Barbara Gittings
Barbara Gittings was widely regarded
as the mother of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. In 1958, Gittings started
the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), the first lesbian civil
rights organization in the U.S., and was the editor to The Ladder, the
first national lesbian magazine. In 1965, Gettings helped enlist LGBTQ+
activists for the first public demonstration for gay and lesbian equality that
paved the way for the Stonewall riot.
Read more about Barbara Gittings here: https://lgbt50.org/barbara-gittings
Gilbert Baker
Gilbert Baker was a world-famous political activist, designer, and flag-maker. After 40 years of hard work, Baker created the Rainbow Flag in 1978, becoming a universal symbol of the LGBTQ+ movement. Baker continued his legacy, creating fine art celebrating the Rainbow Flag and the gay community.
Read more about Gilbert Baker here: https://gilbertbaker.com/biography/
Edith Windsor
Edith Windsor was a technology manager at IBM and an American LGBTQ+ rights activist. After her spouse died and Windsor received a tax bill since the state didn’t recognize their marriage as legal, Windsor challenged the federal government for equal LGBTQ+ rights. In 2013, Windsor won her Supreme Court case that forced the federal government to recognize same-sex marriage.
Read more about Edith Windsor here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/iconic-lgbt-activist-edith-windsor-has-died-88-180964878/
Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin was a human rights activist known for his work during the Civil Rights Movement and was a key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. Afterwards in the 1980’s, Rustin became a part of the LGBTQ+ movement and an advocate for AIDS education.
Read more about Bayard Rustin here: https://nmaahc.si.edu/bayard-rustin
Who is some other LGBTQ+ figures that you look up to? Let us know in the comments.
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