User:Toussaint/LGBT history in California

The history of LGBT residents in California, while very likely spanning centuries prior to the 20th, has become increasingly visible alongside the growth in numbers of openness about LGBT identities paralleling the reduction of political or criminal repercussions against non-heterosexual interactions and identities.

1940s and 1950s
The 1940's and 1950's saw the initial coordinated forays into the provision of services for LGBT people in the state. In 1947, Vice Versa, the first North American LGBT publication, was first written and self-published by Lisa Ben in Los Angeles. In 1950, The Mattachine Society, the first sustained American homosexual group, was founded in Los Angeles (November 11); In the spring of 1952, Dale Jennings was arrested for allegedly soliciting a police officer in a bathroom in Westlake Park, now known as MacArthur Park. His trial drew national attention to the Mattachine Society, and membership increased drastically after Jennings contests the charges, resulting in a hung jury. In 1955, the Daughters of Bilitis, the first major lesbian organization, was founded in San Francisco, California.

1960s
In 1961, José Sarria became the first openly gay candidate for public office in the United States when he runs for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors; Harvey Milk would win his attempted seat in 1977. Sarria would later establish the Imperial Court System, which is now one of the largest LGBT charity organizations in the world.

The Compton's Cafeteria Riot occurred in August 1966 in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco; This incident was the first recorded transgender riot in United States history, preceding the more famous 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City by three years.

In 1967, A raid on the Black Cat Tavern in Los Angeles, California promoted homosexual rights activity. The purple handprint became a symbol of gay liberation in 1969, following a San Francisco newspaper dumping purple ink on members of the Gay Liberation Front protesting their offices.

Cultural events
In 1960, The Rejected, the first documentary on homosexuality, is broadcast on KQED TV in San Francisco on 11 September 1961.

On 31 December 1969, the Cockettes, a psychedelic drag queen troupe, performed for the first time at the Palace Theatre on Union and Columbus in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco.

1970s
The 1970s saw the first major entries of LGBT residents into political and cultural participation in the state.

In 1970, the first LGBT Pride Parade was held in Los Angeles, and the first "Gay-in" held in San Francisco.

1972 San Francisco, California became one of the first cities in United States to pass a homosexual rights ordinance.

1974 - the National Socialist League (The Gay Nazi Party) is founded in Los Angeles, California.

1975 – Homosexuality is legalized in California due to bill authored by and successfully lobbied for in the state legislature by State Assemblyman from San Francisco Willie Brown.

In 1978, Samois the earliest known lesbian-feminist BDSM organization is founded in San Francisco.

In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected city-county supervisor in San Francisco, becoming the third out American elected to public office and the first in California, but both he and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by former Supervisor Dan White the next year. The controversy over the acquittal of White resulted in the 1979 White Night riots.

1980s
1982 – Laguna Beach, CA elects the first openly gay mayor in United States history. The first Gay Games is held in San Francisco, attracting 1,600 participants.

1984 - Berkeley, California becomes the first city in the U.S. to adopt a program of domestic partnership health benefits for city employees; West Hollywood, CA is founded and becomes the first known city to elect a city council where a majority of the members are openly gay or lesbian.

1990s-present
The 1990s and 2000s saw the incremental expansion of civil rights for LGBT individuals, but same-sex couples' rights became an increasingly controversial topic, with referenda and judicial cases on same-sex marriage jousting for constitutional finality.

In 1999, California adopted a domestic partnership law, becoming the first state government in the Union to legally recognize same-sex couples in any way. In 2000, the state passed Proposition 22, which restricted state recognition of marriage to opposite-sex couples. However, in May 2008, the California Supreme Court struck down the initiative in In re Marriage Cases, leading to the marriage of over 85500 same-sex couples between May and November. In November of the same year, the Supreme Court ruling was struck down by Proposition 8, resulting in protests and judicial cases. One of the cases, Perry v. Schwarzenegger, resulted in a 2010 victory for same-sex couples, but further marriages for same-sex couples remain on hold pending appeal.