January 1 - National
The Mormon Church publishes a 9-page pamphlet titled “Hope for Transgressors.” The pamphlet declares that “homosexuality CAN be cured, if the battle is well organizes and pursued vigorously and continuously.”
January 1 - National
Sylvester a performer in a black member of an avant-garde performance art drag troupe known as “The Cockettes”. Sylvester has been described as having a "flamboyant and colourful" public persona, wearing both male and female gendered clothes as part of his attire.
January 1 - Oregon
Vortex I rock festival organized at McIver State Park near Clackamas as celebration of music and an alternative to proposed rioting at American Legion Convention in Portland
January 1 - National
Larry Townsend publishes “Run Little Leather Boy”
January 1 - National
Laud Humphreys publishes “Tearoom trade impersonal sex in public places”
United States LGBT History for 1970
January 1 - New York
Patrick Quinn was a member of Equity and helped to organize “Charade Dinner Theater”, the touring company of “Man of La Mancha”, and the non-profit organization “Equity Fights AIDS” which eventually merged to “Broadway Cares”
January 1 – Michigan
Women's Liberation Movement first meets at Michigan State University.
January 1 – Michigan
Fire forces closure of Sam "Bookie" Stewart's Diplomat Bar in Detroit.
June 2 - National
The Pink Triangle becomes a symbol of gay pride after being used during World War II as a symbol of homosexuality, perversion and deviance in the concentration camps.
January 1 - Oregon
John Wilkinson, a gay staff member of the Willamette Bridge newspaper, writes an article that leads him, his partner Dave Davenport, and lesbian staff member Holly Hart to start the Portland Gay Liberation Front. It is Oregon’s first politically oriented gay organization.
May 18 - Minnesota
Two University of Minnesota students, Richard John 'Jack' Baker and James Michael McConnell applied to Hennepin County District Court clerk Gerald Nelson for a marriage license. He denied the application, because the applicants both were men. Baker and McConnell sued Nelson, claiming Minnesota law on marriage made no mention of gender. The trial court was not impressed with the argument, agreeing with Nelson. The state Supreme Court agreed with the lower court. When Baker-McConnell went to the U.S. Supreme Court, the couple was rebuffed again. Baker v. Nelson has been used in other states as precedent to block efforts at marriage equality
November 7 - California
The Lawrence Gay Liberation Front (GLF) forms. The inadvertent leader is a gay social worker student.
State equality and discrimination bills
January 1 - National
Joseph Hansen published his first novel with an openly gay detective “Fadeout”. Fadeout is the first of Joseph Hansen's twelve classic mysteries featuring rugged Dave Brandstetter, an insurance investigator who is contentedly gay. When entertainer Fox Olson's car plunges off a bridge in a storm, a death claim is filed, but where is Olson's body? As Brandstetter questions family, fans, and detractors, he grows certain Olson is still alive and that Dave must find him before the would-be killer does. Suspenseful and wry, shrewd and deeply felt, Fadeout remains as fresh today as when it startled readers more than thirty years ago.
January 1 - National
Victor J. Banis a writer produces “The Gay Haunt”
January 1 - National
Elton John hits the US music charts with "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" and "The Bitch Is Back".
January 1 – Michigan
Activists form Detroit Gay Liberation Front, bringing militant gay activism to Michigan.
May 1 - New York
Gay “zaps” begin, with the first one against New York City Mayor John Lindsay. Zaps are demonstrations of direct civil disobedience designed to embarrass a public figure or celebrity while calling the attention of both gays and straights to issues of LGBT rights.
January 1 – New York
Allen Young a writer in New York joins the Gay Liberation Front and publishes “Gay Flames”.
January 16 - Oregon
The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court holds its first public elections to select an Empress instead of having judges select one during a Ball. Tracey St. James wins the election and becomes Empress XIV.
January 1 - Oregon
The Oregon Supreme Court rules that the state’s broadly worded sodomy law outlaws “golden showers.”
June 2 - National
Lutheran convention, the LCA produces a statement on “Sex, Marriage, and Family” is released that supersedes the previous statement on these subjects. This statement contains the Church’s first mention of homosexuality, which is referred to as a sin, but also claims that homosexuals are “often the special and undeserving victims of prejudice and discrimination in law, law enforcement, cultural mores, and congregational life.” The statement concludes with a defense of “understanding and justice in church and community” of homosexual persons.
John Wilkinson
January 1 - Oregon
The Second Foundation of Oregon is organized in Portland by committee of Father Kiernan Healy, Neil Hutchins, and Dennis Kennedy. Early officers are George Oberg, Larry Beck, and Dave Fredrickson. It is both a social and political organization.
June 1 - National
The General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church releases a statement entitled “Sexuality and the Human Community” which contains a brief section on homosexuality. While the status of homosexuality as a “sin” is maintained, the Assembly also approves a recommendation that calls for the “elimination of laws governing the private sexual behavior of consenting adults.”
President Richard Nixon
Robben Fleming
March 17 - California
Boys in the Band premieres as the first major Hollywood movie on gay life.
August 1 - Washington D.C.
Richard Nixon, on the issue of same-sex marriage, said "I can't go that far; that's the year 2000! Negroes, okay. But that's too far!"
January 1 - National
The Jefferson’s CBS. In an episode entitled “Once a Friend,” George is eager to reconnect with his old Navy buddy, Eddie. But he’s stunned when he discovers Eddie has had gender-confirmation surgery and is now Edie. The episode is handled with some tact, though via a typical sitcom misunderstanding, Louise is convinced George is having an affair with this strange new woman.
Gay "ZAPS"
January 1 – Michigan
University of Michigan President Robben Fleming denies Gay Liberation Front use of campus facilities for gay conference.
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