-
NYC expands the definition of “gender”
NYC expands the definition of “gender” to include protections for transgender and gender non-conforming people in employment, housing, and public accommodations in the NYC Human Rights Law. -
First state to legalize gay marriage
Massachusetts becomes the first U.S. state to legally recognize same-sex marriage. -
Expanding the definition of a “hate crime”
President Obama signs the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes and Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act, into law. The law expands the 1969 U.S. federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, and becomes the first federal law to include legal protections for transgender people. -
Obama becomes the first President to publicly recognize same-sex parents
First explicit mention of same-sex parents in a presidential proclamation. In announcing Sept. 28 as Family Day, President Obama says, “Whether children are raised by two parents, a single parent, grandparents, a same-sex couple, or a guardian, families encourage us to do our best and enable us to accomplish great things.” -
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell ends
The US military policy “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” officially ends. This allows lesbian, gay, and bisexual people to serve openly in the military. The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” does not lift regulations barring many transgender people from serving -
Mother and Father changes to Parent 1 and Parent 2
The U.S. State Department updates passport applications to say “Mother or Parent 1″ and “Father or Parent 2” instead of just “Mother” and “Father.” -
Gay Marriage Legalized
the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, legalized it in all fifty states, and required states to honor out-of-state same-sex marriage licenses in the case Obergefell v. Hodges. -
Stonewall becomes the 1st US National Monument to honor the LGBTQ rights movement.
President Obama dedicated the new Stonewall National Monument in Greenwich Village, Lower Manhattan, as the first US National Monument to honor the LGBTQ rights movement. -
Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students
A Dear Colleague letter was sent out to educate and Transgender terminology about Transgender people encourage the use of those terms. It was acknowledged by the DOE and Department of Justice. -
Orlando Pulse Nightclub Shooting
Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old security guard, killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in a mass shooting inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, United States. Orlando Police Department officers shot and killed him after a three-hour standoff. -
What’s to come?
Focusing on the US we strive to become more and more progressive trying to make sure that there is no discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I will come a long way for gay and lesbian rights along with a more expansive view of what gender means, there are constantly anti-LGBTQ bills being proposed. Now surfacing are a lot of anti-trans rights bills. It seems that we are transitioning into having to fight for basic rights for trans people. -
Citations
https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/LGBTQ-History-Timeline-References.pdf
LGBTQ History in Government Documents: Timeline of Documents. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2020, from https://ucsd.libguides.com/lgbtdocs/timeline -
Citations
LGBT parenting timeline. (2012, October 11). Retrieved March 30, 2020, from https://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/10/11/milestones-in-lgbt-parenting-history
Legislative Tracker: Anti-Transgender Legislation Filed for the 2020 Legislative Session. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2020, from https://www.freedomforallamericans.org/2020-legislative-tracker/2020-anti-transgender-legislation/