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NAWSA Formed
1890- The National Women Suffrage and the American Women Suffrage Association merged to form the National American Suffrage Association (NAWSA). It advocated for voting rights for women. -
Colorado Adopts Suffrage for Women
1893- Colorado becomes the first state to adopt an amendment granting women the right to vote -
Plessy V. Ferguson
1896- In Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court upheld the “separate-but-equal” facilities. This affected not only African Americans, but also Native Americans. -
National Women's Trade Union League Created
1903- The National Women’s Trade Union League is created to obtain improved wages and working conditions for women -
W. E. B. Dubois creates the Niagra Movement
1905- W. E. B. DuBois created the Niagara movement, an earlier group to NAACP. -
President Roosevelt forms the Gentlemen's Agreement with Japan
1907- President Roosevelt forms the Gentlemen’s Agreement with Japan. The Japanese would be treated better in the US and Japan will limit the number of people emigrating to the US. -
NAACP Founded
1909- The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is founded in New York. It is led by W. E. B. DuBois -
New Mexico enters union as bilingual state
1912- New Mexico enters the union as a bilingual state. Bilingual education and voting was funded. -
Margaret Sanger opens first birth-control clinic
1916- Margaret Sanger opens the first birth-control clinic. The clinic was later shut down and Sanger was arrested. -
The 19th Amendment is ratified
1920- The 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, was ratified by the states. -
Immigration Act of 1921 Passed
1921- The Immigration Act of 1921 restricted the immigration from any country to 3% annually -
ABCL Created
1921- Margaret Sanger creates the American Birth Control League. -
Immigration Act of 1924
1924- The Immigration Act of 1924 (National Origins Act) bans all immigrants ineligible for citizenship from entering the US and obtaining legal status. -
Native Americans Classified as Citizens
1924- The Federal Government officially classified Native Americans as “citizens” and were given the right to vote -
Society for Human Rights Created
1924- Henry Gerber creates the Society for Human Rights. It was the first documented gay rights organization of the US. -
Military Service Quota For Fillipinos
1925- Filipinos are ineligible for US citizenship until they serve three years in the navy. -
"The Washingtonians"
1927- Duke Ellington’s jazz group “The Washingtonians” begin to rise in fame. Their performances and broadcasts on radio will soon lead Ellington’s rise to national fame. -
FMWU Gains Power
1927- In Los Angeles, the Federation of Mexican Workers Union-CUOM becomes a large-scale effort to organize and consolidate Mexican workers -
Gong Lum v. Rice
1927- In Gong Lum v. Rice, the US Supreme Court rules that states require Chinese American students to attend “separate but equal schools” -
The Well of Lonliness Published
1928- Radclyffe Hall’s published the lesbian novel, The Well of Loneliness. This sparked homosexuality conversations in the public both in the US and England. -
First Latino Senator
1928- Octaviano Larrazolo becomes the first Latino US Senator -
LULAC Formed
1929- The League of United Latin American Citizens was formed from the merging of several Latino service organizations. -
Scottsboro Boys Case
1931- Nine African Americans were accused of raping two white women. The Scottsboro Boys case attracts attention all over the nation and will fuel the civil rights movement. -
First Latino in Supreme Court
1932- Benjamin Nathan Cardozo becomes the first Latino named to the US Supreme Court -
Study on African American Men
1932- The US creates a 40-year study on the effects of syphilis in 400 African American men. The men were used as test subjects and did not know the full details of the study. President Clinton will later apologize in 1997. -
Indian Reorganization Act
1934- The US Congress passed the Indian Reorganization Act. It protected American Indians from loss of their lands and provided funds for economic development. -
Law Prohibiting Contreceptive Information Nullified
1936- The law prohibiting the spreading of contraceptive information is changed and information regarding birth control is no longer known as obscene -
A. Phillip Randolph March
1941- Jan 15, A. Philip Randolph calls 10,000 African Americans to march on Washington DC to protest racial discrimination in defense industries -
