Henry Gerber Residence

The Henry Gerber Residence in Chicago is where America's first gay rights organization got started. This was the home of Henry Gerber, who in 1924 founded the Society for Human Rights. If you care about LGBTQ+ history and activism, this address connects you directly to the movement's earliest days. The Society for Human Rights was ahead of its time for more than one reason. It brought Black and white members together from Chicago's north and south sides, at a time when much of the country was still segregated. The group's main goal was to change the laws that made homosexual acts a crime. Standing here, you can almost feel the weight of those conversations, and the bravery it must have taken to have them. You'll find the residence at 1710 North Crilly Court, on Chicago's north side. It's a landmark for anyone digging into the city's LGBTQ+ story. Thinking about the risks these early activists took makes today's thriving gay community in Chicago feel even more significant.