History of LGBT Rights

A brief history

Throughout most of history LGBTQ+ individuals have been persecuted despite there having been gay people in all species in all of history. There is evidence that many significant historical figures had some sort of LGBT background. Only in recent decades have there been big steps forward for LGBTQ+ rights, most of them happening in the last 15 years in the US.

Who are LGBTQIA+ individuals?

LGBTQIA+ stands for "lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual". This is an umbrella term that includes a majority of sexual orientations we see today but also includes gender identities. Some common identities/orientations missing from this initialism are "pansexual" and "nonbinary".

1600s

Homosexuality and sodomy were criminalized in colonies of the United States.

1624

Members of the Virginia Colony are executed for homosexuality.

1649

First documented conviction, arrest, and execution for lesbian behavior in America.

1828

First Webster's Dictionary is published, using biblical descriptions of terms for gay people, including "sodomite" in definition of "Abuser".

1779

Thomas Jefferson proposes a Virginia law to make sodomy punishable by castration, rather than by death.

1791

[GLOBAL] France becomes the first country to decriminalize homosexuality.

1856

James Buchanan was elected President of the United States. He is know to be the first gay president and the only one to not be married.

1978

The first rainbow pride flag is debuted in San Francisco.

1994

The US Attorney General issues an order that recognizes persecution based on sexual orientation will make a person eligible for asylum.

2001

[GLOBAL] The Netherlands becomes the first country to recognize same-sex marriage.

2015

The US recognizes same-sex marriage equality in all 50 states.

2020

[GLOBAL] Russia amends their constitution to put a ban on same-sex marriage.

Sources: White House, Wikipedia, United Nations Free and Equal, Teaching LGBT History, Council on Foreign Relations

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