Executive Order 8802
1941- June 25, Roosevelt issues Executive Order 8802, prohibiting racial discrimination in federal departments. Also established a Fair Employment Practice Committee (FEPC) -
Pearl Harbor
1941- Japanese attack Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, great racism aimed at the enemy was also towards Japanese Americans -
Bracero Program Created
1942- The Bracero Program is created to allow Mexican citizens to work temporarily in the US for low-cost labor. -
Executive Order 9066
1942- Feb 19, President Roosevelt signs Executive Order 9066, authorizing the incarceration of 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry -
Committee of Racial Equality Founded
1942- Committee of Racial Equality, later known as Congress of Racial Equality, is founded -
Latinos Begin to served in WWII
1942- Hundreds of thousands of Latinos serve in the armed forces during WWII -
Hrabayashi v. United States
1943- Hirabayashi v. United States: Supreme Court rules the curfew on Japanese Americans is constitutional -
Zoot Suit Riots
1943- One of the worst race riots, the Zoot Suit Riots, began and lasted for 10 nights. Americans searched for zoot-suiters - hip, young, Mexican teens dressed in baggy pants and long-tailed coats- and violently beat them up. -
"Special Schools" For Indian Communities
1943-1944- “Special Schools” were made for Indian communities. These were nineteen segregated elementary schools including: SC serving Cherokee community in upstate, The Summerville Indian School, The Varner Town Indian School etc... -
Chinese Exclusion Act Repealed
1943- Congress repeals the Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese residents can be normal citizens -
Detriot Race Riot
1943- June 20-22, 34 people were killed and 433 were wounded at the Detroit race riot -
Harlem Race Riot
1943- August 1-2, 6 people died and nearly 700 were injured at the Harlem race riot -
Smith v. Allywright
1944- April 3, in the court case Smith v. Allwright, the supreme court decides that the exclusion of African American from voting in the Texas Democratic primary violates the Fifteenth Amendment. -
Fair Employment Practices Bill
1944-Senator Dennis Chávez of New Mexico introduces the first Fair Employment Practices Bill, which prohibits discrimination because of race, creed or national origin. The bill fails, but is an important predecessor for the 1964 Civil Rights Act. -
NCAI Formed
1944- About 100 Indians congregated to create the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). They monitor federal policies, preserve rights under Indian treaties, promote common welfare of the American Indians and Alaska Natives and enlighten the public toward better understanding of Indians. -
442nd Regimental Combat Team Lands in Italy
1944- All Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat teams lands in Italy for the war -
Korematsu v. United States
1944- Korematsu v. United States: US Supreme Court rules Executive order 9066 constitutional -
Native American Tribes Terminated
1945- More than 100 tribes were legally terminated, and thousands of Indians were relocated to the culture shock of the urban slums. This resulted in tribal governments. -
Mendez v. Westminster
1945: Mexican-American parents sue California school districts for the segregation of Latino students. In Mendez v. Westminster, the Supreme Court rules in the parent’s favor. -
Tule Lake Closes
1945- Tule Lake, the last US concentration camp, closes. -
Latino Veterans Return Home
1945: Latino veterans return home and together, they seeked equal rights. They used their GI benefits for advancement, college educations, and new homes. -
Morgan v. Virginia
1946- In the Morgan v. Virginia Supreme court case, the court rules that A Virginia law requiring segregated seating on interstate busses is an unconstitutional burden on interstate commerce -
Funding For FEPC Ends
1946- June 30, Congress votes to end funding for the FEPC -
Jackie Robinson Plays His First Game
1947- April 15, Jackie Robinson plays his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American player in major league baseball since 1880s. -
American GI Forum in Texas Created
1948: Latino veterans created the American GI Forum in Texas to combat discrimination and improve the social status of Latinos. The forum spreads to 23 states. -
Sexual Behavior in the Human Male Published
1948: Alfred Kinsey’s landmark book, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, is published.
