A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States

Adapted with permission from Out of the Past: 400 Years of Lesbian and Gay History in America (Byard, E. 1997, www.pbs.org/outofthepast) with additions and updates from Bending the Mold: An Action Kit for Transgender Youth (NYAC & Lambda Legal); The American Gay Rights Movement: A Timeline; Just the Facts about Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators, and School Personnel (Just the Facts Coalition).

Additional materials and study guide by GSAFE (www.gsafewi.org)

2 A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States

READ MORE WATCH Ways to Use this Timeline

This resource has primarily been adapted Six of the people featured on the PBS timeline are This timeline was designed as a starting point for from PBS Online’s Out of the Past: 400 Years profiled in the documentary Out of the Past and classroom and student club discussions, exploration, and Lesbian and Gay History in America (Byard, have been marked with the bolded words WATCH research. A sample lesson plan is included. However, E., 1997, www.pbs.org/outofthepast/). The on this document. These individuals are: there are many additional ways to use this resource. interactive timeline online allows users to click on dates to read details about people, • Michael Wigglesworth The timeline can be printed, copied, and posted in full or in policies, and events that have shaped the • Sarah Orne Jewett part in the classroom, on a bulletin board, or in a display lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and • Henry Gerber case. transgender (LGBT) people living in the • Bayard Rustin United States. • Barbara Gittings Another option is to search the timeline and build smaller • Kelli Peterson timelines based around themes (“Famous Lesbian,” “LGBT Several items on the PBS timeline online People of Color,” “LGBT People and the Military”) or time expand to reveal more details and in-depth The documentary is available for purchase through periods (“The Modern Gay Rights Movement,” “Early Gay descriptions. These have been marked with various retail and online stores for about $10. It is American History”). the bolded words READ MORE on this an excellent resource for your GSA and school document. library. Make your own version of LGBT Jeopardy and divide your class or club into teams. Create a multiple choice quiz Three examples of the expanded readings The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network from the timeline and post the group results in your room. you will find online are shared at the end of (GLSEN) published a teachers’ guide to accompany Consider taking the quiz as a school staff. this document. We encourage you and your the documentary. The 31-page resource contains students to go online to READ MORE about historical context, ideas for discussion, and Use the timeline as the starting point for research projects. the people, places, and events that capture suggested assignments for each of the video’s six Another class or group project could involve researching your attention. segments. A glossary, bibliography and resource and presenting local LGBT history and/or gathering oral section are also included. The teachers’ guide is histories. Each item on this timeline, of course, offers available as a free download from the GLSEN an opportunity to read more. The PBS site website (www.glsen.org). Hold a movie night or show segments of films or includes an extensive bibliography for documentaries in your classroom that profile people and further research and exploration. GSA for Many additional films and documentaries have events from the timeline. Safe Schools also offers a bibliography of captured the events, individuals, and issues that suggested reading in LGBT history. have shaped and defined the progress of the LGBT Create a library display feature books with LGBT themes or community in the U.S. by LGBT authors.

Adapted and updated from Out of the Past: 400 Years of Lesbian and Gay History in America (PBS Online); Bending the Mold: An Action Kit for Transgender Youth (NYAC & Lambda Legal); The American Gay Rights Movement: A Timeline; Just the Facts about Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators, and School Personnel (Just the Facts Coalition) A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States 3

1677 1698

1652 The sodomy trial of A French explorer among the 1642 Nicholas Sension of Illinois Indians remarks on the 1624 Joseph Davis of In Essex County, Windsor, number of "berdaches" (men Haverhill, New Massachusetts, Connecticut, living as women) and the Richard Cornish is Hampshire, is fined Elizabeth Johnson reveals that prevalence of homosexual executed in for "putting on is fined and Sension has been activity. Note: “berdache” is Virginia for women's apparel" whipped for open about his considered and offensive term alleged and made to admit "unseemly desire for men for by Native American and homosexual acts his guilt to the practices with more than 30 Two-Spirit people. with a servant. community. another maid years.

attempting to do READ MORE READ MORE READ MORE that which man READ MORE “Native American “Sodomy Laws” “Colonial European and woman do." “Act v. Identity” Sexuality” Cross-Dressing”

1636 1649 1662 1691

In Massachusetts, Sara Norman and The first edition of Michael In Massachusetts, the Reverend Mary Hammon of Wigglesworth's The Day of Doom is Deborah Byar is John Cotton Yarmouth, published. This epic poem about the Day fined and publicly proposes Plymouth Colony, of Judgement quickly becomes America's humiliated for including sexual are taken to court first best seller, with 1800 copies sold wearing men's relations between for "leude during the first year. clothes. women in the behaviour each definition of with [the] other READ MORE "sodomy" for the upon a bed." “Michael Wigglesworth” first time. WATCH The Diary of Michael Wigglesworth

