Whether it's same-sex marriage or laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender idenity, Connecticut has been near the forefront in advancing LGBTQ causes.

But in the state's not-too-distant past, homosexuality was regarded as a mental health or personality disorder. A new research project, jointly undertaken by Central Connecticut State University and the Connecticut Historical Society, details state psychiatric facilities' use of electroshock therapy, even lobotomy, to treat sexuality and gender variations.

Despite the risks, love letters going back more than a century attest to underground romantic same-sex relationships here.

Today, we look at Connecticut's LGBTQ history, before and after the Stonewall riots in New York City, which happened 50 years ago next month and gave rise to the modern gay rights movement.

Even before Stonewall, groups here in Connecticut, such as the Kalos Society, championed the push for equality.

We reflect on those efforts, and how the state's LGBTQ community rallied from tragedies, like the AIDS crisis and the murder of a Wethersfield gay man, to bring about change.

Whether it's same-sex marriage or laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender idenity, Connecticut has been near the forefront in advancing LGBTQ causes.
But in the state's not-too-distant past, homosexuality was regarded as a mental health or personality disorder. A <a href="https://chs.org/exhibition/lgbtq/">new research project</a>, jointly undertaken by Central Connecticut State University and the <a href="https://chs.org/">Connecticut Historical Society</a>, details state psychiatric facilities' use of electroshock therapy, even lobotomy, to treat sexuality and gender variations.
Despite the risks, love letters going back more than a century attest to underground romantic same-sex relationships here.
Today, we look at Connecticut's LGBTQ history, before and after the <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/stonewall-inn-considered-national-monument-status">Stonewall riots</a> in New York City, which happened 50 years ago next month and gave rise to the modern gay rights movement.
Even before Stonewall, groups here in Connecticut, such as the <a href="https://shoeleatherhistoryproject.com/2015/09/16/kalos-society-early-gay-liberation/">Kalos Society</a>, championed the <a href="https://www.courant.com/courant-250/moments-in-history/hc-250-gay-rights-where-we-are-now-20140628-story.html">push for equality</a>.
We reflect on <a href="https://ctchro.wordpress.com/2017/06/28/remembering-stonewall-lgbt-resistance-and-pride-in-connecticut/">those efforts</a>, and how the state's LGBTQ community rallied from tragedies, like the AIDS crisis and the <a href="https://www.courant.com/opinion/hc-op-campbell-richard-reihl-ct-gay-rights-20180508-story.html">murder of a Wethersfield gay man</a>, to bring about change.

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

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