Skip to main content

The timeline can be navigated with the “Scroll Left” and “Scroll Right” buttons or by dragging the pointer to a date on the timeline bar (located at the bottom of the screen on the desktop version and on the left of the screen on mobile). To filter by a specific topic and see a smaller group of memory points, make a selection on the dropdown “Filters” menu or click “Search” to do a keyword search. Hover over the abbreviated filter tags in the blue boxes to see the complete title of the filter, or click a filter to display all the memory points with this tag. If you want to take a deeper dive into a particular topic by reading a narrative essay and viewing a curated timeline, click on “Stories.”

Read More
Two white woman pose for the camera. Both have glasses and stand in front of a mantel.
Kay Tobin Lahusen and Barbara Gittings, two founders of the Daughters of Bilitis. (Photo: Library of Congress)

Daughters of Bilitis, the first official lesbian organization in the U.S., is founded.

1955

QT
RES
Kay Tobin Lahusen and Barbara Gittings, two founders of the Daughters of Bilitis. (Photo: Library of Congress)

Four founding couples, many of whom are working-class lesbians, create the Daughters of Bilitis. It is the first official lesbian organization in the United States and is created as an alternative to the bar scene. The group is initially led by Filipina lesbian Rose Bamberger, who first comes up with the idea.