19 Powerful Photos From The Early Struggle For LGBT Rights

1. A lesbian couple at a demonstration in Albany, N.Y. in 1977.

Via: Diana Davies photographs/New York Public Library

2. Members of the Gay Activists Alliance holding a sit-in at New York State Republican headquarters in New York City in 1970.

Via: Diana Davies photographs/New York Public Library

3. Two men at a demonstration in Albany in 1971.

Via: Diana Davies photographs/New York Public Library

4. The Gay Liberation Day march in New York City in June 1970.

Via: Kay Tobin Lahusen/New York Public Library

5. A man holding a sign at a demonstration in Albany in 1971.

Via: Diana Davies photographs/New York Public Library

6. The Gay Liberation Front marching on Times Square in 1969.

Via: Diane Davis photographs/New York Public Library

7. A gay rights picket line at the Pentagon in the summer of 1965.

Via: Kay Tobin Lahusen/New York Public Library

8. A “Straights for Gays” sign at the Philadelphia Gay Pride rally and march in June 1972.

Via: Kay Tobin Lahusen/New York Public Library

9. Marsha P. Johnson picketing NYC’s Bellevue Hospital to protest unfair treatment of street people and gays in the 1970s.

Via: Diana Davies Photographs/New York Public Library

10. People participating in Christopher Street Liberation Day, which was close to the two-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots, which were largely considered the catalyst to the LGBT rights movement.

Via: Diana Davies Photographs/New York Public Library

11. Protestors picketing in front of the White House in 1965 over federal employment restrictions.

Via: Kay Tobin Lahusen/New York Public Library

12. People picketing at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4, 1966, in support of gay rights.

Via: Kay Tobin Lahusen/New York Public Library

13. A New York City gay pride march in 1982.

Via: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center/New York Public Library

14. The lead banner in the 1972 Philadelphia pride parade.

Via: Kay Tobin Lahusen/New York Public Library

15. Gay rights icon Frank Kameny during his campaign for Congress in 1971.

Via: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center/New York Public Library

16. The Gay Activist Alliance demonstrating against Mafia-controlled gay bars and police harassment in August 1971 in Greenwich Village.

Via: Diana Davies Photographs/New York Public Library

17. People at the Gay Liberation Front march on Times Square in New York City in 1969.

Via: Diana Davies Photographs/New York Public Library

18. A woman holding a poster that says, “I am your worst fear I am your best fantasy,” at the Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day parade in 1970.

Via: Diana Davies Photographs/New York Public Library

19. LGBT protestors marching against the Vietnam War in New York City in November 1971.

Via: Diana Davies Photographs/New York Public Library

All photos via the New York Public Library’s digital collections.

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On Marriage Equality, Rand Paul Raises Bestiality Issue

Sen. Rand Paul made a remark yesterday about same-sex marriage paving the path for marriage between humans and nonhumans, but he quickly backtracked on it, with an aide characterizing it as “sarcasm.”

Discussing the Supreme Court’s marriage equality rulings on Glenn Beck’s radio show, after Beck raised the possibility of polygamous marriage, Paul said, “It is difficult, because if we have no laws on this, people will take it to one extension further — does it have to be humans?”

Paul spokeswoman Moira Bagley then told The Washington Post, “Sarcasm sometimes doesn’t translate adequately from radio conversation. “Senator Paul did not suggest that striking down [the Defense of Marriage Act] could lead to unusual marriage arrangements. What he was discussing was that having the state recognize marriage without definition could lead to marriages with no basis in reality.”

'Judgement Gay'

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GAY COUSIN OF CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS TO GET MARRIED

The gay cousin of chief justice John Roberts is getting married now that Roberts sent Prop 8 back to California, effectively re-legalizing same-sex marriage in the state.

Show your pride. Share your love.

