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Sagittarius Lagna

Gittings Barbara

Remembering (Feb 18, 2007)

July 31, 1932 · Vienna, Vienna
13views
Moon Sign
Gemini
Sun Sign
Cancer
Ascendant
Sagittarius
Nakshatra
Punarvasu
Birth Star
PoliticsWritersLibrarianPublic SpeakerHumanities+Social SciencesLife Path 8Destiny Number 8Soul Number 5
Biography

Who is Gittings Barbara?

American pioneering activist for lesbian and gay equality, who organized the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) from 1958 to 1963, edited the national DOB magazine The Ladder from 1963 to 1966, and worked closely with Frank Kameny in the 1960s on the first picket lines that brought attention to the ban on employment of gay people by the largest employer in the USA at that time: the United States government. Gittings participated in many of the earliest LGBT actions in the United States. In 1965, Gittings marched in the first gay picket lines at the White House, the US State Department, and at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to protest the federal governments policy on discrimination of homosexuals, holding a sign that read "Sexual preference is irrelevant to federal employment." Her early experiences with trying to learn more about lesbianism fueled her lifetime work with libraries. In the 1970s, Gittings was most involved in the American Library Association, especially its gay caucus, the first such in a professional organization, in order to promote positive literature about homosexuality in libraries. She was a part of the movement to get the American Psychiatric Association to drop homosexuality as a mental illness in 1972. Her self-described life mission was to tear away the "shroud of invisibility" related to homosexuality, which had theretofore been associated with crime and mental illness. Gittings and her lifelong partner, Kay Tobin (also known as Kay Tobin Lahusen; born 1930) met in 1961 at a picnic in Rhode Island. Gittings described how they began: "We hit it off, we started courting. I flew to Boston [to see her] and got off the plane with a big bunch of flowers in my hand. I couldnt resist. I did not care what the world thought. I dropped the flowers, grabbed her and kissed her. That was not being done in 1961." Gittings and Lahusen were together for 46 years. On 18 February 2007, Gittings died in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania after a long battle with breast cancer. She was survived by her life partner, Kay Tobin Lahusen, and her sister, Eleanor Gittings Taylor. Gittings was awarded a lifetime membership in the American Library Association, and the ALA named an annual award for the best gay or lesbian novel the Barbara Gittings Award. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) also named an activist award for her. Link to Wikipedia biography
Latest Info

Latest Updates

Update at: Apr 17, 2026

Barbara Gittings (1932–2007)

Barbara Gittings was an American LGBT rights activist and a foundational figure in the modern lesbian-rights movement. Born July 31, 1932, in Vienna, Austria, she later became a leading organizer within the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) and a driving force behind early public visibility for lesbians.

Key facts

  • Born: July 31, 1932 — Vienna, Austria
  • Died: February 18, 2007 — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Occupation: Activist, editor, organizer
  • Notable work: Daughters of Bilitis; The Ladder; advocacy for lesbian visibility; campaigns to remove homosexuality from the DSM

Career highlights

  • Co-edited The Ladder, the first nationally distributed lesbian publication, with Kay Lahusen
  • Active organizer for the Daughters of Bilitis, promoting lesbian inclusion within the LGBTQ movement
  • Led efforts to challenge the medicalization of homosexuality, including advocacy directed at the American Psychiatric Association
  • Partnership with photographer Kay Lahusen; together they documented lesbian life and contributed to LGBTQ history

Public presence and media

There are no official social media profiles for Barbara Gittings, as she passed away in 2007. Public information about her comes from historical archives, library collections, and LGBTQ history projects. The Ladder and DOB archives preserve her work and impact.

Recent projects and legacy

There are no projects attributed to Gittings herself since her death. Her legacy endures through archival collections, exhibitions, and education about early LGBTQ rights activism. Institutions such as the DOB archives and related LGBTQ history programs continue to study and present her contributions.

Personal life

Barbara Gittings and Kay Lahusen formed a long-term partnership; their collaboration contributed significantly to documenting and advancing lesbian visibility in mid-20th-century America.

Which Raj Yogas are in Gittings Barbara's birth chart?

3 FOUND

Gittings Barbara's chart shows 2 Raj Yogas and 1 challenging combination, including Chandra-Mangala Yoga, Varishtha Yoga.

