Making Change: A History of LGBTQ Activism

Since the 1950s, massive change has occurred in the lives of LGBTQ people in the United States and in the societal and institutional responses to them. This talk will trace the history of LGBTQ activism from its start in the 1950s, when the oppression was most harsh and pervasive, to the early 21 st century, when LGBTQ people were more visible and more integrated into society than ever before. It will explore the impact of the 1960s and the Stonewall Uprising that gave birth to a “gay liberation” movement; the dramatic increase in mobilization sparked by the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s; and the growing presence in popular culture that emerged in the 1990s. To register, please call the library at 708-687-3700 or email kspringer@acornlibrary.org.