Timeline of LGBT history in New York City  New York has a long history of LGBT community building, activism, and culture which extends to the early history of the city.  1890s  Manhattan's Bowery was known to host "fairy resorts," saloons or dance halls for male gays, (known as fairies at the time). These 'resorts' included the venues: Paresis Hall, Little Bucks, Manilla Hall, the Palm Club of Chrystie Street, and the Black Rabbit at 183 Chrystie Street, and were the site of many gay and drag queen performers gaining recognition as entertainers in New York. The 1890s Gay scene in the Bowery was described by Earl Lind in her autobiography, "Autobiography of an Androgyne", published in two volumes in 1919 and 1922.  1924  "God of Vengeance" (1907), written by Sholem Asch opens as the first commercially produced play on Broadway with a lesbian theme. Soon after, the theatre owner and the entire cast of 12 was arrested and found guilty of obscenity.  1926  Police raid on Eve's Hangout on June 11 results in its closure. Its owner, Eva Kotchever, was arrested, found guilty of obscenity and deported to Europe. She was assassinated at Auschwitz during World War II.  1927  The New York State Assembly amends a public-obscenity code to include a ban of depictions of gayness onstage in what is called 'the padlock bill.'  1939   New York City closes most of the city’s best-known gay bars in preparation for the 1939 New York World's Fair.  1940  Courts rule New York State Liquor Authority can legally close down bars that serve "sex variants." 1945    After many LGBT personnel were discharged from military service during World War II, the Quaker Emergency Committee of New York City opens the first social welfare agency for gay people, serving young people arrested on same-sex charges. The group was disbanded in 1954 because of disagreement whether its goals were to 'cure' LGBT persons or to assist them with more basic social and welfare needs.  1956  New York Author James Baldwin publishes the novel "Giovanni's Room", which features a gay male narrator. The book was well received by critics.  1962  The first known pro-LGBT radio program, a 90-minute special with Randy Wicker airs on the station, WBAI in New York City.  1967  New York decides that it can no longer forbid bars from serving gay men and lesbians after activists stage a "Sip-In" at Julius, a bar, on April 21.  1967  Craig Rodwell opens the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, the first gay bookstore in the U.S., in Greenwich Village.  1968  The Metropolitan Community Church, an LGBT Christian Church, opened on West 36th Street.   1969   1970  Gay “zaps” were first used against New York City Mayor John Lindsay.  1971  The Gay & Lesbian Switchboard of New York is founded.  1972  The Lesbian Herstory Archives is founded by members of the Gay Academic Union, and hosted in Joan Nestle's Upper West Side apartment.      1984 1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  2011  2015  2016  2017   2018