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The Department of Defense issues a directive prohibiting the U.S. Military from barring applicants from service based on their sexual orientation. This policy is know to many as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".
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President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act into law. The law defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman and that no state is required to recognize a same-sex marriage from out of state.
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Coretta Scott King, widow of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. calls on the civil rights community to join the struggle against homophobia. She receives criticism from members of the black civil rights movement for comparing civil rights to gat rights.
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Vermont becomes the first state in the U.S. to legalize civil union and registered partnerships between same-sex couples.
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Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize gay marriage. The court finds the prohibition of gay marriage unconstitutional because it denies dignity and equality of all individuals.
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The U.S. Senate votes 65-31 to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. Military.