Kinsey reports that 37% of men he interviewed had participated in homosexual behavior
at least once. Based on his research, Kinsey proposes that sexual orientation lies on a
continuum from exclusively homosexual to exclusively heterosexual. -
Executive Order 9980
1948: July 26: Truman issued executive order 9980, which establishes a Fair Employment Board and 9981, which begins desegregation of the military -
Harry Hay Founds the Mattachine Society
1950: Activist Harry Hay founds the Mattachine Society, one of the earliest homophile/homosexual organizations in the United States. Their goal is to organize and advocate for homosexual rights and to reduce the feelings of isolation that many gays andlesbians of the time are experiencing. -
Malcom X Becomes Minister
1952: Malcom X becomes minister of the Nation of Islam. He becomes one of the most influential members of the group Black Muslims. He becomes a black nationalist and a separatist who actively advocates that blacks can only solve black problems. -
Fuji Sei v. California
1952: Fuji Sei v. California: CA Supreme Court rules that the Alien Land Law of 1913 is unconstitutional -
Executive Order 10450
1953: Executive Order 10450 is signed by President Dwight Eisenhower, ordering the dismissal of government workers who engage in “sexual perversion” and other immoral acts. Although the Order does not explicitly mention homosexuality, hundreds of gays and lesbians lose their job as a result. -
Operation Wetback
1953: During Operation Wetback, the US Immigration Service deports more than 3.8 million Latin Americans. Many US citizens were deported, including political activist Luisa Moreno. -
Hernandez v. Texas
1954: In Hernandez v. Texas, the Supreme Court ruled that Mexican Americans and all other racial groups had equal protection under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. -
Brown v. Board of Education
1954: In Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court rules that racial segregation in schools is unconstitutional -
Daughter of Billitis Founded
1955: In San Francisco, activists Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon found the Daughters of Bilitis, a lesbian civil and political rights organization. The group eventually publishes a magazine, the first lesbian publication of any kind. -
Emett Till Murdered
1955: August: Emmett Till, a black boy, was murdered for allegedly whistling at a white woman. The murderers were later acquitted by an all-white jury. Dec: Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat at the front of the “colored section” of a bus to a white person. As a result, the local black community launched a year-long bus boycott which caused the local buses to be desegregated in 1956 -
Evelyn Hooker Presents Research on Homosexuality
1956: At the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Evelyn Hooker presents research comparing the psychological health of homosexual and heterosexual men. Her results show that even skilled research experts find no differences in the mental health of these two groups. -
SCLC Founded
1957: The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was created by Martin Luther King, Charles K. Steele, and Fred L. Shuttlesworth. -
Little Rock Nine
Federal troops along with the National Guard were called to accompany blacks students attend a white high school. The group was known as the “Little Rock Nine” -
Woolworth's Sit-In
1960: In Greensboro, 4 black students begin a sit-in at Woolworth’s lunch counter. The students were later served lunch at the diner months later, causing similar protests throughout the South. -
The Creation of SNCC
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Commitee (SNCC) was created, and it provided young blacks with opportunities in the civil rights movement -
Freedom Riders Formed
1961: Groups of student volunteers called freedom riders go into the South to test the effectiveness of laws that prohibit segregation in public facilities. The students were not treated with respect as they were attacked by many groups of angry men. -
President's Comission on the Status of Women
1961: President Kennedy creates the President’s Commission on the Status of Women and appoints Eleanor Roosevelt as chairwoman -
NIYC Created
1961: The National Indian Youth Council (NIYC) was created to revive a sense of national pride among Native Americans and also to spread activist ideas. -
Illinois Decriminalizes Homosexuals
1962: Illinois becomes the first state to decriminalize homosexual acts between two consenting adults in private -
James Meredith Enrolls at University of Mississippi
1962: President Kennedy sends 5000 federal troops to aid James Meredith, the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi. -
Miami Coral Way Elementary Offers Bilingual Program
1963: Miami’s Coral Way Elementary School offers the nation’s first bilingual program in public schools. -
The Femenine Mystique is Published
1963: Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique, which describes the dissatisfaction felt by the middle-class American housewives with the narrow role imposed on them by society. -