Scalia Slams 'Legalistic Argle-Bargle' adn Re-Argues 'Homosexual Sodomy' In Dissenting DOMA Rant

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National Organization for Marriage ‘outraged’ by ‘illegitimate’ court rulings

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) on Wednesday said it was “outraged” at the U.S. Supreme Court’s actions to dismiss Proposition 8 on procedural grounds, and for invalidating a key element of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

NOM President Brian Brown

The group called the decision “illegitimate” and that it will be rejected by tens of millions of Americans, and demanded that Congress continue to protect the right of states to reject same-sex marriages performed in other states or countries.

“In a miscarriage of justice the US Supreme Court has refused to consider the decision of a single federal court judge to overturn the perfectly legal action of over 7 million California voters who passed Proposition 8 defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” said Brain Brown, NOM’s president.

“The Supreme Court’s holding that proponents of an initiative had no legal right to appeal ignores California law and rewards corrupt politicians for abandoning their duty to defend traditional marriage laws. It’s imperative that Congress continue to preserve the right of states to protect true marriage and refuse to recognize faux marriages performed in other states or countries.”

“There is a stench coming from this case that has now stained the Supreme Court. They’ve allowed corrupt politicians and judges to betray the voters, rewarding them for their betrayal. It’s an illegitimate decision. We and millions of other Americans will refuse to accept this rogue decision rewarding corruption.”

The court handed two major victories to advocates of gay marriage, ruling that same-sex couples should get the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples and clearing the way for the resumption of same-sex marriages in California, the most populous U.S. state.

10 Ways The DOMA Repeal Will Affect 'Traditional Marriage'

After the Supreme Court's landmark decision that the Defense Of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, it's time to look at the top 10 ways heterosexual marriage will be affected now that it's not being defended.

1. Uh...

2. Uhhh...

3. Hmm...

4. Just a sec...

5. It's like... You know how... It's like when things... Right?

6. We swear we just had one

7. It's coming... Wait for it...

8. Hey! Look over there!

9. Wait, where are you going?

10. Global warming?

Chris Christie Blasts Gay Marriage Rulings

Same-Sex Marriages In California Should Begin Immediately

California Attorney General Kamala Harris gave a triumphant press conference Wednesday morning in reaction to the Supreme Court's decision to effectively dismiss California's Proposition 8, which barred same-sex couples from marrying.

In an exuberant speech delivered in downtown Los Angeles, Harris said that all 58 counties in California must abide by Northern California Judge Vaughn Walker's 2010 ruling that declared Prop 8 unconstitutional.

She also strongly urged the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to lift the stay on same-sex marriages as soon as possible -- even before the usual 25-day waiting period until the Supreme Court clerk notifies the lower court of its judgement.

"I am absolutely saying that if the 9th Circuit lifts its stay before the 25 days, that marriages can resume in California -- and shall resume in California," Harris said. "As soon as they lift that stay, marriages are on."

“Who Cares?” Asks Nancy Pelosi

Michelle Bachmann, no doubt still smarting from the closure of the ex-gay ministry Exodus International, is pissed about the SCOTUS ruling on DOMA and Prop. 8.

The former Republican Presidential hopeful issued a statement this morning that read:

“No man, not even a Supreme Court, can undo what a holy God has instituted. For thousands of years of recorded human history, no society has defended the legal standard of marriage as anything other than between man and woman.”Bachmann claims the court action “will undermine the best interest of children and the best interests of the United States.”

Prop 8 is unconstitutional!

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Loving v. Virginia

46 years ago this month (June 12, 1967), the Supreme Court ruled on Loving v. Virginia, declaring that bans on interracial marriage were unconstitutional. May we continue to walk toward freedom for all, overcoming hate and prejudice with love and justice!

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Small Colorado Town Outcasts 13-Year-Old Boy Raped By Pencil In Sick Hazing Ritual

A 13-year-old boy was sodomized by a group of his peers last year, but instead of rushing to his defense, the small Colorado town in which he lived took sides with his tormentors.

Bloomberg News reports that during a high school wrestling tournament in Denver last February, three upperclassmen from Norwood, Colorado cornered the 13-year-old on an empty school bus, bound him with duct tape and sodomized him with a pencil as some form of hazing ritual.

