IndexWomen Acting in the WorldDaughters of BilitisLGBT FoundationConclusionWomen Acting in the WorldDaughters of BilitisThe Daughters of Bilitis was the first lesbian-focused organization in the United States Founded in 1955 in San Francisco, the Daughters of Bilitis began as a secret social club for lesbians at a time when the LGBT community was discriminated against and subjected to hostility. Two of the best-known founding members were Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon. They moved to San Francisco as a couple to discover that there was no LGBT community there. When they had the chance to join a small lesbian social club, they immediately accepted the opportunity. Soon this small club transformed into the DOB. During the late 1950s, other DOB chapters were founded across America. During its initial development, the DOB shifted gears from its original social intent to become a political organization for lesbian rights. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Daughters of Bilitis paralleled another gay rights group of the time called the Mattachine Society. This organization, founded in Los Angeles in 1951 by gay men, aimed to spread awareness about issues related to homosexuality. Like the DOB, the Mattachine Society began as a social group and later transformed into a political activist organization. They had many similarities in their efforts in the gay community. The DOB and the Mattachine Society have urged its members to participate in studies and properly educate the public that homosexuality is not a “disease” to be cured. They fought against the fear the queer community felt in the 1950s and 1960s, when bigotry and police raids on gay and lesbian bars were prevalent. Both also struggled with the concept of fitting into the general community rather than possessing a separate identity based on gender and sexuality. However, there were tensions when the two groups were thought to collaborate, as each of the groups' efforts focused on the respective advocacy of lesbians and gay men. Despite the cessation of national organization in the 1970s, the Daughters of Bilitis are credited with many successes in the gay rights movement. Socially, the DOB provided opportunities for lesbians to meet and share their individual experiences. This allowed them to establish a gay community in a time when heteronormativity thrived. They held their first national convention in 1960. Billed as “Ten Days of August,” it was a success at the Wickham Hotel in San Francisco. In 1956, the DOB began publishing its monthly newsletter, The Ladder. In it, readers would find articles, interviews, event calendars, and writings (especially poems and short stories) related to lesbian issues and achievements. After the organization's dissolution, Martin and Lyon remained active in the women's and gay rights movements. In 2004, they were the first gay couple to receive a marriage certificate in San Francisco. It seems only right that the two who started it all should be given this opportunity first, even though all gay and lesbian couples should have had this legal right long ago. LGBT FoundationThe LGBT Foundation, formally created in April 2015, is a national charitable organization serving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in Manchester, England. Previously known as The Lesbian and Gay Foundation (or The LGF), the charity has changed its name and aims to be more inclusive of.?