The Gay Liberation Movement By Beth Moretzsky, Leland Soiefer, Thomas Koshy, and Thomas Pirozzi

The Movement Emerges At this time anti-war and Civil rights movements were occurring inspiring Gays and Lesbians to become more radical Prejudice to gays such as being stated as a mental illness and the unfair treatment such as the Black cat raid and the Stonewall riot gave reason to rise up in protest

Goals of the Movement Sought to end sodomy laws which banned homosexual acts Fought for an end to discrimination against gays and lesbians Sought legal, social, and economical equality

The Stonewall Riot A nightlong riot that took place in 1969 in response to a police raid on Stonewall Inn, a homosexual bar in Greenwich Village, June 28, people were arrested and hundreds gathered to protest

Effects of the Stonewall Riot Commemoration monument sculpted by George Segal The first gay and lesbian rights march on Washington takes place, July 27, 1969

The Black Cat Raid Took place in Los Angeles New Years Eve Vice-squad officers raided the Black Cat Bar minutes after ball dropped. 16 Patrons including three bartenders were beaten down and then dragged out of the bar and left facedown on the sidewalk to face arrest charges Officers then raided a second bar beating the manager and bartender

Churches Lash Out Churches strictly believed that conception should and always should be between a man and a women Homosexuality was viewed as a mortal sin Gays were banned from all church activities and celebrations

Milestones in the Gay Liberation Movement 1973 – The American Psychiatric Association ruled that homosexuality would no longer be classified as a mental illness 1975 – The U.S. Civil Service Commission lifted a ban on the employment of homosexuals

Gays and Lesbians in Pop Culture Artists began to emerge proclaiming their pride in homosexuality Such artists included Elton John, Liberace, and Freddie Mercury Having widespread popular musicians proclaiming their sexual preference helped to promote pride in the homosexual comunity

Achievements of the Movement Gay pride parades were established by Brenda Howard to commemorate The Stonewall Riot In 1974 Homosexuality was not longer considered a mental illness and was now viewed as gender confusion The international Gay and Lesbian was established in 1978