Martin Luther King is Jailed
1963: Martin Luther King is arrested and jailed during anti-segregation protests in Birmingham. At that time, he wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” which pushed forth the idea of civil disobedience -
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom- I Have a Dream
250,000 people attend the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and MLK delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech -
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
Four black girls who were attending Sunday school were killed when a bomb explodes at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. That place was known as a popular location for civil right meetings. -
Sidney Poitier wins the Best Actor Oscar
Sidney Poitier becomes the first African American to win the Best Actor Oscar for his role in Lilies of the Field -
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
1964: Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act restrict discrimination in employment on the basis of race and sex was made/passed. Also, it created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce the law -
MLK Recieves the Nobel Peace Prize
1964: Martin Luther King receives the Nobel Peace Prize -
National Origins Quotas Abolished
1965: The national origins quotas are abolished. All races now have equal abilities of immigrating to the US. -
Malcom X is Assassinated
1965: A black nationalist and leader of the Organization of Afro-American Unity, Malcom X was assassinated -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Congress passes the Voting Rights Act of 1965, making it easier for blacks to vote. Literacy tests, poll taxes and other similar requirements were made illegal. -
Griswold v. Connecticut
1965: In Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court rules down the last state law prohibiting the use of contraceptives by married couples -
NOW is Formed
1966: The National Organization for Women (NOW) was formed. Included Betty Friedan. NOW aims to prevent sexual discrimination in places like the workplace by lobbying, litigation, and public demonstrations. -
Student Homophile League Founded
1966: The oldest collegiate student organization for gays, the Student Homophile League, is founded at Columbia University. -
Black Panthers Created
1966: Huey Newton and Bobby Seale created the Black Panthers, a militant group advocating black liberation -
Loving v. Virginia
1967: Loving v. Virginia: US Supreme Court rules state laws against interracial marriages as unconstitutional -
Race Riots in Newark and Detriot
Major race riots take place in Newark and in Detroit -
"Black Power" is Coined
1967: Stokely Carmichael coins the phrase “black power”. He is a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. -
Thurgood Marshall - First black Supreme Court Justice
Thurgood Marshall becomes the first black Supreme Court Justice -
Executive Order 11375
1967: Executive Order 11375 follows up on President Lyndon Johnson’s affirmative action policy of 1965 to restrict discrimination based on sex. Women, as well as minorities, can enjoy the same educational and employment opportunities as white males. -
MLK Assassinated
1968: Martin Luther King Jr is assassinated in Memphis Tennessee -
City-Wide Walkouts in LA
1968: Latino high school students stage citywide walkouts in Los Angeles protesting unequal treatment by the school districts. -
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund Created
1968: The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund is created to become to first legal fund to support the protection of the civil rights of Mexican Americans. -
Student Protests in California
1968-69: Student protesting at University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco State University result in ethnic studies. For the first time, Asian American history is taught. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1968
1968: The Civil Rights Act of 1968 is signed by President Johnson, which prohibits the discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. -
American Indian Movement
1968: The American Indian Movement, or AIM, was created to remedy historical grievances and to gain contemporary civil rights. This group consists of urban Indians who believed that direct and militant confrontation with the US government was most effective. -
Young Lords Organization Established
1969: Young Lords Organization, created by young Puerto Ricans faced with destitute living conditions, aim to help poor kids by creating free breakfast programs for kids and community health clinics. The YLO uses direct action and political education to bring public attention to issues. -
Stonewall Riots
1969: The Stonewall Riots, named after the historically gay-frequented bar, The Stonewall Inn, take place in Greenwich Village in New York City. Police forces had unjustly raided the establishment in the past, but on this occasion, gays protest the raids and the event becomes a pivotal, defining moment in the movement for LGBT rights. -
Schultz v. Wheaton Glass Co.
