November


● 1972.11.01 — That Certain Summer airs on ABC. The ending was changed from the son being guilt-ridden at failing to say goodbye to his father to one where he shows no regret, in order to “avoid controversy.”
● 1980.11.01 — The book Overcoming Homosexuality suggests that a strict vegetarian diet may “cure” gays and lesbians.
● 1988.11.01 — A University of Minnesota study reveals that there is a one in three chance that gay teen boys will attempt suicide.
● 2015.11.03 — Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) fails by a wide margin which would have offered broad nondiscrimination protections for more than a dozen protected classes. The opposition’s scare tactics and lies exploited the community’s lack of understanding about trans people with claims that gender identity and expression protections would allow men to enter women’s restrooms to commit crimes.
● 1980.11.04 — There is a solidifying of the partnership between the “religious right” and the GOP, in the denying of Jimmy Carter’s second term supposedly over the issue of abortion. This, in spite of the fact that Ronald Reagan as California governor was liberal on abortion, and the initial rise of the religious right is instead traced to its support for segregation as in the case of Green v. Connally in the 70s.
● 1992.11.05 — A clause prohibiting anti-gay verbal abuse in schools is repealed by the Fairfax County, Virginia board of education out of concerns that it promotes homosexuality.
● 1976.11.07 — The Briggs Initiative (Proposition 6) which would have prohibited gay or gay-positive teachers and teachings in California public schools is soundly defeated.
● 1977.11.08 — Harvey Milk is elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
● 1990.11.08 — Mary Robinson, whose platform includes gay rights, is elected as President of predominantly Catholic Ireland.
● 2015.11.09 — Inspired by Black Lives Matter, students at the University of Missouri begin the Concerned Student 1950 movement in response to racism, sexism, and other issues in the administration. The movement is led by queer-identified black students.
● 1976.11.10 — Lynn Ransom wins custody of her children. She is the first open lesbian mother to do so.
● 2010.11.13 — Cindy McCain, wife of Republican Senator John McCain, participates in a ‘NoH8’ campaign video calling for equal rights for gay and lesbian service members.
● 1996.11.16 — The Board of Directors of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries of the UCC votes for “Equal Marriage Rights for Same Gender Couples.”
● 1985.11.17 — The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is formed.
● 2015.11.17 — MTV’s series True Life airs an episode covering the topic of living and being genderqueer, bringing to light for many how to properly use the singular “they” and other neopronouns.
● 2011.11.21 — Bil Browning at The Bilerico Project promotes a drive encouraging gay-rights supporters to give their holiday donations to charities other than The Salvation Army that don’t “actively discriminate against the LGBT community.”
● 1983.11.23 — A federal court rules against a man who sued the First National Bank of Louisville for requiring that he either resign his position or his membership in Dignity, a gay Catholic group.
● 1998.11.28 — In Allston, Massachusetts, transgender woman Rita Hester is murdered. The ensuing candlelight vigil a few days later was attended by 250 people and inspired the Transgender Day of Remembrance, observed each November 20th worldwide.
● 1978.11.30 — San Francisco Examiner Headline, “THE CITY WEEPS” regarding the assassination of George Moscone and Harvey Milk on the 27th.