Discover How Much You Know About the LGBTQ+ Culture

Gilbert Baker, an openly gay artist and activist, created the first rainbow flag in 1978 for San Francisco's Gay Freedom Day. The original had eight colors, each with a specific meaning.

The Stonewall Inn riots began after a police raid on June 28, 1969, in New York City. The uprising sparked annual pride marches and global activism.

Queer (or sometimes Questioning). 'Queer' is reclaimed as an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities; 'Questioning' acknowledges those exploring their identity.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). The 5–4 ruling required all states to issue marriage licenses to same‑sex couples and recognize such marriages from other jurisdictions.

Marsha P. Johnson. A Black transgender woman and co-founder of STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries), she became a central figure in LGBTQ+ history. The 'first brick' story is often mythologized, but her activism was undeniable.

1990. The WHO’s General Assembly officially removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD‑10) on May 17, now celebrated as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

The pink triangle was used in Nazi concentration camps to identify homosexual men. In the 1970s, activists reclaimed it as a symbol of remembrance and resistance against oppression.

Kathy Kozachenko. She won a seat on the Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council in April 1974 as a Human Rights Party candidate – two years before Harvey Milk’s election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Lesbian. Refers to women who are romantically or sexually attracted to other women. The term honors the distinct history and culture of lesbian activism.

James Baldwin. Though often described as a gay novel, Baldwin resisted labels. 'Giovanni’s Room' was bold for its honest portrayal of same‑sex desire at a time when such topics were taboo.

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). Founded by Gwendolyn Ann Smith in 1999 to honor Rita Hester, a trans woman murdered in 1998. It is held annually on November 20.

Beyoncé. 'Renaissance' celebrates underground queer ballroom heritage, explicitly crediting Black transgender and gay artists. It became a massive commercial and cultural tribute to LGBTQ+ dance music history.