Barbara Gittings

Barbara Gittings, born on July thirty-first, nineteen thirty-two, was a pioneering American journalist, librarian, and LGBTQ rights activist. In nineteen fifty-eight, she founded the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), a significant step in the fight for LGBTQ rights. Her editorial work on the national DOB magazine, The Ladder, from nineteen sixty-three to nineteen sixty-six, helped to amplify the voices of the LGBTQ community during a time of widespread discrimination.

In the nineteen sixties, Gittings collaborated closely with fellow activist Frank Kameny, participating in the first picket lines that protested the ban on employment of gay individuals within the United States government, which was the largest employer in the country at that time. This activism was crucial in raising awareness about the injustices faced by LGBTQ individuals.

Throughout the nineteen seventies, Gittings became deeply involved with the American Library Association, particularly its Task Force on Gay Liberation. Her efforts were focused on promoting positive literature about homosexuality in libraries, challenging the stigma surrounding LGBTQ literature. She also played a vital role in the movement that led the American Psychiatric Association to declassify homosexuality as a mental illness.

In recognition of her contributions, Gittings received an Honorary Membership from the American Library Association. Additionally, the ALA established the Stonewall Book Award-Barbara Gittings Literature Award to honor the best LGBTQ novel annually. GLAAD also named an activist award in her honor, solidifying her legacy as a trailblazer in the fight for LGBTQ rights.