Decades Of Pride in the Nation’s Capital!

Timeline of Triumph, Struggle and Resilience

Our Mission Our Team Our Community

Late 1940s
PROSECUTE IN THE CAPITAL
US Park Police launch Pervert Elimination Campaign to arrest, investigate, and prosecute gay men cruising the city’s parks
1948
LAWS TARGETING GAYS

Congress passes a sodomy law for DC. The law, introduced by Rep. Arthur Miller (R-Neb.), established a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine up to $1,000 and remained in effect and unaltered until it was repealed in 1995.

1948
1950
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION

Employment of Homosexuals and Other Perverts in Government, Senate report This report allowed job discrimination and denial of security clearances and launched a lengthy campaign to clean the “perverts” out of government employment.
1950
CAREERS DESTROYED
State Department announces purge of 91 homosexuals, the start of a government-wide campaign that would claim more than 10,000 careers – and some lives.

1950
1953
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES FIRED

President Eisenhower signs executive order that allows firing of federal employees for “sexual perversion.”
1957
DR. FRANKLIN KAMENY APPEALS TO SUPREME COURT
Kameny was fired from his job with the U.S. Army Map Service for being a homosexual, and barred from future federal employment. He appeals the firing all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

1957
1957
NOB HILL OPENS
Nob Hill became the longest continuously operating gay club in DC and one of the oldest black gay clubs in the US. It closed in 2004.
1961
MATTACHINE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON FORMED

The first DC gay activist group, Mattachine fought for civil rights on security clearances and job discrimination. Founded by Dr. Franklin E Kameny with Paul Kuntzler, Eva Freund, Jack Nichols, Lilli Vincenz and others.

1961
1961
OSCARS/ACADEMY AWARDS OF WASHINGTON FORMED
‘Liz Taylor’ started the first ‘safe haven’ for female impersonators in the DC area.
1963
MARCH ON WASHINGTON HAS OPENLY GAY LEADER
Openly gay Bayard Rustin organizes the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a seminal event in the civil rights movement.

1963
1965
FIRST GAY PICKETING OF WHITE HOUSE

Early supporters of gay rights protest openly in front of the White House.
1966
THE HOMOSEXUAL CITIZEN PUBLISHED

DC’s first local civil rights magazine, The Homosexual Citizen, published by the Mattachine Society.

1966
1968
PLUS ONE OPENS
DC’s first gay disco drew mixed male and female crowds. Its opening was the first opportunity for same-sex dancing in DC.
June 28, 1969
RIOTS AT THE STONEWALL INN

Violent confrontations, between police and gay rights activists outside the Stonewall Inn, in NYC.

June 28, 1969
1969
WASHINGTON GAY BLADE

Later renamed the Washington Blade. The local paper has been in continuous operation since its founding, focusing on civil rights, news and events.

Photo sourced from Washington Blade.
1970
PHASE 1 OPENS
Phase 1 is the oldest continually operating lesbian bar in the U.S. and the oldest operating LGBT bar in DC.

1970
1971
KAMENY FOR CONGRESS CAMPAIGN
Kameny was the first openly gay man to run in a political campaign in DC (for DC Delegate to Congress).
1971
GAY ACTIVISTS ALLIANCE DC FOUNDED

GAA (later GLAA) is the oldest continuously active gay activist group in DC.

1971
1971
EARTHWORKS OPENS
Deacon Maccubbin opened the first openly gay non-bar business in DC, site of the first gay hotline and first gay bookstore.
1971
DC EAGLE OPENS
1971
1971
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH FORMED
1972
DIGNITY DC
The Dignity DC chapter is organized.

1972
1972
DC SCHOOL BOARD RESOLUTION BANS DISCRIMINATION
In a landmark decision, the School Board extended the first civil rights protection to homosexuals.
1972
FIRST GAY PRIDE CELEBRATED IN DC
The first celebration took place as perceptions began to change, but it does not yet become an annual event.

1972
1973
WASHINGTON FREE CLINIC OPENS
Known as the Gay Men’s VD Clinic, the first gay and lesbian community medical support organization began in the basement of Georgetown Lutheran Church.
1973
TITLE 34 RIGHTS PROTECTION ADOPTED
This first citywide human rights ordinance provided protection to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered men and women.

1973
1974
LAMBDA RISING OPENS

Lambda Rising became the leading gay bookstore in DC
1974
LAMMAS WOMEN’S BOOKSTORE & MORE OPENS
Lammas catered to the women’s community until it closed in 2000.

1974
1975
ESTABLISHMENT OF ANNUAL GAY PRIDE IN DC

The first annual Pride celebration was organized in June by Deacon Maccubbin and held on 20th St between R and S NW. Photo Credit – The Washington Blade
1975
BET MISHPACHAH FOUNDED
Bet Mishpachah is a Jewish congregation welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Jews.

1975
1976
GERTRUDE STEIN DEMOCRATIC CLUB FORMED
1977
CINEMA FOLLIES FIRE
A tragic fire at a gay adult theater killed – and outed – nine men.

