Page 159 - 2018-2019 Directory

©2018 GLPages.com 157 GAY HISTORY
...a Timeline
2003 On Nov. 18, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, overturns a Texas law banning consensual sex between same sex couples, striking down anti-sodomy laws across the country.
2004 After lengthy court battles, the state of Massachusetts legalizes marriage for same sex couples on May 17th.
2005 California provides domestic partnership benefits. The state legislature successfully voted in favor of legal gay marriage in California, only to be vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In March 2005, a San Francisco judge ruled that the law banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Although Connecticut defines marriage as between a man and woman, it became the second U. S. state to grant same-sex civil unions in April 2005.
2006 The New Jersey Supreme Court left the door ajar for the approval of same-sex marriage, ruling that gay couples are entitled to rights no different from those of heterosexual couples.
2007 OnApril 21, 2007,Washington’s domestic partnership bill was signed into law, giving gay and lesbian couples many of the benefits of marriage. Under Oregon’s new domestic partnership law, gay and lesbian couples are eligible for all the state-wide rights and benefits of marriage. Oregon also outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation
2008 New Hampshire, home of the Episcopal Church’s first openly gay Bishop,V. Gene Robinson, became the 4th state behindVermont, New Jersey and Connecticut to offer civil unions. Same-sex partners were allowed to register for civil unions in January 2008.
2009 Representative Jerrold Nadler (NY) & Senator Patrick Leahy (VT) reintroduce the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which eliminates discrimination in immigration by permitting permanent partners of United States citizens and of lawful permanent residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status. President Obama signs the Matthew Shephard Act which expands federal hate crimes criteria to include those based on sexual orientation & gender identity.
2010 Same-sex marriages are performed for the first time inWashington, D.C. New York governor David Paterson signs a bill allowing unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, to adopt children. President Obama signs the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Act of 2010.
2011 The U.S. Department of Labor updates its Equal Employment Opportunity Policy to bar discrimination on the basis of gender identity. U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan affirms that gay-straight alliances are afforded the same protections under the Equal Access Act. The U.S. Department of Health
& Human Services announces a grant to create a resource center for LGBT political refugees. New York becomes the 6thstate to recognize same-sex marriages.
2012 The U.S. Court of Appeals (9th Circuit) rules California’s Proposition 8 unconstitutional. Adrienne Rich, credited with “bringing the oppression of women & lesbians to the forefront of poetic discourse,” dies on March 27. George Birimisa, playwright & director, who contributed to the gay theater scene of the 1960s & whose plays center around homosexual characters, dies May 10.
2013 Maryland legalizes same-sex marriage. NBA free agent Jason Collins becomes the first active male professional athlete in North America to come out. The Supreme Court of the United States restores same- sex marriages in California. Jeanne Manford, founder of PFLAG, dies January 8.
2014 The following states have legalized same-sex marriage: CA, CT, IA, MA, NJ, NM (by court decision); DE, HI, IL, MN, NH, NY, RI,VT (by state legislature); ME, MD,WA (by popular vote). The following states ban discrimination based on gender identity: MN, RI, NM, CA, ME, IL, HI,WA, NJ,VT, OR, IA, CO, NV, CT, MA, and DE. Many states have gender identity custody, documentation, marriage & immigration cases still pending in the courts. Many states also do not allow transgender persons to change their gender on official documents.