Elizabeth Freeney, Third Year Medicine
In 1910, Magnus Hirschfeld took to pen,
Cross-dressing defined; transvestitism outlined.
A new identity made to be celebrated,
But instead, further discrimination awaited.
Institute for Sexual Science in 1919;
A gender identity clinic, the first there had been,
But the Nazis destroyed it in the year 1933;
Sexual identity in Berlin was no longer free.
Dora Richter, first for gender reassignment,
In Hirshfield’s care she had found her true alignment,
Leading a new path so that others could follow,
But many still found ‘transgender’ hard to swallow.
1952, George Jorgensen home from war,
The first transgender celebrity, leading for many more.
Becoming Christine, she took the media by storm;
Everyone knew it was time for transgender reform.
Benjamin published The Transexual Phenomenon;
In 1966, the psychoanalysis treatment was gone,
With transvestism and transsexualism separated,
A new generation of doctors were finally educated.
The Stonewall riots ignited a spark;
The LGBT community left a global mark.
Activism organisations set up to unite
Communities campaigning for justice, shining bright.
Homosexuality dropped from DSM in ’73,
But it took until ’92 for WHO to agree,
That it’s not considered a psychiatric condition,
Completing Hooker and Kinsey‘s original mission.
Gay Medics and Dental Society set up in ’75,
With Martin Hamilton-Farrell as the primary drive.
‘You are not alone’ messages often released
Met with hate, in ’77, the society ceased.
In 1981, the first AIDS cases were recorded;
Five men in Los Angeles were morbid,
Terrence Higgins, the first in the UK to die,
A trust in his name allowed his legacy to fly.
The Pasteur Institute isolated HIV in 1983;
Antibody testing was now a possibility.
SIGMA set up, so research and care could grow,
But fear of further death continued to flow.
GMA, Switchboard, and Terrence Higgins Trust united
By a conference in 1983, which ignited,
A shared commitment to LGBT rights,
So that greater research funding was in sight.
The conference on Homosexuality and Medicine
In 1986, a GMA collaboration did begin,
Bringing their work into a global vision.
Then came the first AIDS treatment in ‘87.
In London, the World AIDS summit took place;
Commemorative day on 1 December ’88.
Individuals set to be protected from discrimination,
But more challenges remained in tackling further stigmatisation.
Department of health formed PRISM in 1993,
A place for all LGBTQ+ staff to feel free.
GLADD became official in 1995,
Members proud to finally be able to thrive.
In 1996, HAART halted HIV's replication;
By 2002, there was rapid testing innovation.
HIV prognosis turned from trauma to early remission;
Truvada developed in 2012 to prevent transmission.
In 2006, there was the first LGBT Health Summit;
Christine Burns chaired the trans working group from it.
They advocated for rights, health, and visibility,
Creating a pathway for greater inclusivity.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act in 2008
Gave lesbians equal access to parentage, removing the weight.
The largest transgender study then took place,
Stonewall’s Prescription for Change setting the pace.
In 2011, LGBT health disparities were published,
With research gaps and opportunities acknowledged.
Stonewall’s survey for gay and bisexual men
Outlined health concerns to protect the next gen.
The government action plan was published in 2018,
With Michael Brady as the advisor in 2019,
Improving awareness and highlighting inequality,
Especially in outcomes for the LGBT elderly.
Come 2022 monkey pox hit the scene;
Support for gay men was nowhere to be seen.
It was time for health campaigns to start anew,
Whilst targeted healthcare and advocacy grew.
With 30 years of GLADD, the journey goes on;
We stand as discrimination lingers on.
Our rich history will act as a guide,
with pride remaining firmly by our side.
From Hirshfield to Stonewall and on to today,
Many have paved the path along the way.
We've journeyed so far, but the road stretches on;
Together we’ll succeed, united and strong.
THE WORSLEY TIMES 
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