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1
The Mattachine Society [the first sustained American homosexual group] is founded in Los Angeles (11 November); 190 individuals in the United States are dismissed from government employment for their sexual orientation, commencing the Lavender scare. -
2
Canada sees its first gay-positive organization, ASK, and first gay magazines: "ASK" Newsletter (in Vancouver), and Gay (by Gay Publishing Company of Toronto). The new magazine "Gay" was the first periodical to use the term 'Gay' in the title and expanded quickly. -
3
The very first national homosexual rights march in Washington, DC is held, White Night riots start to occur, Harry Hay issues the first call for a Radical Faerie gathering in Arizona, and Cuba and Spain decriminalize homosexuality. -
4
The United States Democratic Party becomes the first major political party in the U.S. to endorse a homosexual rights platform plank. The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. -
5
"Homosexuality no longer an illness" - The World Health Organization -
6
The Triangle Ball was held. It was the first inaugural ball in America to ever be held in honor of gays and lesbians -
7
The first lesbian wedding on television occurred, held for fictional characters Carol and Susan on the TV show "Friends". -
8
The first Celebrate Bisexuality Day was organized by Michael Page -
9
Same sex marriage laws passed and came into effect in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia -
10
Anti-discrimination legislation: Bulgaria, United Kingdom, US states of Arizona, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico ,Pennsylvania -
11
Banning of Same-sex marriage and civil unions: US States of Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin -
12
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. On the 29 November, the first foreign gay wedding was held in Hanoi, Vietnam between a Japanese and an Irish national. The wedding raised much attention in the gay and lesbian community in Vietnam. -
13
Annise Parker was elected as the first openly gay or lesbian mayor of Houston, Texas. -
14
Guinness World Records recognized transgender man Thomas Beatie as the world's "First Married Man to Give Birth." -
15
California enacted America's first law protecting transgender students; the law, called the School Success and Opportunity Act, declares that every public school student in California from kindergarten to 12th grade must be “permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records."
