Barbara Gittings was a librarian and activist who spent her life fighting for the right to love, read, and live freely.
Born in 1932, Gittings was a pioneer of the LGBTQ+ rights movement at a time when few dared to speak out. She organized the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis — the first national lesbian organization — and edited its publication, The Ladder, which became a vital voice for lesbian visibility in the 1960s.
As a librarian, Gittings saw how queer people were erased or misrepresented in books and public institutions. She worked tirelessly to change that. She helped organize the American Library Association’s first gay caucus and pushed for LGBTQ+ representation in libraries and professional literature, paving the way for future generations of queer readers and researchers to see themselves reflected.
Gittings also played a key role in challenging the American Psychiatric Association’s classification of homosexuality as a mental illness. Alongside activists like Frank Kameny, she organized protests and helped bring openly gay speakers to APA conferences — historic efforts that helped lead to the declassification in 1973.
Barbara Gittings wasn’t just ahead of her time, she helped shape the future. Her courage and dedication brought LGBTQ+ people out of the shadows and into public life.
