The
Daughters of Bilitis , also called the
DOB or the
Daughters, was the
first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States. The organization, formed in
San Francisco in 1955, was conceived as a social alternative to
lesbian bars, which were subject to raids and
police harassment. As the DOB gained members, their focus shifted to providing support to women who were afraid to
come out. The DOB educated them about their rights, and about
gay history. Historian
Lillian Faderman declared, "Its very establishment in the midst of
witch-hunts and police harassment was an act of courage, since members always had to fear that they were under attack, not because of what they did, but merely because of who they were." The Daughters of Bilitis endured for 14 years, becoming an educational resource for lesbians, gay men, researchers and mental health professionals.