-
Alice Mitchell murders Freda Ward after their plans to elope fall through
The subsequent trial becomes a national media sensation and Mitchell is committed to an insane asylum. This case inspired several novels that portrayed lesbians as evil and violent (Mary Wilkins Freeman's "The Long Arm," Mary Hatch's "The Strange Disappearance of Eugene Comstock.") -
In a Chicago medical journal, the earliest known use
of the word "homosexual" is used -
Oscar Wilde convicted of "gross indecency between males"
Trial raises the public awareness of homosexuality and his sentence of two years' hard labor inspires fear amongst the LGBT community -
Military classifies sodomy, both oral and anal sex,
as a crime and begins dishonorably discharging soldiers suspected to be homosexuals -
Sex crime panic sweeps nation and allows
for passage of state laws for involuntary confinement of "sexual psychopaths" -
During WWII, psychiatrists screen for homosexuality
and reject an estimated 4,000-5,000 men -
The Homosexual in America by Donald Webster Cory
First widely read insider account of LGBT community, declaring that homosexuals are a minority and deserve equal rights -
First national lesbian conference sponsored by
the Daughters of Bilitis -
Illinois is first state to decriminalize homosexuality
-
First gay rights pickets and march on Washington
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Founding of first state-chartered gay organization
in the South (AtheneumSociety) -
First gay community center opens in San Francisco
-
First gay campus group formed (NYC Columbia College)
-
Formation of Gay Liberation Front
-
American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality as a mental disorder
-
March on Washington draws 200,000
-
Gay-Related Immune Deficiency (GRID) identified by CDC
AIDS -
First openly lesbian couple granted legal joint adoption (Calif.)
-
First Annual Coming Out Day celebrated
-
March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation
largest demonstration in American history to that time -
Defense of Marriage Act
Overwhelmingly passed in Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton gives states the right to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages that may be legal in other states and denies numerous federal benefits to same-sex couples -
Wisconsin Rep 1st openly lesbian member of Congress
Tammy Baldwin - 1st member of federal office who was open about LGBT status from beginning of campaigning -
President Bill Clinton issues executive order prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
-
Brutal murder of Matthew Shepard leads to worldwide protests to include LGBT people in hate crimes legislation
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Setback for transgender rights when Texas court negates marriage of Christie Littleton, a transgender woman
-
Vermont enacts the first statewide civil union law
Access to state benefits -
Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson blame LGBT people, pagans, feminists and abortion providers for 9/11
"God's judgment on America." -
Groundbreaking case in Florida in which a judge finds Michael Kantaras, a transgender man, is legally male
Judge further determines he was legally married to his former wife and grants custody of their two children to him. -
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court rules that sodomy laws violate the constitutional right to privacy
Lawrence vs. Texas - this ruling voided all sodomy laws that still existed in 13 states (including Idaho, which the punishment if convicted was 5 years to life imprisonment). -
To address needs of transgender students,
Wesleyan University creates gender-free resident halls and unisex bathrooms -
Reverend Gene Robinson elected and confirmed as bishop in New Hampshire, the first openly LGBT bishop in the Episcopal Church
-
Massachusetts legalizes gay marriage
-
Federal Marriage Amendment fails to pass
, which would limit marriage to one man and one woman -
First ever presidential candidate forum held on LGBT issues
The Logo cable channel hosts the first presidential forum in the United States focusing specifically on LGBT issues. Six Democratic Party candidates participate in the event. GOP candidates were asked to attend but turned it down. -
Civil union law in New Hampshire
and domestic partnership law in Oregon -
California becomes second state to legalize same-sex marriage
-
First ever openly transgender mayor elected in Oregon
-
Proposition 8 passes in California making gay marriage illegal
Similar legislation also passes in Arizona and Florida -
Connecticut becomes 3rd state to legalize same-sex marriage