1970: In Schultz, v. Wheaton Glass Co., a US Court of Appeals rules that jobs held by both genders need to be “substantially equal” to fall under the range of the Equal Pay Act -
First Gay Pride Marches Held
1970: The first gay pride marches are held in multiple cities in the United States on the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. These are the first of many pride marches that will take place across the globe in years to come. -
US Department of Health Anounces
1970: The US Department of Health, Education and Welfare announced that students cannot be denied access to educational programs due to the inability to speak English. -
Ms. Magazine is Publish in NYC Magazine
1971: First time Ms. Magazine is published in the New York magazine. It soon becomes a major forum for feminists. -
Equal Rights Amendment Passed by Congress
1972: The Equal Rights Amendment is passed by Congress but failed to achieve ratification by at least 38 states. -
Eisenstadt v. Baird
1972: Mar 22: in Eisenstadt v. Baird, the Supreme Court rules that the right to privacy covers an unmarried person’s right to use contraceptives -
Indian Education Act
1972: The Indian Education Act authorized funding for special bilingual and bicultural programs for Native Americans. It also created an Office of Indian Education in the US Department of Education. The Office of Indian Education supports the efforts of local educational agencies, Indian tribes and organizations, and other programs to meet the educational and cultural needs of American Indians. -
Title IX of Education Amendements
1972: June 23: Title 9 of the Education Amendments bans gender discrimination in schools. This resulted in an increase of women in athletics and professional schools. -
Tuskegee Syphilis Expirement Ends
1972: The Tuskegee Syphilis experiment ends. In this experiment, black men were used to determine how long it takes syphilis to kill a man. -
Roe v. Wade
1973: In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme court creates a woman’s right to safe and legal abortion. -
American Physciatric Association Removes Homosexuality as Mental Illness
1973: The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders II, concluding that it is not a mental illness. Evelyn Hooker’s pioneering research on homosexuality plays a crucial role in this decision. -
Richard Wilson Convicts AIM
1973: Tribal President Richard Wilson convicted AIM and banned it after a violent confrontation in 1972. In February 1973, AIM leaders with 200 activists took over the village of Wounded Knee and announced the creation of the Oglala Sioux Nations. They also declared themselves independent from the US. A 71 day siege then followed and AIM members agreed to stop under one condition: the government creates a full investigation to their demands. -
Elaine Noble First Gay Legislator
1974: Elaine Noble becomes the first openly gay person to be elected as a state legislator;
she serves in the Massachusetts State House of Representatives for two terms. -
AALDEF is Formed
1974: AALDEF, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is founded to protect the civil rights of Asian Americans -
Equal Educational Opportunity Act
1974: Congress passed the Equal Educational Opportunity Act to make bilingual education more widely available in public schools. -
Lau v. Nicholas
1974: In Lau v. Nicholas, the Supreme Court rules that students’ access to an education program cannot be denied due to their inability to speak English. -
Bisexual Forum Founded
1975: The Bisexual Forum is founded in New York City and the Gay American Indians
Organization is founded in San Francisco. -
US Voting Rights Act
1975: Congress votes to expand the US Voting Rights Act to require language assistance at polling stations due to discrimination at the polls. -
Harvey Milk Elected
1977: Harvey Milk is elected city-county supervisor in San Francisco and becomes the third “out” elected public official in the United States. Quebec, Canada passes laws to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in both private and public sectors. -
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act
1978: The Pregnancy Discrimination Act bans employment discrimination against pregnant women. -
The Longest Walk
1978: The Longest Walk was a major national protest event that began in San Francisco where American Indians walked to Washington DC. This symbolizes the forced removal of Indian from their ancestral grounds. They also wanted to protest against public backlash against efforts to protest Indian treaty rights. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
1978: Regents of the University of California v. Bakke: US Supreme Court prohibited the use of race quotas in university and college admissions, but can use race to increase diversity -
Harvey Milk Assassinated
1978: Shortly after assuming his elected role as Supervisor, Harvey Milk is assassinated along with San Francisco’s Mayor Greg Moscone. Supervisor Dan White is convicted of
voluntary manslaughter and is sentenced to seven years in prison. In San Francisco, the Rainbow Flag is first flown; the flag becomes a symbol of gay and lesbian pride. -
