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From Stonewall To Skopje: The Decades-Long Battle For LGBT Rights Around The World

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia on May 17 highlights the places in the world where members of the LGBT community still face persecution.

The date was chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization's 1990 decision to remove homosexuality from its disease classification list. The day also celebrates the progress made by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in recent decades.

Here's a look back at the LGBT movement in pictures.
New York City's Stonewall Inn and a reproduction of the June 29, 1969, edition of the New York Post that reported about the police raid that led to the Stonewall riots. The series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the gay and lesbian community against a police raid on the Stonewall Inn is widely considered the start of the LGBT-rights movement in the United States.  
1 New York City's Stonewall Inn and a reproduction of the June 29, 1969, edition of the New York Post that reported about the police raid that led to the Stonewall riots. The series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the gay and lesbian community against a police raid on the Stonewall Inn is widely considered the start of the LGBT-rights movement in the United States.
 
Demonstrators outside New York's City Hall on June 10, 1970, called for an end to discrimination against gays and lesbians. Members of the Gay Activists Alliance sponsored the demonstration, which included signs reading "Gay Is Good" and "America, Grow Up."
2 Demonstrators outside New York's City Hall on June 10, 1970, called for an end to discrimination against gays and lesbians. Members of the Gay Activists Alliance sponsored the demonstration, which included signs reading "Gay Is Good" and "America, Grow Up."
The Gay Freedom Day March in San Francisco on June 26, 1977.
3 The Gay Freedom Day March in San Francisco on June 26, 1977.
A 30-year-old Dutch demonstrator displays a sign that reads "Glad To Be Gay" during a march in Frankfurt, Germany, on July 28, 1979, which ended a weeklong homosexual meeting. Hundreds of homosexuals converged for a week of movies, theater, rock concerts, and workshops on gay rights. Gays and lesbians from Germany and other countries demanded an end to discrimination against homosexuals. 
4 A 30-year-old Dutch demonstrator displays a sign that reads "Glad To Be Gay" during a march in Frankfurt, Germany, on July 28, 1979, which ended a weeklong homosexual meeting. Hundreds of homosexuals converged for a week of movies, theater, rock concerts, and workshops on gay rights. Gays and lesbians from Germany and other countries demanded an end to discrimination against homosexuals. 
People celebrate in the New York City neighborhood of Greenwich Village after a gay-rights bill is passed on March 20, 1986.
5 People celebrate in the New York City neighborhood of Greenwich Village after a gay-rights bill is passed on March 20, 1986.
An unknown organization posted hundreds of posters saying "No, no, no to homosexuality" in the center of the Romanian capital, Bucharest, on October 13, 2000.
6 An unknown organization posted hundreds of posters saying "No, no, no to homosexuality" in the center of the Romanian capital, Bucharest, on October 13, 2000.
Serbian police clash with several hundred nationalist thugs who had thrown stones and attacked gay activists in Belgrade on June 30, 2001.
7 Serbian police clash with several hundred nationalist thugs who had thrown stones and attacked gay activists in Belgrade on June 30, 2001.
Two Moldovan lesbians cover their mouths during a silent protest in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, on April 27, 2007, after the authorities banned a public event by an LGBT group.
8 Two Moldovan lesbians cover their mouths during a silent protest in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, on April 27, 2007, after the authorities banned a public event by an LGBT group.
A gay-rights activist in Belarus looks out from behind a placard during the first-ever sanctioned Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Pride rally near the Justice Ministry in Minsk on February 14, 2011.
9 A gay-rights activist in Belarus looks out from behind a placard during the first-ever sanctioned Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Pride rally near the Justice Ministry in Minsk on February 14, 2011.
Police detain a gay-rights activist after clashes with Orthodox Christians in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, on May 17, 2012. Dozens of LGBT activists marching on the streets to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia were stopped by church members.
10 Police detain a gay-rights activist after clashes with Orthodox Christians in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, on May 17, 2012. Dozens of LGBT activists marching on the streets to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia were stopped by church members.
Svyatoslav Sheremet, the head of the Gay Forum of Ukraine, is attacked in Kyiv on May 20, 2012, after meeting with reporters to inform them that a scheduled gay-pride parade was canceled.
11 Svyatoslav Sheremet, the head of the Gay Forum of Ukraine, is attacked in Kyiv on May 20, 2012, after meeting with reporters to inform them that a scheduled gay-pride parade was canceled.
A Russian gay-rights activist holds a poster reading "Love Is Stronger Than Homophobia!" while sitting inside a police van after his detention during an unauthorized gay-rights rally in central Moscow on May 25, 2013.
12 A Russian gay-rights activist holds a poster reading "Love Is Stronger Than Homophobia!" while sitting inside a police van after his detention during an unauthorized gay-rights rally in central Moscow on May 25, 2013.
About 2,000 riot police are deployed to protect 150 LGBT activists marching in Montenegro's first pride march in the capital, Podgorica, on October 20, 2013. Opponents of same-sex rights had tried to attack the march.
13 About 2,000 riot police are deployed to protect 150 LGBT activists marching in Montenegro's first pride march in the capital, Podgorica, on October 20, 2013. Opponents of same-sex rights had tried to attack the march.
LGBT activists take part in a rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 17, 2013.
14 LGBT activists take part in a rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 17, 2013.
Ukrainian police arrest a protester during a gay-pride parade in Kyiv on June 12, 2016.
15 Ukrainian police arrest a protester during a gay-pride parade in Kyiv on June 12, 2016.
LGBT activists in Kosovo march during the country's first gay-pride parade in Pristina on October 10, 2017.
16 LGBT activists in Kosovo march during the country's first gay-pride parade in Pristina on October 10, 2017.
Ukrainian police guard participants of the Equality March organized by the LGBT community in Kyiv on June 23, 2019.
17 Ukrainian police guard participants of the Equality March organized by the LGBT community in Kyiv on June 23, 2019.
Members of the LGBT community march in North Macedonia's first gay-pride parade in Skopje on June 29, 2019.
18 Members of the LGBT community march in North Macedonia's first gay-pride parade in Skopje on June 29, 2019.
People wave rainbow flags as they march in the first-ever Bosnian gay-pride parade in Sarajevo on September 8, 2019.
19 People wave rainbow flags as they march in the first-ever Bosnian gay-pride parade in Sarajevo on September 8, 2019.
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