Chapter 4: LGBTQ Persecution and Criminalization Since the Nineteenth Century

The nineteenth century was a time of great change, especially for LGBTQ+ people. Although the era brought about powerful new advances in research on gender and sexuality, queer people still faced significant persecution. In Europe and the United States, industrialization and secularization led people to move to cities in search of work. Many people also turned away from traditional religions. For the first time at this scale, people of different economic and social classes collided in dense urban environments. Secular governments replaced churches as primary lawmakers. The first modern police stations in Europe and the United States were founded during this era too. Since more people lived together and spent more time in close proximity, local and federal governments developed new laws to regulate new industries, to provide social welfare programs, and to manage people’s behavior. Some of the policies unfairly targeted marginalized people, since these people were already socially stigmatized.