In 1969 being gay in the United States was a criminal offense. It meant living a closeted life or surviving on the fringes of society. People went to jail, lost jobs, and were disowned by their families for being gay. There were few safe havens. The Stonewall Inn, a Mafia-run, filthy, overpriced bar in New York City's Greenwich Village, was one of them. Police raids on gay bars happened regularly in this era. But one hot June night, when cops pounded...

"Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame was written in 1831, at a time when the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was falling into disrepair. This epic novel helped spark a preservationist movement that led to the cathedral being restored to its full glory. Set in 1482, the story tells of how four men-the hunchbacked bell-ringer, Quasimodo; the archdeacon of Notre Dame, Claude Frollo; the dashing soldier Phoebus de Chateaupers; and the poet Pierre...

Discusses how in 1969, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people stood up for their rights against a society that criminalized their natural feelings, launching a movement whose legacy continues to this day.

June 18, 1969. A police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a popular gathering place for LGBTQ individuals in New York City, turned into a riot. Drag queens and trans women of color were the first to fight back. Violence continued for the next six days. This is recognized as the beginning of the LGBTQ rights movement. Harris and Lundin examine how social movements have made an impact at local, state, and federal levels over the years. -- adapted from introductory...

Harvey Milk dreamed of a better tomorrow filled with love and equal rights for all. In 1977, Milk was elected to San Francisco's Board of Supervisors, only to be assassinated less than a year after he took office. Through his personal and professional life, Harvey Milk became a role model and beacon of hope for many members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community. Readers will examine the life of this civic hero, including his...