National March on Washington For LGBT Rights
1979: Over 100,000 people participate in the National March on Washington for Lesbianand Gay Rights. Chapters of the national organization of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) are founded across the United States. -
David McReynolds Appears on Socialist Party Ballot
1980: David McReynolds appears on the Socialist Party ballot, becoming the first openly gay individual to run for President of the United States. -
Lethal Virus Spreads Through Gay Community
1981: A lethal virus is noticed spreading through the gay community. It is first reported in the New York Times as a rare pneumonia and skin cancer and is initially referred to by
the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as gay related immunodeficiency [disease] (GRID). When it is recognized that the virus is found in other populations, it is renamed
the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. -
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Formed
1982: The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force initiates a project aimed to counter the
rise in violence related to homophobia in the United States. -
Guion Bluford Jr. Reaches Space
1983: Guion Bluford Jr. becomes the first African American in space. -
First National Lesbians of Color Conference
1983: The first National Lesbians of Color Conference is organized in Los Angeles. -
Duncan Donovan Recieves Death Benefits
1984: After an eight-year legal battle Duncan Donovan, a Los Angeles gay activist, wins
the right to receive the death benefits of his life partner. -
National Religious Organizations Provide Support
1985:National religious organizations provide support for the first "National Consultation on Immigrant Rights." Immediately the group calls for a National Day of Action for Justice for Immigrants and Refugees, "to call attention to issues and to dramatize the positive role of immigrants in shaping U.S. society." More than 20 cities participate in the event. -
Bower v. Hardwick
1986: The United States Supreme Court ruling in Bower v. Hardwick upholds the right of
each state to criminalize private same-sex acts. -
Congress Approves IRCA
1986: November 6, Congress approves the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), providing legalization for certain undocumented workers, including agricultural workers. The Act also sets employer sanctions in place, making it illegal for employers to hire undocumented workers. -
Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson
1986: in Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, the Supreme court rules that sexual harassment in a form of illegal job discrimination -
ACT UP is Formed
1987: ACT UP is formed in order to protest inaction in response to the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. The Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) is founded with the goal of fighting against ageism and for lesbian rights. -
First Asian Americans Elected in NYC
1987:Peter Tom and Dorothy Brandt become the first Asian Americans to be elected as Civil Court judges in NYC -
President Reagan Appoints Dr. Lauro Cavazos
1988:President Ronald Reagan appoints Dr. Lauro Cavazos as Secretary of Education. He becomes the first Latino appointed to a presidential cabinet. -
CDC Mails Aids Brochure
1988: The brochure Understanding AIDS is mailed by the CDC to every American household. The World Health Organization organizes the first World AIDS Day in attempts to spread awareness of the disease. -
Ileana Ros-Lehitnen is Elected
1989 Miami's Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Cuban American, becomes the first Latino woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. -
Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
The nation's first civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilties. -
AALDEF and APALC Create NAPALC
1991: The Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco, AALDEF, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles join forces to create the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium -
Race Riots Begin Again
1992: April 29: The first race riots in decades begin in Los Angeles after a jury acquits four white police officers for the videotaped beating of Rodney King -
Homosexuality Declared "Not A Disease"
1992: Homosexuality is removed from the International Statistical Classification of
Diseases by the World Health Organization. -
"Don't Ask Don't Tell"
1993: The Department of Defense issues the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy; under thispolicy, applicants to the U.S. Armed Forces would not be asked about nor required to disclose their sexual orientation. -
Violence Against Women Act
1994: The Violence Against Women Act tightens penalties for sex offenders, provide fund services for victims, and provides special training to certain officers -
Fight Over California's Prop. 187
