1970 Tranniversary: Jude

In 1970, Americans celebrated its first Earth Day and Congress passed the first National Environmental Policy Act and as a result the EPA was created. The US invaded Cambodia and was embroiled in the Vietnam War. Protestors shut down several universities and in May, students were shot at Kent State and Jackson State Universities. Hippies influenced fashion: bell bottom pants, ponchos, patchwork and plaid fabrics, rivaled tie dye from the 60’s. The convictions of all of the Chicago Seven defendants were overturned on the grounds of judicial bias and bias in jury selection. The national voting age was lowered to 18. The average cost of a house in the US was $23,500, the average annual income was $9,400, and the average monthly rent was $140.00. Gas was 36 cents a gallon. Paul McCartney left the Beatles and their final album, “Let It Be” was released. The Apollo 13 safely returned to earth after several explosions and the famous words, “Houston we have a problem” were spoken. In the weeks following the Stonewall riots (June 1969 NYC), activists in New York organized the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) and new LGBT+ activist organizations began to form across the United States and internationally. However, gay liberation was not equally liberating for everyone. People of color, women, and trans people were often marginalized by the mainstream gay rights movements, and formed their own organizations. In 1970, New York lesbians founded both the Lavender Menace and Radicalesbians, while the prominent transwoman of color Marsha P. Johnson and white trans activist Sylvia Rivera founded STAR (the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries). Number one movies were Love Story, Airport and MASH (with it’s own cross-dressing imagery included). Simon and Garfunkel topped billboards with their number one hit, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.