2011: Elio Di Rupo becomes Prime Minister of Belgium and, subsequently, the first openly-gay male head of government.

1989: Alvin Ailey dies from AIDS-related complications.

1978: ABC airs “A Question of Love”, a TV movie about lesbian lovers in a custody battle over their children-complete with ‘parental discretion advised’ warnings.

1998: In the U.S. state of Texas, John Lawrence and Tyrone Garner are fined US$125 each after being arrested for having sex in their home. They refuse to pay the fine, resulting in a challenge of the Texas sodomy law which would eventually lead to the 2003 nationwide repeal of sodomy laws in Lawrence v. Texas.

2003: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules it violates the state constitution to bar same-sex marriage.

2004: Germany expands the rights of same-sex couples, allowing registered domestic partners to adopt each other’s children.

1980: The Toronto Board of Education adopts a policy banning discrimination based on sexual orientation while adding a clause forbidding “proselytizing of homosexuality in the schools.” 1981: The film Mommie Dearest opens, simultaneously glorifying and condemning gay icon Joan Crawford. 2003: The bill to repeal Section 28 in the remaining parts United Kingdom (England and … Read More

1960: In France, the National Assembly adds homosexuality to a list of fleaux sociaux (“social plagues”) that the government is charged to combat. 2003: George W. Bush, sitting president of the United States, says he supports “codifying marriage in the United States as being between one man and one woman.”

1935: The Nazis add to Paragraph 175 of the Criminal Code (A male who commits a sex offense with another male or allows himself to be used by another male for a sex offense shall be punished with imprisonment) with “the Amendment to the Law for the Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Diseases” which allows for … Read More