I believe, and read it as such, that she was discussing her own family and social circle, not the legality of it all.
Hillary Clinton didn't support gay marriage when she ran for President in 2008, nor did Barack Obama when he ran for both his first and second terms. It was only after he was re-elected a second time in 2012 that he declared he had "evolved" on the issue and now suddenly supported gay marriage. During that timeframe, things were going swimmingly for gays and Lesbians otherwise.
I would agree with her recollection on that for the most part. I had a few cases in the 70's and 80's when my bosses had no problem passing me by for a promotion and told me it was because "they wanted a family man" to take the job instead of me. That was code for "We know you're gay, and we like you professionally, but we need to promote family men like Steve instead".
Otherwise, between a bunch of old church ladies who outed me and kicked me out of my family's longtime congregation, most of the 70's and 80's and into the 90's was no big deal for me or my friends. No segregated drinking fountains, no separate waiting rooms, no different schools or neighborhoods, etc. I honestly can't complain, but then I'm not Gen Z.