Planetary Combinations

Which dasha periods did Gittings Barbara live through?

VIMSHOTTARI

Vimshottari dasha periods recorded for Gittings Barbara, in order.

PREVIOUSAug 13, 2026 - Sep 1, 2026
Mars / Mercury / Sun

What do Gittings Barbara's numerology numbers say?

Gittings Barbara's core numbers are Life Path 8, Destiny 8, Soul Urge 5, Personality 3, Kabbalah Number 4, Birth 4.

Life Path
8

Chaldean Life Path 8 is Saturnian—authority, ambition, and material mastery. It indicates leadership with discipline, ethics, and long-term planning.

Destiny
8

Chaldean Destiny 8 indicates executive expression and authority. It supports business, finance, leadership, and achievement through discipline.

Soul Urge
5

Chaldean Soul 5 desires freedom and variety. It seeks change, movement, experiences, and space to explore life.

Personality
3

Chaldean Personality 3 appears expressive, social, and creative. Others often see charm, optimism, and communication skills.

Kabbalah Number
4

Kabbalah Number 4 reflects an inner spiritual code of structure and stability. It supports discipline, grounded effort, and dependable progress.

Birth
4

Discover Birth Number 4 in Vedic astrology: key personality traits, career paths, relationships, and remedies to balance life and attract success and prosperity.

Life Events & Planetary Transits

Key events mapped against the active Dasha and planetary transits at the time.

2007
Death
Death by Disease 18 February 2007 (Breast cancer, age 74)
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this profile's Vedic astrology, birth chart, and numerology — answered by our astrologers.

Which astrological traits define Barbara Gittings as a person and activist?

Barbara Gittings was born under a Leo Sun with a Sagittarius ascendant, a combination that produces bold, idealistic, and fiercely principled personalities. Her Gemini Moon added intellectual curiosity and persuasive communication skills. These placements together shaped a woman who was outspoken, justice-driven, and relentlessly committed to her cause, making her one of the most compelling voices in the early LGBTQ rights movement.

How does Vedic astrology explain the rise to prominence of Barbara Gittings as a public figure?

Barbara Gittings carries Varishtha Yoga in her chart, a rare combination that elevates a person to positions of lasting social influence. Her Sagittarius ascendant amplified her missionary zeal, while the Chandra-Mangala Yoga between the Moon and Mars gave her the emotional courage and drive to challenge institutions. Together, these yogas explain how she became a pioneering activist, editor, and public speaker who changed mainstream attitudes toward LGBTQ people.

When and where was Barbara Gittings born?

Barbara Gittings was born on July 31, 1932, in Vienna, Austria. Her birth in a European capital followed by a life spent in the United States reflects the Sagittarius ascendant trait of living and thriving far from one's birthplace. Vedic astrology notes the Settled Abroad pattern clearly in her chart, and her Cancer Vedic Sun sign gave her a deep emotional need to build community and belonging wherever she resided.

What do the planets in Barbara Gittings's birth chart reveal about her professional life?

Barbara Gittings's chart strongly supports a career rooted in knowledge-sharing and advocacy. Her Gemini Moon points to a natural librarian and writer, which she became, famously editing the lesbian magazine The Ladder and working with the American Library Association. The Sagittarius ascendant drew her toward public speaking and social reform, while Varishtha Yoga ensured her professional efforts would carry long-term cultural weight beyond her own lifetime.

How does numerology favour Barbara Gittings, and what are her key lucky numbers?

Barbara Gittings is associated with the number 8 as her Life Path, and numerologically this vibration resonates with power, authority, and transformative impact. Numbers 4 and 8 are considered especially significant for her, supporting persistence and structural change. The number 3 also carries favour through her Gemini Moon, enhancing communication and creative expression. These numerological strengths align with her documented role as a writer, organiser, and institutional reformer.

What is Barbara Gittings's Life Path number, and how did it shape her journey?

Barbara Gittings carries a Life Path number of 8, which in numerology governs ambition, authority, and the drive to reshape existing systems. Number 8 individuals are rarely satisfied with surface-level change; they work to dismantle and rebuild institutions. This resonates deeply with Barbara Gittings's life work, from pressuring the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from its list of disorders to transforming library representation of LGBTQ literature across the United States.

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