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The Mattachine Society
The Mattachine Society is formed by activist Harry Hay and is one of the first sustained gay rights groups in the United States. The Society focuses on social acceptance and other support for homosexuals. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower signs executive order
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order that bans homosexuals from working for the federal government, saying they are a security risk. -
Maryland bans same-sex marriage
Maryland becomes the first state to statutorily ban same-sex marriage. -
Homosexuality is no longer considered a mental disorder
The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in the DSM-II Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. -
First openly gay man holds a political position in office
Harvey Milk is inaugurated as San Francisco city supervisor, and is the first openly gay man to be elected to a political office in California. Harvey is soon after murdered by Dan White, who had recently resigned from his San Francisco board position and wanted Moscone to reappoint him. -
The first march for gay and lesbian rights
The first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights takes place. It draws an estimated 75,000 to 125,000 individuals marching for LGBTQ rights. -
Wisconsin outlaws discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. -
Don't Ask Don't Tell policy
Former President Bill Clinton signs a military policy directive that prohibits openly gay and lesbian Americans from serving in the military, but also prohibits the harassment of "closeted" homosexuals. The policy is known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." -
Defense of Marriage Act
President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act, banning federal recognition of same-sex marriage and defining marriage as "a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife." -
First state in the U.S. legalizes civil unions for same-sex couples
Vermont becomes the first state to legalize civil-unions between same-sex couples. -
First same-sex couple is married in the U.S.
The first legal same-sex marriage in the United States takes place in Massachusetts. -
Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage
The California Supreme Court rules in re: Marriage Cases that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples is unconstitutional. -
Don't Ask Don't Tell policy is lifted
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is repealed, ending a ban on gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military. -
U.S. vs. Windsor Supreme Court Case
United States v. Windsor, was a case brought before the US Supreme Court. The court strikes down section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, ruling that legally married same-sex couples are entitled to federal benefits. The high court also dismisses a case involving California's proposition 8. -
Obergefell vs. Hodges
With this U.S. Supreme Court Case, the Supreme Court declares same-sex marriage legal in all 50 U.S. states this is a huge victory for gay and lesbians across the nation. -
Ban is lifted on transgenders serving the military
Secretary of Defense Carter announces that the Pentagon is lifting the ban on transgender people serving openly in the US military. -
Civil Rights Act is applied to LGBTQ employees
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals rules that the Civil Rights Act prohibits workplace discrimination against LGBTQ employees, after Kimberly Hively sues Ivy Tech Community College for violating Title VII of the act by denying her employment.
