By Dennis Richmond Jr.
This LGBTQ+ History Month, we’re looking back at 100 years of progress—and the fight it took to get here. In the 1920s, being LGBTQ+ in America meant living in secret. Same-sex relationships were illegal, gender expression was policed, and society labeled folx as immoral or mentally ill. Simply existing outside of heterosexual norms could get you arrested, harassed, or fired. In places like Yonkers, NY, LGBTQ+ people had to hide who they were. There were no protections—only silence.
By the 1950s and 1960s, police surveillance and raids were common. Bars that served gay customers were often shut down. The Stonewall Inn in New York City was one of the few places where LGBTQ+ people—especially Black and Latinx butchqueens and femqueens—could gather. But on June 28th, 1969, police raided Stonewall. This time, the community fought back. The Stonewall Riots became a turning point, sparking national LGBTQ+ activism. Young people led marches, formed organizations, and demanded legal rights.
In the 1970s, progress began. The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in 1973. Cities like New York started passing nondiscrimination laws. Yonkers, however, was slower to change. In 1984, Yonkers tried to add sexual orientation protections to its human rights law—but backlash was so strong that the law was repealed after only a few months. This showed that even in New York State, acceptance was uneven and resistance was real.
The 1980s and 1990s brought both tragedy and progress. The AIDS crisis exposed government neglect, but it also united LGBTQ+ communities to demand action. Activists shouted “Silence = Death” and forced the world to pay attention. Yonkers eventually added sexual orientation protections back into law in the 1990s, and local organizations began supporting LGBTQ+ youth. Nationally, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (1993) allowed some gay people to serve in the military—but only if they hid their identity. Progress was complicated.
The 2000s and 2010s transformed everything. In 2003, the Supreme Court struck down sodomy laws, making same-sex relationships legal nationwide. New York State legalized same-sex marriage in 2011—four years before the rest of the country in 2015. Yonkers Pride events grew, local schools started Gay-Straight Alliances, and LGBTQ+ representation appeared in media and politics. Trans rights entered mainstream conversation, and social norms shifted dramatically. Being openly LGBTQ+ became more accepted than ever before.
Now, in the 2020s, LGBTQ+ folx have legal marriage, workplace protections, and increasing visibility. The media and social media have LGBTQ+ representation. Yonkers officially recognizes Pride Month and supports LGBTQ+ programming. Yet challenges still exist—book bans, anti-trans legislation, and violence remind us that progress is not guaranteed across the country.
For young folks, this history matters because we are the generation living the results of a 100+ year old fight. What was once criminal is now celebrated. What was once hidden is now powerful. From Stonewall to Yonkers Pride, the movement has always been led by young people. The laws changed—but it was courage, resistance, and community that made the change possible.
As for the next chapter? The next category is… Up To Us.
Dennis Richmond, Jr. (@NewYorkStakz) is a journalist, historian, and educator from Yonkers, NY. He writes to uplift unheard voices, honor history, and inspire change.
