1980: The Democratic Rules Committee states that it will not discriminate against homosexuals. At their National Convention on August 11-14, the Democrats become the first political party to endorse a homosexual rights platform.

2010: United States District Court Judge Joseph L. Tauro rules in two separate cases that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. In Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. United States Department of Health and Human Services Tauro says that the definition of marriage enacted by Congress for federal purposes violates the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and “encroaches upon the firmly entrenched province of the state” by treating some couples with Massachusetts marriage licenses differently than others. In Gill v. Office of Personnel Management brought by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, he says the law violates the equal protection of the law guaranteed by the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.