The World’s First Gay Pride ParadeĬhicago’s role in the Gay Liberation Movement didn’t stop with Henry Gerber, of course. Indeed, two years ago the Gerber House was named a National Historic Landmark. Though the term wouldn’t be used for another half-century, this was the first instance of public gay pride in Chicago and the nation. Nevertheless, the Society for Human Rights is a huge deal. The group subsequently disbanded and Gerber left Chicago after the charges were dismissed. Despite not having a search warrant, they raided Gerber’s home in Old Town, where the society was headquartered. They regularly surveilled and harassed the gay community in Chicago for decades.
Sadly, the Society for Human Rights was shut down only a few months after its founding due to a raid by the Chicago Police. So even being a subscriber could have led to arrest. The Comstock Act made it Federal crime to receive “obscene” material through the U.S. Even members of society were afraid to subscribe to its newsletter, Friendship and Freedom.
The membership never mustered more than a few gay and bisexual men. Gerber was inspired by similar organizations in his native Germany and aimed to promote legal relief and social understanding for the gay community. Named the Society for Human Rights, it was founded by a German emigre named Henry Gerber in 1924. To be honest, I was blown away to discover that the first widely-recognized American gay rights organization was based in Chicago. The First American Gay Rights Organization Was Started in Chicago The Chicago Pride Parade is one of Chicago’s biggest parties.