1977
1978
WALT WHITMAN REPUBLICAN CLUB FORMED
The Walt Whitman Club was one of the first gay Republican groups in the nation and became the Capital Area Log Cabin Club.
1978
BROTHER, HELP THYSELF ORGANIZED
BHT funds many fledgling community groups, AIDS support organizations and community institutions.

1978
1978
WHITMAN-WALKER CLINIC FOUNDED

The earliest and most widely based LGBT health organization opens. In 2011, it would change its name to Whitman-Walker Health.
1979
FIRST MARCH ON WASHINGTON

1979
1981
GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF WASHINGTON FORMED
1981
FIRST HIV/AIDS SUPPORT SERVICES OFFERED AT WHITMAN-WALKER

1981
1981
ARLINGTON GAY AND LESBIAN ALLIANCE FOUNDED
1981
DC DECRIMINALIZES SODOMY, UNSUCCESSFULLY
Congress overrules the DC City Council and keeps the law in place.

1981
1981
FIRST REPORT OF AIDS IN DC
1983
MAJOR AIDS FORUM HELD AT LISNER AUDITORIUM

This public forum organized by Whitman-Walker Clinic drew 1,200 men.

Photo courtesy of Metro Weekly

1983
1983
THE ALEXANDRIA GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED
1984
SEXUAL MINORITY YOUTH ASSISTANCE LEAGUE FOUNDED
1984
1984
AIDS EVALUATION UNIT
Whitman-Walker opens the first gay, community-based medical unit devoted to evaluation/diagnosis of AIDS symptoms.
1985
US HELPING US FORMED
1985
1986
FIRST HIGH HEEL DRAG RACE
1986
JR’S BAR & GRILL OPENS
1986
1987
FIRST AIDS QUILT DISPLAY ON THE NATIONAL MALL
1987
SECOND MARCH ON WASHINGTON
1987
1987
1ST DC AIDS WALK
1988
METRO TEEN AIDS FORMED
1988
1989
MAUTNER PROJECT FORMED
The medical and social support group was formed in honor of Mary-Helen Mautner to help lesbians living with cancer. It merged with Whitman-Walker in 2013.
1989
BIWOMEN’S AND BIMEN’S NETWORK FOUNDED
1989
1990
ACT UP DEMONSTRATIONS AT NIH

ACT UP organized protests over AIDS research priorities at NIH, more than 1,000 demonstrators participated.
1991
FIRST DC BLACK PRIDE HELD
1991
1993
THIRD MARCH ON WASHINGTON
1993
“DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL”

The controversial policy for LGBT military personnel becomes law.

1993
1993
DC COUNCIL LEGALIZES PRIVATE CONSENSUAL SODOMY
Congress overrules the DC City Council and keeps the law in place.
1994
METROWEEKLY MAGAZINE DEBUTED

1994
1995
TYRA HUNTER DEATH PROTESTS

Tyra Hunter, transgendered victim in a traffic accident, was neglected by EMS paramedics, sparking protests and investigations of DC Fire Department and EMS handling of transgendered people.
1996
TRANSGENDER HEALTH EMPOWERMENT OPENS
1996
1996
DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT BECOMES LAW
1997
DAVID CATANIA ELECTED FIRST GAY DC COUNCIL MEMBER
1997
1997
JAY FISETTE BECOMES FIRST OPENLY GAY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN VIRGINIA
1999
GAY MUSLIM GROUP AL-FATIHAH ORGANIZED

1999
2000
PRIDE IN THE METROPOLITAN POLICE

DC Metropolitan Police Department’s Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit Formed
2000
MILLENNIUM MARCH (FOURTH MARCH ON WASHINGTON)
2000
2001
DC DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS BEGIN
2003
SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS STATE SODOMY LAWS
2003
2003
NATIONAL CENTER FOR TRANSGENDER EQUALITY FOUNDED
2005
GENDER IDENTITY PROTECTIONS

DC City Council adds gender identity protections to the DC Human Rights Act.

2005
2009
MATTHEW SHEPARD AND JAMES C. BYRD HATE CRIMES LAW PASSED
2009
NATIONAL EQUALITY MARCH (FIFTH MARCH ON WASHINGTON)

2009
2009
DC MARRIAGE EQUALITY LAW PASSES, SIGNED INTO LAW
2011
“DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL” LAW REPEALED

2011
2012
CASA RUBY OPENS
Casa Ruby is a multicultural LGBT organization providing educational, health, housing, and social services to individuals facing poverty in the nation’s capital.
2012
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, GAY ALLY
President Obama becomes first sitting President to openly support marriage equality.

2012
2012
TAGG MAGAZINE LAUNCHES
Tagg magazine launched to serve lesbians, bisexual women and the transgender community.
2013
SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS PART OF DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT
2013
2015
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LEGALIZED IN ALL 50 STATES
2015
SUPREME COURT OBERGFELL VS HODGES 2015

2015