected to a random and violent police raid. Having finally had enough of the years of abuse against them, the LGBT community finally retaliated. These riots are considered a catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

On the 1 of July 1972, just three years after The Stonewall Riots, 2,000 people took to the streets of London. Marching for their rights, they triggered an annual event that is now celebrated all over the world. 2,000 people is just a scratch on the surface of the 1.5 million who went to London pride, 2019. 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall March.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the first cases of a rare pneumonia among gay men in Los Angeles, later identified as AIDS. This marked the beginning of the AIDS crisis, which had a profound impact on the LGBTQIA+ community worldwide.

Homosexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order: This order decriminalized homosexual acts in private between two men over the age of 21 in Northern Ireland.

Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) originated from a collection made at the 1984 Pride March for the striking miners. Shortly afterwards a meeting was held at the University of London Union with speakers from the South Wales National Union of Miners (NUM), this led to the formation of LGSM. LGSM was a single-issue group, which sought to support the miners and their communities in their fight against Thatcherism.

Stonewall UK is now the largest LGBT organisation in Europe. It was founded by Sir Ian McKellen, Lisa Power MBE, and Lord Cashman CBE in response to Section 28 and to campaign for LGBT rights.

This was a major step backwards for the promotion of LGBTQ+ rights and awareness, triggering a huge uproar and renewed momentum in LGBTQ+ activism. The Section stated that local authorities “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”.

Just 4 years after the enforcement of Section 28, the world breathed a sigh of relief when The World Health Organisation (WHO) finally declassified homosexuality as a mental illness. Homosexuality was removed from ICD-10, WHO’s tenth revision of International Classification of Diseases

The world saw a significant decline in the number of gay men being diagnosed with AIDS, marking a pivotal moment in the fight against the epidemic that had devastated the LGBTQIA+ community since the early 1980s. This decline was largely attributed to the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy

The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage on April 1, 2001. This landmark legislation allowed same-sex couples to marry and adopt children, setting a precedent for many other countries to follow.

Lisbon Treaty: The Lisbon Treaty included a Charter of Fundamental Rights that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation across the European Union.

Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Law: This act provided protection against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender reassignment, and other characteristics in various sectors including employment, education, and services.

The UK legalized same-sex marriage in England and Wales, allowing same-sex couples to marry and have the same legal rights as opposite-sex couples

Ireland became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote on May 22, 2015. The historic referendum saw a resounding 62% of voters in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage, highlighting significant progress in public attitudes toward LGBTQIA+ rights.

Germany became the first European country to recognize a third gender on birth certificates, allowing individuals to be registered as "diverse."

In 2017, the United Kingdom lifted its ban on transgender individuals serving openly in the military. This policy change marked a significant step towards equality and inclusivity in the armed forces, ensuring that individuals could serve their country regardless of gender identity.

On September 6, 2018, the Indian Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict that struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, effectively decriminalizing consensual homosexual acts. This historic ruling marked a significant step towards equality and justice, affirming the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals in India..

In 2020, the UK government mandated that all schools must teach an LGBTQIA+ inclusive curriculum. This initiative ensures that students learn about diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, promoting understanding, acceptance, and reducing stigma from a young age.

As LGBTQ rights gain momentum globally, many countries are pushing back with stringent legal measures. From the US's controversial laws to Uganda's life-threatening penalties, the battle is far from over. Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is trying to score points with voters with what critics have dubbed the "don’t say gay" law. It prohibits the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in Florida schools.