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Stonewall Riots
The 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City are often cited as the beginning of the modern gay civil right era, although the following decades saw relatively modest improvements in legal rights. -
Executive Order 12968
In 1995, President Bill Clinton's Executive Order 12968 establishing criteria for the issuance of security clearances included sexual orientation for the first time in its non-discrimination language: "The United States Government does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation in granting access to classified information." -
Don't ask, don't tell/ DOMA
The long-standing prohibition on open homosexuals serving in the United States military was reinforced under "Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT), a 1996 Congressional policy which allowed for homosexual people to serve in the military provided that they did not disclose their sexual orientation. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996 also barred the federal government from recognizing same-sex couples in any legal manner. -
Same-sex Marriage
A number of states have legalized same-sex marriages or other unions, beginning with Massachusetts in 2004. -
Matthew Shepard Act
In October 2009, Congress passed the Matthew Shepard Act, which expanded the definition of hate crimes to include gender, sexual orientation, gender-identity, and disability. It removed the requirement that the victim of a hate crime be engaged in a federally protected activity. President Obama signed the legislation on October 28, 2009. -
Executive Order
President Barack Obama issued an Executive Order to the Department of Health and Human Services to draft new rules for all hospitals accepting Medicare or Medicaid funds. -
Serve Openly
Since September 20, 2011, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals have been able to serve openly. -
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not allow gender identity-based employment discrimination because it is considered sexual discrimination. -
Executive Order 13672
President Obama signed Executive Order 13672, adding "gender identity" to the categories protected against discrimination in hiring in the federal civilian workforce and both "sexual orientation" and gender identity" to the categories protected against discrimination in hiring and employment on the part of federal government contractors and sub-contractors -
Obergefell v. Hodges
All states license and recognize marriage between same-sex couples as a result of the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. -
Wedding Cake at the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to bake a cake to celebrate the marriage of a same sex couple because of a religious objection.
