1978: Harvey Milk makes national news when he is sworn in as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. 1979: Acting San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein names Harry Britt to fill the vacant Board of Supervisor’s seat left empty by the assassination of Harvey Milk. 2004: The New Jersey legislature passes a bill … Read More
1971: In its final report to Pres. Nixon, the National Commission on Reform of Federal Criminal Laws urges the abolition of all U.S. laws prohibiting homosexual acts between consenting adults.
1967: New York City’s Civil Service Commission makes public its year-old policy of allowing city agencies to hire and employ lesbians and gay men. The new policy comes partly in response to Mattachine Society of New York lobbying efforts. 1984: Dan White is paroled from prison, after having served barely five years for the murders … Read More
1967: In response to raids early on New Year’s Day, P.R.I.D.E. (Personal Rights in Defense and Education) stages demonstrations at Silverlake’s Black Cat Tavern. It’s the first use of the term “Pride” to become associated with LGBT rights. 1974: The “Brunswick Four” (Adrienne Potts, Pat Murphy, Sue Wells and Heather (Beyer) Elizabeth) perform a song … Read More
1982: Gay Men’s Health Crisis, Inc. is formed in New York by Edmund White, Larry Kramer, Nathan Fain, Lawrence D. Mass, Paul Popham, and Paul Rapoport. 1986: Gay author Christopher Isherwood dies at the age of 81 in Santa Monica. He is survived by his partner of 32 years, artist Don Bachardy.
1962: Illinois repeals its sodomy laws, becoming the first U.S. state to decriminalize homosexuality. 1965: San Francisco police arrest gay and lesbian party-goers at a fund-raising ball for the Council on Religion and the Homosexual, held at California Hall. 1967: In the first hour of the new year, a raid occurs at the Black Cat … Read More
1969: The Cockettes, a transvestite acting troupe credited with defining the “gender fuck” look of the 1970s, premieres their act in San Francisco. 1990: Openly gay actor Ian McKellen is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
1990: Openly lesbian actress Pat Bond dies of lung cancer at the age of 65.
2010: President Obama signs the bill that officially repeals the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.
1993: The Department of Defense issues a directive prohibiting the U.S. Military from barring applicants from service based on their sexual orientation. “Applicants… shall not be asked or required to reveal whether they are homosexual, ” states the new policy, which still forbids applicants from engaging in homosexual acts or making a statement that he … Read More