America's first gay rights group formed a century ago this
But long before this, Chicago can boast another incredibly important first in queer history: the founding of the Society for Human Rights (SHR). Established a century ago on December 10, , by Henry Gerber (–), SHR grew out of years of international scientific research and public dialogue about homosexuality. One hundred years ago, on December 10, , the first legally recognized U. The founder was Henry Gerber , a German immigrant and postal worker. 
Society for Human Rights
The group published a newsletter, “Friendship and Freedom,” the country’s first documented gay civil-rights publication. The Society for Human Rights was established in Chicago in The non-profit organization, on December 24, , was granted an official Charter from the State of Illinois.
The Society for Human Rights
The founder of Chicago’s Society for Human Rights in , the first gay rights organization in the United States, Henry Gerber was born in Bavaria as Joseph Henry Dittmar on June 29, , and arrived at Ellis Island in October, With members of his family, he moved to Chicago because of its large German population. The Society stands only for law and order; it is in harmony with any and all general laws insofar as they protect the rights of others, and does in no manner recommend any acts in violation of present laws nor advocate any manner inimical to the public welfare. The Society for Human Rights, established in Chicago in , is granted an official State of Illinois Charter on December 24, , making it the oldest documented homosexual organization in the nation. 
Chicago, 1924
December is the th anniversary of a Chicagoan's pivotal role in the fight for equal rights. Why it matters: While the Stonewall Riots in New York City are generally seen as sparking the modern fight for LBGTQ+ rights, Chicagoan Henry Gerber started the country's first gay rights group here in In , Illinois became the first state to decriminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations—41 years before it would be decriminalized nationally. But long before this, Chicago can boast another incredibly important first in queer history: the founding of the Society for Human Rights SHR.
100 years ago, a Chicagoan founded the first U.S. gay rights
As a result, the group was forced to disband before it could fully embark on its mission to promote tolerance and understanding of homosexuality. Despite its brief existence and its small size, the Society for Human Rights is recognized as the first homosexual rights organization in the United States – a precursor to the modern gay liberation. After seeing how people with different sexual orientations were treated here, he championed the plight of gays in American society. He immigrated from Germany in First gay rights group in the US (1924)
It was the first recognized gay rights organization in the United States, having received a charter from the state of Illinois, and produced the first American publication for homosexuals, Friendship and Freedom. [1][2][3] A few months after being chartered, the group ceased to exist in the wake of the arrest of several of the Society's members. . Henry Gerber and The Society for Human Rights
One hundred years ago, on December 10, , the first legally recognized U.S. gay rights organization was incorporated: the Society for Human Rights, located in Chicago. The founder was Henry. . 
Henry Gerber and the Society for Human Rights
In , Henry Gerber of Chicago made the first known attempt at organizing gay men in the United States to fight for their civil rights. Gerber had worked for the U.S. army in Germany during the early s and come into contact with a German gay rights group, the Bund fur Menschenrecht, the Society for Human Rights, that had been founded in Upon returning to the United States, Gerber. .