10 Historic LGBT Publications That Paved the Way For Us All

The Ladder was the first nationally distributed lesbian publication in the United States, and was the primary method of communication for the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian organization in the country. The Ladder was supported by ONE, Inc. and The Mattachine Society. Their mission statement, printed inside the cover of every magazine, reads:
“1. Education of the variant...to enable her to understand herself and make her adjustment to society...this to be accomplished by establishing...a library...on the sex deviant theme; by sponsoring public discussions...to be conducted by leading members of the legal psychiatric, religious and other professions; by advocating a mode of behavior and dress acceptable to society.
2. Education of the public...leading to an eventual breakdown of erroneous taboos and prejudices...
3. Participation in research projects by duly authorized and responsible psychologists, sociologists, and other such experts directed towards further knowledge of the homosexual.
4. Investigation of the penal code as it pertain to the homosexual, proposal of changes,...and promotion of these changes through the due process of law in the state legislatures.”