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Illinois gets rid of their sodomy laws, which makes them become the first US state to decriminalize homosexuality -
The Board of the American Psychiatric Association votes to remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. -
Kathy Kozachenko becomes first openly gay American elected to public office when she wins a seat on the Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council. -
The Democratic Rules Committee says they will not discriminate against homosexuals. At National Convention, August 11-14, Democrats become the first major political party to endorse a homosexual rights platform. -
Wisconsin becomes the first U.S. state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation -
Around 75,000 people participated in the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. LGBT and straight allies demanded equal civil rights and urge for the passage of protective civil rights legislature. -
The Department of Defense sends out a directive prohibiting the U.S. Military from stopping applicants from service based on their sexual orientation. "Applicants... shall not be asked or required to reveal whether they are homosexual, " -
Coretta King, widow of 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 gay rights. -
Vermont becomes the first state in the U.S. to legalize civil unions and registered partnerships between same-sex couples. -
The Matthew Shepard Act is now passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on October 28th. The measure expands the 1969 U.S. Federal Hate Crime Law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.