The boy was the son of Norwood’s k-12 principal, who, after reporting the incident to police, was forced to resign by the townspeople. Students lodged protests against the victim, putting “Go to Hell” stickers on his locker and wearing T-shirts supporting his attackers.

Making matter worse, two of the attackers were sons of Robert Harris, the wrestling coach and president of the school board. When the victim’s father confronted Harris, he claims the coach said nothing had happened, only to later tell him, “This happens 1,000 times a day around the U.S.”

According to Bloomberg, more than 40 high school boys were sodomized with foreign objects by their teammates in over a dozen alleged incidents reported in the past year alone; an alarming increase from just three such reported incidents a decade ago.

Due to his personal involvement with the case, the principal stepped aside and let school officials dole out punishment. He had hoped they would handle the perpetrators properly, but he was severly disappointed when Superintendent David Crewes gave them a measly one-day in-school suspension. Harris recused himself from the board’s discussions and eventually resigned.

Neither Crewes nor the school board reported the incident to police, leaving the victim’s father no other choice but to do so himself. The three boys were arrested and charged as juveniles with kidnapping, sexual assault and false imprisonment. News of the arrest spread like wildfire through the town of 500, and the victim and his family were the ones who inevitably got burned.

Ruling in Colo. civil rights case favors transgender 6-year-old

A 6-year-old transgender girl will be able to return to school after winning the right to use the girls’ restroom.

The New York-based Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund announced the ruling in favor of Coy Mathis on Sunday. Lawyers plan to explain the ruling Monday in Denver.

Coy Mathis

The group filed the complaint on behalf of Kathryn and Jeremy Mathis claiming that the first-grader had been discriminated against at Eagleside Elementary School in Fountain, near Colorado Springs.

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 has declined to discuss the case, but Coy’s parents said they were told in December that she had to either use the bathroom in the teachers’ lounge or one in the nurse’s office after the holiday break. The Mathises feared going along with that would stigmatize Coy and open her up to bullying.

Transgender student allegedly told not to use school washrooms

James Spencer, a transgender teen at Clarke High School in Canada, spoke out against his school when he was barred from using the men's restroom.

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Ellen Discusses 'Bully' and thanks Katy Butler

Katy Butler, an openly lesbian Michigan teen, started a campaign to get the Motion Picture Association of America to change the R rating of the film "Bully" to PG-13 so that teens could view it.

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Transgender Teen Wins Fight to Wear Dress to Prom

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NBA's Jason Collins' Announcement Inspires Broward Teen Football Player

Leo Washington, a Hollywood Hills High School football captain, was inspired by NBA center Jason Collins to come out and tell his story.

 

Gay High School Senior Thanks His Class for Accepting Him

When speaking at Fairview High School graduation ceremony in Boulder, CO, speaker Ted Chalfen immediately cut to the chase.

“I’m going to skip all of the clichés I want to rattle off right now, and get right to the point…I’m gay. Many, if not most, of the students here today know this, and most of them don’t really care. That is exactly the reason why I decided I had to give this speech.”

“This generation is never going to accomplish the things I know it to be capable of unless we stop thinking of each other in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’…Like it or not, we’re all in this together.”

A Transgender Child Fights to be Recognized as a Girl

 Six-year-old Coy Mathis, a transgender girl whose Colorado school refused to let her use the girls' bathroom, has helped shed light on transgender youth issues and helped ignite a debate over anti-discrimination laws.

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Emma in California

Emma Delsohn, an out lesbian basketball player and songwriter who attends an all-girls Catholic high school in Southern California, encourages other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth to come out.

DISOWNED BY HIS PARENTS, THIS GAY AMERICAN'S GOT TALENT

America’s Got Talent hopeful Jonathan Allen was disowned by his family on his 18th birthday for being gay, and the singer has been estranged from his parents for more than two years — a heartbreaking backstory you'd never hear on American Idol.

"I want them to see what I’ve done with my life," says the adorkable contestant before taking the stage. "I’m not a bad person for being who I am, and I really want them to see that."

