Barbara Gittings Biography: A Pioneer in LGBTQ Rights Movement
Barbara Gittings was a prominent American activist for LGBT equality. Born on July 31, 1932, in Vienna, Austria, she spent much of her life advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. She is widely regarded as the mother of the LGBT civil rights movement, having played a significant role in advancing the cause of gay rights in America.
Gittings was an influential figure in the pre-Stonewall gay rights movement. She knew she was gay from a young age, although she didn’t know the word “homosexual” until she was rejected from her high school’s National Honor Society for that reason. A studious child, she turned to the library to learn more about homosexuality and eventually found the Mattachine Society, one of the first gay rights organizations in the United States.
Key Takeaways
- Barbara Gittings was a prominent American activist for LGBT equality, known as the mother of the LGBT civil rights movement.
- She was an influential figure in the pre-Stonewall gay rights movement and turned to the library to learn more about homosexuality.
- Gittings played a significant role in advancing the cause of gay rights in America and helped shape the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Early Life
Barbara Gittings was born on July 31, 1932, in Vienna, Austria, to Elizabeth Brooks Gittings and John Sterett Gittings, who was serving as a U.S. diplomat at the time. She was the eldest of three siblings. Her family moved frequently due to her father’s work, and she attended Catholic schools in Montreal, Canada.
Gittings was a studious child and excelled academically. She was so immersed in Catholicism at one point in her childhood that she considered becoming a nun. However, she later realized she was gay and struggled to come to terms with her sexuality. She did not know the word “homosexual” until she was rejected from her high school’s National Honor Society for that reason.
Gittings turned to the library to learn more about homosexuality and found little information available. She eventually discovered the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), one of the first lesbian organizations in the United States, and joined its New York chapter in 1958. Gittings quickly became an active member and worked to increase the visibility of the organization and the broader LGBTQ+ community.
Education
Barbara Gittings was born to U.S. Diplomats stationed in Vienna, Austria. Her family moved back to the United States just prior to the start of WWII, when she was 18 years old.
Gittings attended Northwestern University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism. During her time at Northwestern, she became involved with the campus chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis, an organization for lesbians.
After graduation, Gittings moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she worked as a librarian. She continued her activism, becoming involved with the local chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis.
In addition to her involvement with the Daughters of Bilitis, Gittings also played a key role in the American Library Association’s efforts to promote LGBTQ+ literature. She served on the ALA’s Task Force on Gay Liberation and helped organize the first Gay Book Fair in 1972.
Gittings’ activism and advocacy work continued throughout her life, earning her recognition as a pioneer of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Career
Barbara Gittings was a prominent American activist for LGBTQ+ equality. She dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and was a key figure in the movement.
Gittings’ career started when she organized the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) from 1958 to 1963. She then went on to edit the national DOB magazine, The Ladder, from 1963 to 1966. During this time, she worked closely with Frank Kameny on the first picket lines that brought attention to the ban on employment of gay people by the largest employer in the US at that time: the United States government.
Gittings was also known for her work in the American Library Association (ALA). She was instrumental in convincing the ALA to remove the label “homosexual” from their list of mental illnesses in 1971. Gittings also worked to ensure that LGBTQ+ literature was included in library collections and that it was not censored.
In 1972, Gittings helped to organize the first National Gay Rights March in Washington, D.C. This event was a significant milestone in the LGBTQ+ movement and helped to raise awareness of the issues faced by the community.
Throughout her career, Gittings received numerous awards and honors for her work in the LGBTQ+ movement. In 1999, she was inducted into the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Gittings’ legacy continues to inspire activists today, and her contributions to the LGBTQ+ movement will never be forgotten.
Activism
Barbara Gittings was a prominent American activist for LGBT equality. She is widely regarded as the mother of the LGBT civil rights movement. Her activism began in the late 1950s, a decade before the iconic Stonewall uprising of 1969.
Gay Activists Alliance
In 1970, Gittings became a member of the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA), an organization that aimed to secure basic human rights for gays and lesbians. The GAA was known for its confrontational tactics, which included public demonstrations and sit-ins. Gittings was an active member of the GAA and was involved in organizing the first gay rights march in Philadelphia in 1972.
Daughters of Bilitis
Gittings was also a member of the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States. She served as the editor of DOB’s magazine, The Ladder, from 1963 to 1966. During her tenure as editor, Gittings worked to expand the magazine’s readership and to make it more inclusive of the wider lesbian community.
Gittings’ activism helped to bring attention to the struggles faced by the LGBT community and paved the way for future generations of activists.
Legacy
Barbara Gittings left a lasting legacy in the LGBTQ+ community through her activism and advocacy. Her contributions to the movement helped pave the way for greater acceptance and equality.
One of Gittings’ most significant accomplishments was her work with the American Psychiatric Association (APA). In the 1960s, the APA listed homosexuality as a mental disorder in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Gittings, along with other activists, worked tirelessly to change this classification. She organized protests and spoke at conferences, arguing that homosexuality was not a mental illness but a natural variation of human sexuality. Her efforts paid off, and in 1973, the APA removed homosexuality from the DSM.
Gittings also played a crucial role in the creation of the first LGBTQ+ rights organization, the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB). She served as the editor of the DOB’s magazine, The Ladder, which provided a platform for LGBTQ+ voices and helped to build a sense of community among its readers. Gittings’ work with the DOB helped to lay the groundwork for future LGBTQ+ organizations and movements.
