200 Years of LGBTQIA+ History

From Shadows to Pride — UK & Global Timeline

Source Record

Henry Gerber and the Society for Human Rights

Why this source is used

Chicago History Museum article on Henry Gerber founding the Society for Human Rights in Chicago in 1924, the first known US gay rights organisation.

Start with the answer

Start with the answer How did LGBTQ+ organising networks build rights? They built rights by creating records, meeting spaces, publications, protests and international networks before law caught up. Read the topic guide Early LGBTQ+ Organising and Liberation Networks Early LGBTQ+ organising moved from small rights groups and newsletters into liberation protest, direct action and international advocacy networks.

Source Status

Publisher
Chicago History Museum
Type
archive
Reliability
high
Cited by
3 pages

Source Links

Open original source https://www.chicagohistory.org/henry-gerber-and-the-society-for-human-rights/ Accessed 4 June 2026 Open archived copy https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://www.chicagohistory.org/henry-gerber-and-the-society-for-human-rights/

Used by Topics

Early LGBTQ+ Organising and Liberation Networks

Used by Questions

How did LGBTQ+ organising networks build rights?

Used by Timeline Events

1924 ActivismInternational

First US LGBTQIA+ Rights Organisation

Henry Gerber founded the Society for Human Rights in Chicago, launching the first documented LGBTQIA+ advocacy group in the United States—though it was disbanded within months.