1978
- Harvey Milk — first openly gay or lesbian candidate elected to political office in California; first openly gay man elected to public office in the United States
- San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corp — world's first openly gay musical group
- Samois, the first lesbian S/M group in the United States, was founded.
- Robin Tyler became the first out lesbian on U.S. national television, appearing on a Showtime comedy special hosted by Phyllis Diller. The same year she released her comedy album, Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Groom, the first comedy album by an out lesbian.
- Gilbert Baker raised the first Rainbow Flag at San Francisco Pride on June 25, 1978.
Read more about this topic: List Of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Or Transgender Firsts By Year, 1970s