Gittings’ impact on the LGBTQ+ community was recognized by many organizations and individuals. In 1997, she was named co-Grand Marshal of the New York City Gay Pride Parade and was declared a “Mother of Lesbian and Gay Liberation.” In 2001, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) created the Barbara Gittings Award for Activism, which is given annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to LGBTQ+ rights.
Overall, Barbara Gittings’ legacy is one of courage, determination, and advocacy. Her work helped to change the perception of homosexuality and paved the way for greater acceptance and equality for the LGBTQ+ community.
Awards and Honors
Throughout her life, Barbara Gittings received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the LGBTQ+ community.
In 2003, Gittings was presented with the American Library Association’s highest award, lifetime honorary membership, in recognition of her work in promoting LGBTQ+ literature and combating censorship. She was also awarded the APA’s first John E. Fryer Award in 2006, which recognizes individuals who have contributed to the mental health of LGBTQ+ people.
Gittings received the GLAAD Media Barbara Gittings Award in 2001 for her advocacy work in the LGBTQ+ community. This award is named after her and is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to promoting LGBTQ+ visibility in media and entertainment.
In addition to these awards, Gittings was also recognized for her activism and advocacy work by organizations such as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Philadelphia Gay News, and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
Gittings’ legacy continues to be celebrated and honored today. In 2020, she was named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Women of the Year” for her groundbreaking work in the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Personal Life
Barbara Gittings was born on July 31, 1932, in Vienna, Austria, and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She knew she was gay from a young age, but didn’t know the word “homosexual” until she was rejected from her high school’s National Honor Society for that reason.
Gittings was a studious child and turned to the library to learn more about homosexuality. She became involved in the early homophile movement in the 1950s and was a founding member of the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States.
In 1958, Gittings met her partner, Kay Tobin Lahusen, who would become her lifelong companion and collaborator. Together, they fought for LGBT rights and visibility, organizing protests, pickets, and demonstrations.
Gittings and Lahusen were also avid collectors of LGBT literature and worked to preserve and promote queer literature and history. They donated their extensive collection to the New York Public Library in 2001.
In addition to her activism, Gittings was a professional librarian. She worked for the American Library Association and was instrumental in getting the organization to drop its ban on gay and lesbian books in 1971.
Gittings passed away on February 18, 2007, after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 74 years old.
Death
Barbara Gittings passed away on February 18, 2007, at the age of 74, after battling breast cancer for seven years. Her death was a significant loss to the LGBTQ+ community, as she was a prominent activist for gay rights since the 1950s.
Gittings’ legacy continues to inspire many people to fight for equality and justice. Her contributions to the LGBTQ+ movement were instrumental in the progress made towards securing rights for the community. Her work with the Daughters of Bilitis and the Gay Activists Alliance paved the way for future generations of activists.
After her death, many tributes were paid to Gittings, recognizing her tireless efforts to improve the lives of the LGBTQ+ community. She was remembered as a fearless and dedicated activist who never gave up on her mission to achieve equality for all.
Gittings’ impact on the LGBTQ+ movement will continue to be felt for years to come. Her legacy serves as a reminder of the power of activism and the importance of fighting for what is right.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Barbara Gittings’ contributions to the LGBTQ+ rights movement?
Barbara Gittings was a prominent activist and a pioneer for LGBTQ+ rights. She is known for her contributions to the LGBTQ+ rights movement, including her involvement in organizing the first picket of the White House for gay rights in 1965. She was also a founding member of the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian civil rights organization in the United States. Gittings played a significant role in advocating for the inclusion of LGBTQ+ literature in public libraries and fought against censorship of LGBTQ+ books.
Who were some of Barbara Gittings’ contemporaries in the LGBTQ+ rights movement?
Barbara Gittings worked alongside other notable figures in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, including Frank Kameny, Del Martin, and Phyllis Lyon. She was also a close friend and collaborator of activist and writer Kay Tobin Lahusen, with whom she co-edited the groundbreaking LGBTQ+ magazine, The Ladder.
What was Barbara Gittings’ involvement with the American Library Association?
Barbara Gittings was a passionate advocate for the inclusion of LGBTQ+ literature in public libraries. She led the American Library Association’s Gay Task Force and fought against censorship of LGBTQ+ books. She also played a key role in the creation of the first LGBTQ+ book exhibit at the American Library Association’s annual conference in 1971.
How did Barbara Gittings’ activism impact LGBTQ+ representation in media?
Barbara Gittings was a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in media. She worked with the media to promote positive portrayals of LGBTQ+ people and fought against negative stereotypes. Gittings was also a key figure in the fight against the American Psychiatric Association’s classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder, which helped to shift public perception of LGBTQ+ people.
What was Barbara Gittings’ role in the fight against the American Psychiatric Association’s classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder?
Barbara Gittings played a significant role in the fight against the American Psychiatric Association’s classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder. She organized protests and pickets at the annual meetings of the American Psychiatric Association, and worked with other activists to change public perception of LGBTQ+ people. Her activism helped to lead to the removal of homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1973.
What were some of Barbara Gittings’ personal experiences with discrimination and activism?
Barbara Gittings faced discrimination throughout her life as a result of her sexual orientation. She was denied entrance to the National Honor Society in high school due to her “homosexual inclinations,” and faced discrimination in the workplace. Despite this, Gittings remained a passionate and dedicated activist throughout her life, fighting for LGBTQ+ rights until her death in 2007.