Lesbian, gay and bisexual matters

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	"If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door." Harvey Milk, a gay city politician, San Francisco, on 1978-NOV-18. He was assassinated nine days later, by a bullet.
	I [God] hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies...but let justice roll down like the waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." Amos 5:21-24, Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament).

Gay liberation during the first half of the 20^th century:

Prior to World War II, there was a near consensus among mental health professionals, human sexuality researchers, theologians and others that homosexuality was a mental disorder which materialized as chosen, abnormal, deviant, and unnatural sexual behavior. Same-sex behavior was criminalized by laws in all states, most of which had existed without modifications since the colonial or Victorian eras. Homosexuals didn't really have much of an agenda or a liberation movement in those days. Their prime concern was to keep a very low profile -- in order to stay alive, and avoid assaults by gay bashers. Their second main concern was try to hold onto a job in a homophobic world where continued employment and accommodation usually required them to remain deeply in the closet.

Gay liberation during the second half of the 20^th century:

A series of developments occurred during the second half of the 20th century which led to the creation of a gay liberation movement. Some of the major events leading toward equal rights for gays and lesbians are listed in the following essays. Unfortunately, recording the most important developments ignores the tens of thousands of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals who tirelessly worked tirelessly to accomplish small, incremental changes, without receiving much credit.

See major developments during the:

	1950s
	1960s
	1970s
	1980s
	1990s
	2000s

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