1994-1995: The fight over California's Proposition 187 brings the debate over immigration --particularly undocumented immigration -- to the front pages of the national press. The ballot initiative galvanizes students across the state, who mount a widespread campaign in opposition. Voters approve the measure preventing undocumented immigrants from obtaining public services like education and health care. -
Romer v. Evans
1996: In the case of Romer v. Evans, the United States Supreme Court rules that
Colorado's second amendment, which denies gays and lesbians protections against
discrimination, is unconstitutional. President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act
(DOMA) into law, which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. -
United States v. Virginia
1996: In United States v. Virginia, the Supreme Court rules that all-male Virginia Military School must admit women in order to continue. -
Bill Lann Appointed
1997: Congress fails appoint Bill Lann, the highest ranking Asian American in the Clinton Admin, even though he had exceptional qualifications as an AALDEF staff attorney as well as a civil rights advocator for the NAACP Legal Defence Fund -
Prop. 187 Ruled Unconstitutional
1997 A U.S. District Court judge overturns California's Prop 187, ruling it unconstitutional. -
Coretta Scott King Speaks of Homophobia
1998: Widow of the late Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, speaks out against homophobia in America, despite receiving criticism for comparing Black civil rights to gay rights. -
Kolstad v. American Dental Association
1999: In Kolstad v. American Dental Association, the Supreme Court rules that a woman can sue for punitive damages for sex discrimination -
Immigration Law Enforcement Monitoring Project
1999: The Immigration Law Enforcement Monitoring Project coordinates nationwide activities on Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Public displays of crosses, representing those who died crossing the border, capture public and media attention. -
Protests Against U.S. Navy Exercise-Bombing of Puerto Rico
1999:After sixty years of U.S. Navy exercise-bombings on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques, civil rights leaders in both Puerto Rican and African American communities respond with a non-violent protest galvanizing the island's 9,300 residents. Triggered by the accidental death of a Puerto Rican naval base employee during live ammunition exercises, Puerto Ricans unite in outrage, protesting the proximity of the exercises to civilians, years of environmental destruction and resulting health probl -
California Adopts Domestic Partner Law
1999: California adopts a domestic partner law, allowing same-sex couples equal rights, responsibilities, benefits, and protections as married couples. -
Vermont Legalizes Civil Unions
2000: Vermont becomes the first state to legalize civil unions, a unity similar to domestic
partnerships. Israel begins recognizing same-sex relationships for foreign partners of
Israeli residents. -
Norman Mineta Appointed Secretary of Commerce
2000: Norman Mineta, a former CA congressman, is appointed Secretary of Commerce by President Clinton. He becomes the first Asian American to serve as a cabinet member. -
Colin Powell Becomes Secretary of State
2001: Colin Powell becomes the first African American US Secretary of State -
Middle Eastern Descendants Discriminated
2001 Following the terrorist attacks of 9.11, Arab Americans and others of Middle Eastern descent experience a backlash in the United States, as hate crimes, harassment and police profiling sharply increase. Based in rising fears over "border security," the stigma spreads to other immigrant groups. Some politicians call for building a wall between the United States and Mexico. During the next five years, Latino immigrants face a surge in discrimination and bias. -
Halle Berry Wins an Oscar
2002: Halle Berry becomes the first African American woman to win the Best Actress Oscar -
Latinos Nation's Largest Minority Group
2003 Latinos are pronounced the nation's largest minority group --- surpassing African Americans --- after new Census figures show the U.S. Latino population at 37.1 million. The number is expected to triple by the year 2050 -
Grutter v. Bollinger
2003: June 23 : In Grutter v. Bollinger, the Supreme Court supports the University of Michigan Law School’s policy of using race as a factor when choosing students to create a diverse student body -
Nevada Department of Human Resources v. Hibbs
2003: In Nevada Department of Human Resources v. Hibbs, the Supreme Court rules that states can be sued for violating the Family Leave Medical Act -
Minuteman Project Begins
2004: The Minuteman Project begins to organize anti-immigrant activists at the U.S./Mexico border. The group considers itself a citizen's border patrol, but several known white supremacists are members. During the next two years, the Minuteman Project gains widespread press coverage. Immigrant rights supporters conduct counter-rallies in public opposition to the Minuteman Project's tactics and beliefs. -
Massachussets Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
2004: Massachusetts legalizes same-sex marriage and New Jersey legalizes domestic partnerships; eleven other states ban such legal recognitions. Same-sex marriage is also banned in Australia, although the neighboring nation of New Zealand passes legislation
