Title: Gay rights movement
Description: Started in 1974 by lesbian feminists seeking to document lesbians' lives, experiences, and concerns, the Lesbian Herstory Archives now contain the world's largest collection of materials about lesbians and their communities. Its holdings include clippings, flyers, brochures, conference materials, reports, correspondence, and other documents not generally available in libraries. Although important documents encompass earlier periods, the bulk of the collection focuses on the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. This collection is made up of more than 1,700 subject files. Documents about lesbian history begin with the Middle Ages, focus on the 1970s, and extend to the 2000s. Materials in the collection document political participation, lesbian and gay civil rights issues during the 1970s and 1980s, and specific demonstrations and rallies. Numerous items are devoted to specific legal cases or issues related to the legal system, such as prisons. Others focus on bias, homophobia, and hate crimes. The collection also provides perspectives on issues not directly involving lesbian rights, such as the women's liberation movement, the Equal Rights Amendment, and the anti-nuclear movement.
Subjects: Lesbians, Lesbian activists, Sexual minorities, Gay rights, Gay liberation movement