Then he proceeds to serve Bocelli realness and get a standing ovation from the crowd and the judges, including a very supportive Howie Mandel. "Music is what makes me feel like I belong," Jonathan continues. "In my darkest moments, I can escape through music."

Southern Baptists Past Resolution Quitting the Boy Scouts

The Southern Baptist Convention approved a resolution today opposing and expressing disappointment in the Boy Scouts of America's recent decision to allow openly gay youth to participate in the organization. 

While the resolution does not require individual churches within the convention to cut ties with any scout troops, it does express solidarity with churches and leaders who decide to do so, according to the Associated Press. The resolution also calls on the BSA to remove executive and board leaders who voted to allow openly gay youth to serve within the organization without consulting the religious institutions that sponsor many local troops.

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Church of England gives up fight against gay marriage:

"In a short statement, the established Church said that the scale of the majorities in both the Commons and Lords made clear that it is the will of Parliament that same sex couples 'should' be allowed to marry."

GERMANY'S TOP COURT GRANTS TAX EQUALITY TO SAME-SEX COUPLES

The Federal constitutional Court in Karlsruhe ruled today that treating civil unions and marriages differently for tax purposes is "unequal treatment because of sexual orientation," and thus violates the country's guarantee of equal rights for its citizens. The court saw right to the heart of the matter:

The court acknowledged that married couples enjoy special privileges because the partners also accept a strong responsibility for each other, including financial, but it argued that the civil union implies the same duties and responsibilities for gay partners.

72 PERCENT OF AMERICANS SEE MARRIAGE EQUALITY AS 'INEVITABLE'

The percentage of Americans who believe same-sex marriage is "inevitable" has increased by 13% since 2004, a new Pew Research poll shows:

As support for gay marriage continues to increase, nearly three-quarters of Americans – 72% – say that legal recognition of same-sex marriage is “inevitable.” This includes 85% of gay marriage supporters, as well as 59% of its opponents.

The national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted May 1-5 among 1,504 adults, finds that support for same-sex marriage continues to grow: For the first time in Pew Research Center polling, just over half (51%) of Americans favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally. Yet the issue remains divisive, with 42% saying they oppose legalizing gay marriage. Opposition to gay marriage – and to societal acceptance of homosexuality more generally – is rooted in religious attitudes, such as the belief that engaging in homosexual behavior is a sin.

German court rules gay couples in civil unions deserve marriage tax breaks

Gay rights campaigners won a victory over the German government Thursday as the country’s top court ruled that same-sex couples in civil unions should receive the same tax benefits as heterosexual married couples.

The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe ruled that treating the two forms of partnership differently for tax purposes violates the country’s guarantee of equal rights.

Tennessee Family Launches Petition To Strip Anti-Gay Lawmaker Of “Reformer Of The Year” Title

A Tennessee family is taking a stand against anti-LGBT legislation and the elected officials supporting it in their state by launching a petition against a local nonprofit that named notoriously anti-gay Tennessee legislator John Ragan “Reformer of the Year.”

John Ragan was the co-sponsor of last year’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, a bill that would have forbid teachers to acknowledge any type of sexuality that isn’t “related to natural human history.” After the “Don’t Say Gay” bill died, Ragan introduced the “Classroom Protection Act” in February of this year, which would force teachers and administrators to out LGBT children to their parents and assist in seeking psychological counseling after.

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London Gay Men’s Chorus Sings For ‘A Little Respect’ On Marriage Bill Outside House Of Lords

Hundreds attended a rally Monday afternoon outside the British House of Lords, as the centuries-old body was debating a same-sex marriage bill. Among the attendees was the London Gay Men’s Chorus, singing Erasure’s “A Little Respect,” in hopes the Lords will respect their right to marry.

GAY 'CUTEST COUPLE' GOES TO PROM

Brad Taylor and Dylan Meehan, the gay Carmel, NY couple who have become a viral internet sensation this week, talk to USA Today as they headed to prom.