While the stonewall riots, in 1969, are largely credited with being the first gay rights protest in the United States, and one of the most influential protests for LGBTQ rights worldwide, it was not the first time LGBTQ people protested.
On September 19, 1964, the world's first organised gay rights protest was held in front of the Army building on Whitehall Street in Manhattan, New York, City
Back in 1964, more than 2400 people were kicked out of the United States military for being gay. The actual number is estimated to be much higher, due to poor record keeping, and this 2400 number does not include all types of discharges which homosexuals were being kicked out as.
In 1964 alone, more homosexuals were kicked out of the Navy than all branches of the military combined in 2001, when Don't Ask, Don't Tell was implemented.
“I have come here today to discuss a difficult challenge”, said President Bill Clinton, “and one which has received an enormous amount of publicity and public, and private debate over the last several months: our nation's policy toward homosexuals in the military.
I believe the policy I am announcing today represents a real step forward, but I know it will raise concerns in some of your minds.
In 1991, the Secretary of Defence, Dick Cheney, was asked about reports that the Defence Department spent an alleged $500 million to separate and replace about 17,000 homosexuals from the military service during the 1980s, in spite of the findings of a government report saying there was no reason to believe that they could not serve effectively and with distinction.
There is no study showing them to be less capable, or more prone to misconduct than heterosexual soldiers.
Indeed, all the information we have indicates that they're not less capable, or more prone to misbehaviour.
When the military discharged people for being homosexual in 1964 in these record numbers, they classified them with a less than honourable discharge, and shared gay people's private information outside of the Department of Defence.
So, the members of the homosexual League of New York, the Mattachine Society of New York, Daughters of Bilitis and the New York City League for Sexual Freedom organised a formal protest to defend gay rights in the military.
These groups would later go on to make many more contributions in LGBTQ history.
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