1970 Lou Crompton, a noted scholar of 19th century British literature and a pioneer in gay studies, organized an interdisciplinary course, Pro-Seminar in Homophile Studies, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). This was the second such course to be provided at a university in the United States (personal communication, 2009). The course was in line with the National Institute on Mental Health Task Force on Homosexuality recommendation that interdepartmental courses be provided at colleges. The course was coordinated by Crompton, with Jim Cole (faculty in the Clinical Training Program in Psychology) serving as the spokesperson for the course, and Louis Martin, a psychiatrist at the University Health Center, on call as a consultant.

Roxanne Dunbar taught the first gay studies course at the University of California, Berkeley, but Lou was not aware of her course, which was taught in the spring and not interdisciplinary. Lou’s course was taught in the fall and was considered a medical subject. On July 10, 1970, Evelyn Hooker sent a handwritten letter that commended him on his excellent outline for the “Pro-Seminar in Homophile Studies.”

From a brief history of United Ministries in Higher Education-Lincoln (UMHE)-Lincoln and the Lincoln Gay Action Group (copy obtained from Lou Crompton Archives at UNL and dated April 20, 1971): Late in the fall of 1970, UMHE was approached by individuals identifying as gay who wanted a place to meet. After discussion and in light of their open house policy, it was agreed to allow the group to meet. They were eventually asked for space and also agreed.

On June 23, 1971, Larry Doerr delivered remarks to the Presbyterian Synod of Nebraska about his ministry with and support of the Gay Action Group on campus. His remarks were followed by “the distribution of a packet of materials concerning our ministry with the Gay Action Group, including a brief history of our work with that work, including the editorial incident, a letter supporting our work from the University Counseling Service, the Statement on ministry to homosexuals made in June 1968 by the Presbytery of Nebraska City, the 1970 Statement on Homosexuality by the National Association for Mental Health, and a brief bibliography of books available on the issues of homosexuality. Questions and discussion followed.”

The brief history (above) also addressed an editorial incident, which involved an explicitly pornographic editorial by the editor of the newsletter; this resulted in his being asked to resign. While the editor believed that his editorial was educational, his judgment about what was appropriate to publish in the name of the group and UMHE was questionable.

The history included the recommendation adopted by the Nebraska City Presbytery in 1968 and was originally published in the 1967 issue of Social Action magazine. The recommendation included encouragement of education and open and honest discussion about homosexuality. It also acknowledged that fear of homosexuality was widespread and stated that the church had a responsibility to help eliminate the ignorance upon which fear is based. It indicated that the church should be willing to examine its attitudes about sex in general, cease discrimination against homosexuals, and speak out for repeal of laws that criminalized private consenting behavior between adults.

1971 The University of Nebraska Gay Action Group started in January, with Joe Creason serving as student president. Gay and lesbian students, led by Joe, met in October 1970 to form a group, but did not ask for formal recognition until January 1971. Lou Crompton served as the advisor for the Gay Action Group, which later became the UNL Gay/Lesbian Student Association (personal communication, 2009). Terry Carpenter introduced Legislative Bill 443 (first read January 27, 1971), which would prohibit instruction on any aberrant sexual behavior at any public institution of higher education except as prescribed and to provide for enforcement (from copy of LB443 in Lou Crompton archives). UNGAG had a newsletter (date not seen on copy) with information about the rap line, the coffeehouse, National Gay Thanksgiving in Madison, WI (and a possible road trip), the capitol and campus scenes, and more. Comment on the last page: “The regents don’t seem too upset about UNGAG but watch them squirm when a gay candidate files for a regent post. (Don’t kid yourself, it just may happen.)”

Nebraska Senator Terry Carpenter (Scottsbluff) attempted to get Lou Crompton’s course banned and attempted to obtain the names of the students taking the course. Carpenter introduced a bill that was defeated. Carpenter later published the preface of Homosexuality: Sickness as a Way of Life by Edmund Bergler, a psychiatrist who thought that gays were masochists, as a letter to the editor. When this information became public, Carpenter was embarrassed and later left the Senate. Ernie Chambers, an ally to the LGBT community, was elected as a representative from Omaha and filled Carpenter’s seat in the Senate. When the Employment Non-Discrimination Act later was introduced in the Nebraska legislature, Chambers heard from opponents but became a supporter of equal rights for LGBT people (notes from a conversation with Lou, January 7, 2009).

1972 At the Republican Convention that nominated Richard Nixon was the one person who didn’t support Nixon for President and he nominated an imaginary “Joe.” Carpenter had scheduled hearings about Compton's class in Omaha and Nixon arrived in Omaha on the day of the hearing, deflecting attention away from the controversy. At the hearing, Carpenter asked Louis Martin what his orientation was and he answered that it wasn’t relevant; others were not asked.

The Women’s Action Group at UNL brought Phyllis Lyons and Del Martin to speak at UNL. Jack Baker, a pioneer for same-sex marriage rights in Minneapolis, was also brought to campus because he and his boyfriend had applied for a marriage license and it was denied.

The newsletter of the Lincoln and University of Nebraska Gay Action Groups was called The Liberator. The April 23, 1972, edition covered politics and candidates and encouraged readers to make their presence known at the polls. It stated that Nebraska had over 100,000 gay citizens. The newsletter listed the presidential candidates' stances on gay rights. Some of the candidates and politicians listed as being favorable toward equal rights for the gay community were Democrats Shirely Chisholm, Edward Kennedy, John Lindsay, Eugene McCarthy, George McGovern, and Hubert Humphrey (the latter described as weak but positive). Republican Paul McClosky Jr. was listed as a liberal who supported ending discrimination in federal employment, opposing the collection of data on sexual preference by the government, and favoring the start of an educational campaign to promote the acceptance of gay officers.

1972 A May 1 article from the university archives titled “City Cops Infiltrate Campus Rallies” (dated but source not available) indicates that “one person infiltrated the University’s Gay Action Group because he didn’t agree with its principles.”

The Democratic Caucus passed a gay rights resolution (from copy of the resolution as passed). A UNL student was one of the Democratic representatives.

1973 Lou Crompton organized and sponsored the first formal gay studies seminar to be listed in the program of a national meeting of the Modern Languages Association; it was called “Research in Gay Literature.”

1978 Nebraska de-criminalized sodomy, one of the first states to do so (from “A Short GLBT Lincoln History by Deanna Zaffke, published in the 2006 Pride Guide for Lincoln, NE).

Barbara Gittings, gay rights activist from Philadelphia, was profiled in an article in The Lincoln Star on September 30, 1978 (p. 6). Gittings was the speaker for the Nebraska Personnel and Guidance Association fall convention and also spoke at First Plymouth Church, a talk sponsored by the “Lincoln homosexual community and the Nebraska Civil Liberties Union.” The Lincoln Gay News, which began publishing in May 1978, also covered Gittings's visit to Lincoln.

David Landis advertised in The Lincoln Gay News as part of his campaign to be elected as legislator for North Lincoln (Lincoln Gay News, October 1978, 3). An advertisement to re-elect Kandra Hahn for Clerk of the District Court appeared on page 7.

1979 According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), when LGBT History Month was established in October 1994, it commemorated LGBT Marches on Washington in October 1979 and October 1987.

1970s (year unknown): KZUM (89.3) Community Radio featured the Wimmin's Show. The show continued for many years. Source: Deb Anderson, long-time host for the Wimmin's Show.