Initiative 13 defeated Washington Supreme Court decides Madeleine Isaacson and Sandra Schuster can maintain custody of their children, the first successful lesbian mothers’ custody case in the United States. Miami-Dade County residents overturn county’s ordinance protecting gay people from housing discrimination Harvey Milk elected to San Francisco Board of Supervisors Mayor Wes Uhlman declares first city-recognized “Gay Pride Week,” Catholic Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen endorses Uhlman’s declaration Stonewall Riots in New York City, memorialized as birth of the Gay Liberation Movement despite earlier riots in response to police raids in San Francisco (1965) and Los Angeles (1967)įirst Gay Pride celebrations take place, commemorating the anniversary of the Stonewall Riotsįirst Gay Community Center opens near Pioneer Square Lesbian Resource Center opens in the University District Paul Barwick and John Singer apply for marriage licenseĬity Council passes an employment nondiscrimination ordinance protecting homosexualsĪmerican Psychological Association removes homosexuality from its list of “mental disorders.”Ĭity Council passes a housing nondiscrimination ordinance protecting homosexuals The Dorian Society opens a de facto gay community center in a house on Capitol Hill Seattle Counseling Services for Sexual Minorities begins in the Dorian house Homophile League founded at Columbia University as first gay organization on a college campus MacIver Wells exposes police payoff systemįirst gay organization in Seattle, the Dorian Society founded Peter Wichern on the cover of Seattle magazine
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Massive growth of gay bars in Seattle as a result of police payoff system Seattle Aquarian Church founder Keith Rhineheart convicted of sodomy
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Illinois overturns its sodomy law, the first U.S. Olesen that the First Amendment protected the right of One, Inc. Lesbian bars first established in Seattle Lesbian organization Daughters of Bilitis formed in San Francisco Purging of homosexuals from the federal government begins the “Lavender Scare ” Homophile organization, Mattachine Society, founded in Los Angeles Walter Freeman arrives at Western State Hospital, Steilacoom, performing 13 lobotomies World War II creates opportunities for military men and working women with homosexual tendencies to meet and form communities in several cities, most notably New York and San Franciscoĭr. Joseph Bellotti opens the Casino Pool Hall, a dance club allowing same-sex dancingīellotti opens the Double Header, which may be the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the country, above the Casino WA voters pass Prohibition via Initiative 3Įighteenth Amendment prohibits sale and production of alcoholįirst homosexual rights organization, Society for Human Rights, founded in Chicago Klondike gold rush brings predominantly male population to Seattle local economy boomsįirst known drag performance in Seattle by nationally recognized female impersonator Edward Stewartįirst recorded raid of a gay bathhouse occurs in New York City, resulting in several sodomy convictionsĮmma Goldman speaks out in favor of homosexual rights WA State unanimously passes anti-sodomy law Great Northern transcontinental railroad line reaches Seattle When it falls, as everything inevitably does, Seattle might lose the last physical remnant of our vast queer past.This timeline was commissioned by and appears here courtesy of the Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest.Īrthur Denny colonizing party lands at Alki PointĬomstock Laws passed, prohibiting circulation of “obscene” materials That “Casino Dancing” awning won’t last forever. Chicago and San Francisco have plaques and signs that recount the invisible queer history of days gone by - why don’t we? Rainbow crosswalks on Capitol Hill are very nice, but they don’t provide much in the way of context.
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Personally, I think the gay ghosts of the People’s Theater, the Double Header, and the Atlas Steam Bath deserve a little more than we’ve given them. Wander through the area today and you’ll barely see any indication of what it was a century and a half ago. It’s a testament to queer peoples’ sheer force of will and intense need to connect that they were able to endure the homophobia and corruption in the police force to the extent that they had to in order to keep the doors open.Įventually, redevelopment changed the face of Pioneer Square, and the burgeoning boulevard of Broadway on Capitol Hill, coupled with the availability of housing after the Boeing Bust, lured the gayborhood away from its early roots. The Caper Club, it was called, and it provided thousands of dollars in kickbacks to cops. At one point in the 1960s, the police even conspired to open a gay bar across the street from police headquarters.