The influence the homophile movement had on the Gay Liberation Movement shouldn’t be underestimated, though. The homophile movement helped unify the gay and lesbian community, and this unity was essential to the Gay Liberation Movement’s uprising. Many homophile activists also went on to become part of the Gay Liberation Movement.
The Gay Liberation Movement continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s. They inspired state leaders to decriminalize homosexual behavior and reduced police harassment. Large cities began acknowledging the civil rights of gay and lesbian individuals. Discrimination on the basis of sexuality became illegal in workplaces. Gay and lesbian people became more welcome in churches and political parties. In some cases, they even attained high-ranking positions. When the AIDS epidemic hit, they helped secure funding for research and treatment facilities. Thanks to the Gay Liberation Movement, the homosexual community transitioned from a subculture to an integral part of society.