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Gay Discrimination
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The Beginnings of Homophobia
The Virginia Colony passes the first anti-gay law in America. At this time, the practice of homosexuality was punishable by death. -
Seeds of Defense
The American Civil Liberties Union is formed to defend and protect civil liberties. The ACLU is believed the first group to defend gay rights. -
Gays Prohibited from Federal Workplace
President Dwight Eisenhower issues Executive Order 10450; this prohibits homosexuals from holding any federal job. -
State Enacts Gay Civil Rights Law
Wisconsin becomes the first state to enact a gay civil rights law; Governer Lee S. Dreyfus signs a bill to bar discrimination against homosexuals in employment, housing and public accomodations. -
Romer v. Evans
The Supreme Court ruled for the first time (in Romer v. Evans) that governmental discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is known as unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourtheeth Amendment; anti-gay policies that don't have a nondiscriminatory rational justification violate this agreement.
After Romer v. Evans, the number of states that banned such discrimination increased. -
Gay Discrimination in Schools
The Nebo School District in Utah dismisses a teacher and coach because she is lesbian, and also sought to restrict her from speaking of her sexuality publicly. In the case, Weaver v. Nebo School District, the Supreme Court finds the dismissal of a lesbian teacher who coached sporting activities and the prohibition of speaking of her sexuality publicly a violation of the constiution. -
Boy Scouts of America v. Dale
Assistant Scoutmaster James Dale had been a member of BSA since the age of 8, but 16 months after his application as assistant scoutmaster was accepted (1989), he was dismissed from his position. His dismissal coincided with Dale's open identification of homosexuality and his appearance in an article of the Newark Stars Ledger, "Seminar Addresses Needs of Homosexual Teens". In Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, the Supreme Court decided in favor of BSA; they were protected by the 1st Amendment.