recognizing gay civil unions. -
Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education
2005: In Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education, the Supreme Court rules that Title 9 also restricts disciplining someone for complaining about sex-based discrimination -
Condoleezza Rice Becomes Secretary of State
*2005: Condoleezza Rice becomes the first black female US Secretary of State -
Ban On "Partial Birth"
2006: The Supreme Court supports the ban on the “partial-birth” abortion procedure -
Immigrant Demonstrations Launched
2006 Immigrants -- mostly Latinos -- and their allies launch massive demonstrations in cities and towns across the country in support of immigrant rights and to protest the growing resentment toward undocumented workers. -
U.S. Debates Legislation on Immigrants
2006: The U.S. Congress debates legislation that would criminalize undocumented immigrants. Immigrant rights organizations support alternative legislation offering a pathway to citizenship. The legislation stalls, and Congress decides instead to hold hearings across the country during the summer and fall of 2006, to gain public input on how to handle the immigration issue. -
Day Without Immigrants
2006 On May 1, hundreds of thousands of Latino immigrants and others participate in the Day Without Immigrants, boycotting work, school and shopping, to symbolize the important contributions immigrants make to the American economy. -
High School Student Walkouts
2006 High school students, mostly but not exclusively Latino, stage walkouts in Los Angeles, Houston and other cities, boycotting schools and businesses in support of immigrant rights and equality. Schools issue suspensions and truancy reports to students who participate, and several students are arrested. -
Voting Rights Act Reauthorized
2005 Just as key provisions of the Voting Rights Act are about to expire, English-only conservatives oppose its renewal because of the expense of bilingual ballots. In August 2006, President George W. Bush will reauthorize the Act. The reauthorized Act will be named the "Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, and Cesar Chavez Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006." -
Parent v. Seattle and Meredith v. Jefferson
2006: In Parent v. Seattle and Meredith v. Jefferson, the Supreme Court ruled that programs in Seattle and Louisville which tried to maintain diversity in schools by considering race were unconstitutional -
Discrimination on Sexual Orientation Banned
2006: Discrimination based on sexual orientation is banned in Illinois and the State of
Washington State adds sexual orientation to its existing anti-discrimination laws. -
Barack Obana Becomes First African American President
*2008: Sen. Barack Obama becomes the first African American to be nominated as a major party nominee for President -
Proposition 8 Passed
2008: Proposition 8, an amendment banning same-sex marriage in California, is passed
into law. This inspires the NOH8 campaign, a social project featuring celebrities who
promote marriage equality. -
Eric H. Holder Appointed Attorney General
*2009: Eric H. Holder Jr becomes the first African American to serve as Attorney General -
Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act
2009: President Obama signs the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, which allows victims of pay discrimination to report a complaint to the government within 180 days of their last paycheck -
Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Acts
2009: President Obama signs the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes
Prevention Act which expands the Federal Hate Crime Law to include crimes motivated
by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. -
Obama No Longer Supports DOMA
2011: The Obama administration states they will no longer support the Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA) which banned the recognition of same-sex marriages in the
United States. -
Restriction on Women in Combat Roles Removed
2013: Jan: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that the restriction on women serving in combat roles would be removed -
Prop 8 Ruled Unconstitutional
2013: The United States Supreme Court rules that the key parts of DOMA are
unconstitutional and that gay couples are entitled to federal benefits such as Social
Security survivor benefits and family leave. The Court’s ruling on California’s
Proposition 8 results in gay marriages being resumed in that state. -
Mike Brown Riots
*2014: Aug 9, Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old was shot and killed in Ferguson by Darren Wilson. After the grand jury decision not to indict Wilson was announced, protests were sparked in cities all across the US. More protests occurred when another grand jury decided not to indict Daniel Pantaleo, an officer who was involved in the death of Eric Garner. -
114th Congress Includes 48 Black Members
2015: The 114th Congress includes 46 black members in the House of Representatives and two in the Senate
