Queer history is vast, spanning the length and width of world history! Below are just a few resources from some key moments in queer history over the past 120 years or so, and are also referenced in our Happy Pride, Riverside zine. This framing of contemporary queer history is by no means comprehensive, rather it is meant to serve as more of a jumping-off point for people interested in doing deeper research on their own.

Early 1900s

Before the world wars, a lot of progressive attitudes toward sexuality and gender expression were developing in Europe (and to a lesser extent in other parts of the world, too).

One of the thought-leaders of the time was a German physician named Magnus Hirschfeld, who founded the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee and World League for Sexual Reform, organizations that campaigned for the civil recognition and legal protection of LGBT people. 

Even in less progressive countries, freer expressions of sexuality and gender were appearing in the collective consciousness. For example, in 1901, an illegal police raid of a party in which some of the men were dressed in drag was later cited as the “invention of homosexuality in Mexico,” because it was the first time that homosexuality was openly discussed in Mexican media. 

 Pre-stonewall (1945 – 1969)

Following World War II, the fight for sexual and gender liberation would have to work against increasingly conservative social norms that emerged during the Cold War era, a time in which homosexuality and gender-diversity were broadly viewed as threats to capitalist values. Despite this, and inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, many new liberation groups would form in the 1950s and 60s, including the Mattachine Society, and the Daughters of Billitis.

Post-Stonewall (1969 – 1981)

The Stonewall riots (1969) are regarded as the beginning of the modern LGBTQ+ movement for civil equality. Other riots that happened in response to police violence against LGBTQ+ people had occurred pre-Stonewall, including the Compton’s Cafeteria riot of 1966 in San Francisco. The leaders of these moments of resistance in LGBTQ+ history were queer and trans people of color, mostly women.

Many more liberation groups and queer counterculture groups would form in the wake of Stonewall. As such, the 1970s saw a groundswell of queer expression, resistance, and pride. Important groups included the Gay Liberation Front groups in the USA and England,  Frente de liberación in Argentina (a coalition of multiple gay and lesbian liberation groups), and the Radical Faeries.

LGBTQ+ representation in the media was increasing as well; for example, depictions of drag culture (as in 1968’s The Queen), queer filmmaking from the likes of John Waters (especially films featuring Divine), and gender diversity in mainstream music (i.e. David Bowie, Elton John) all became more commonplace in the 70s. 

HIV/AIDS Era (1980s & 1990s)

HIV/AIDS first started affecting the LGBTQ+ community in the early 1980s. Despite government refusal to address the epidemic, the LGBTQ+ community really came together during this time to advocate for and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, as well as to start important conversations about sexual wellness in general. A few important activist groups from this era include the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, ACT UP, and Gay Men’s Health Crisis.

Even though the LGBTQ+ community was brutally challenged by HIV/AIDS, this would become the era in which cultural norms around harm reduction, collective care, and celebration of queer life were developed. One of the richest fruits of this tree is House music and the queer nightlife scene. Check out the Pinewalk Collection a compilation of over 200 DJ Sets from Fire Island Pines & New York City (1979-1999) for a window into the queer musical landscape over this 20 year period. Important House music pioneers from the early days include Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy, and Larry Levan.

Modern era (2000s – 2020s)

HIV/AIDS is not over, anti-LGBTQ+ activism isn’t over, and our movement still has many thresholds to breach before we truly reach civil equality. In the meantime, however, in working toward maintaining and defending our own livelihoods, we have also positively transformed mainstream society by helping to broaden cultural understandings about sexuality, gender, and relationship models, not to mention queer contributions to music, fashion, film, etc. As the mainstream perspective expands, we have seen wins such as same-sex marriage equality (2015 in the USA), increasing protections against workplace and housing discrimination (in some states), and a lot more queer representation in media.

Today, we must focus on supporting the most vulnerable in our community, specifically queer and trans women of color, and gender non-conforming children. It is still a long road ahead, but at least we know what direction we are headed in. There is no turning back now.