4. Student Homophile League at Columbia University

Robert Martin, under the fake name Stephen Donaldson, created the first gay club in the United States at Columbia University in 1966. The college previously had strict and harmful policies that allowed students to be kicked out of the school or sent to a psychiatrist for being gay. Columbia’s Student Homophile League resulted in a lot of backlash but the group had the support of Columbia’s chaplain, Reverand John Cannon, which ultimately led to the success of the club.

The club was officially approved in 1967 and Donaldson worked hard to promote it in any public outlet he could including radio, newspapers, and posters. Donaldson’s efforts led to the creation of over 150 other LGBT college groups in the U.S. over the following four years. When the school denied the group a gay lounge in 1971, the Homophile League took it upon themselves to create one in the basement until it was finally recognized by the college as the Stephen Donaldson Lounge and is still used today.