Clio Logo
This is a contributing entry and appears exclusively within that tour.Learn More.
Every region had it's own LGBTQ+ movement that inspired change. For New York, it was the Stonewall Riot. For the District of Columbia, it was series of events. In the 1950s, the "Lavender Scare" (following the Red Scare) caused thousands of government employees who were believed to be gay or lesbian to be fired.

The Mattachine Society picketing in front of the White House in 1965

Standing, Monochrome, Black-and-white, Pedestrian

Every region had its own LGBTQ+ movement that inspired change. For New York, it was the Stonewall Riot. For the District of Columbia, it was series of events. In the 1950s, the "Lavender Scare" (following the Red Scare) caused thousands of government employees who were believed to be gay or lesbian to be fired. As a result, in 1961, the Mattachine Society, a gay rights organization, began recruiting in D.C. and started picketing in front of the White House in mainstream clothing. Their goal was to seem acceptable and employable.

Although very little change came from these efforts, it marked the beginning of DC's LGBTQ+ movement

Kirchick, James. Stonewall Wasn’t the Start of the Gay Rights Struggle, The Wall Street Journal. June 22nd 2019. Accessed December 8th 2020. https://www.wsj.com/articles/stonewall-wasnt-the-start-of-the-gay-rights-struggle-11561176061.

Srikanth, Anagha. From Stonewall to the White House: the LGBTQ+ rights movement in DC, WTOP News. June 28th 2019. Accessed December 8th 2020. https://wtop.com/dc/2019/06/from-stonewall-to-the-white-house-the-lgbtq-rights-movement-in-dc/.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

The Wall Street Journal