4 A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States

1756 1779

Steven Gorton, a In an example of "romantic married Baptist friendship" between men, minister, is suspended Alexander Hamilton writes to 1704 from his position in his friend, John Laurens, "I New London, wish, my dear Laurens, that 1782 Lord Cornbury, the Connecticut, for it might be in my power, by

royal governor of "unchaste behavior action, rather than words, to Deborah New York and New with his fellow men convince you that I love Sampson, Jersey, is accused when in bed with you." disguised as by his critics of them." Gorton "Robert dressing as a confessed and the READ MORE Shurtleff," enlists woman to hold congregation voted to “Romantic Friendships in the Continental court. reinstate him. Among Men” Army.

1752 1777 1780 1798

"Dr. Charles Thomas Jefferson A Native American Moreau de St. Hamilton" is revises Virginia "joya" (a man living as Mery, a Frenchman arrested in Chester, law to make a woman) and her living in Pennsylvania, and sodomy husband visit a Spanish Philadelphia, writes revealed to be (committed by mission near Santa that the women he Charlotte Hamilton, men or women) Barbara, California. A has met "are not at who confessed to punishable by priest notes how all strangers to having lived in mutilation rather common joya are in being willing to disguise as a man than death. local villages. seek unnatural for several years. pleasures with persons of the same sex."

A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States 5

1863 1826 1857 Colonel Conrad of the 15th Missouri Jeff Withers and Charlotte Cushman, an discovers that two women passing (being James Hammond, 1850 actress famous for 1860 regarded as a sociological group other than two young playing male roles, a person’s own) as men have enlisted as Southerners who Crow nation Woman begins living with New edition of soldiers in his detachment, and that "an would become Chief Barcheeampe is sculptor Emma Walt Whitman's intimacy had sprung up between them." At prominent spotted by appalled Stebbins. It was the Leaves of Grass least 400 women passed as men and citizens, write white travelers in last in Cushman's long includes the served as soldiers in the Civil War, playfully and Wyoming and sequence of homoerotic according to a 20th-century researcher graphically erotic Montana; she is relationships with Calamus Poems. working with wartime medical records. letters about their renowned for her war women. The two past involvement exploits and for remained together until READ MORE READ MORE with each other. having several wives. Cushman's death in “Walt Whitman” “Passing Women” 1876.

1846 1856 1859 1861

A white traveler in Woman Chief, a Addie Brown and Rebecca Franklin Thompson, born Wyoming records the woman warrior of Primus, two African- Sarah Emma Edmonds, deep friendship of two the Crow Nation, American women living in fights for the Union Army Sioux men, Hail-Storm is killed on a the North, begin their in the Civil War. During and Rabbit, who "ate, peacemaking loving correspondence. the war, Franklin serves as slept, and hunted expedition. She Brown writes to Primus, "If a spy, nurse, dispatch together, and shared left behind four you was a man, what carrier and later is the only almost all that they wives. would things come to? woman mustered into the possessed." Such They would come to Grand Army of the romantic friendships, he something very quick." Republic. noted, were "common among many of the prairie tribes."

6 A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States

1875 1886 1890 1895 In San Francisco, 1878 We’Wha, an accomplished passing woman Jeanne Frances Willard, a Angelina Weld Zuni Weaver and potter, is Bonnet leads an all- white temperance Grimke, a young "Mrs. Nash," a two spirit – born male but woman gang of former activist, writes in her woman who would laundress with the 7th living as a woman. She prostitutes who swear autobiography: "The become a celebrated US Cavalry who had spends six months in off men and support loves of women for poet of the Harlem several soldier Washington, DC, and meets themselves through each other grow more Renaissance, writes husbands, dies in the President Grover Cleveland, theft and shoplifting. In numerous each day. to Mamie Burrill, "If Dakota Territory and is who never realizes this six- 1876, Bonnet was That so little should be you only knew how revealed to have been foot Zuni maiden was born murdered by an angry said about them my heart beats when a man. Her last male. pimp while sleeping surprises me, for they I think of you. Your husband, a corporal, with her lover, Blanche are everywhere." passionate lover, committed suicide after READ MORE Buneau. Angelina." the revelation. “We’Wha”

1876 1882 1889 1894 1896

Fitz-Green Halleck, a A young Oscar Wilde Jane Addams and her "devoted companion," "Frank Blunt," a Writer Sarah Orne Jewett popular poet whose calls on Walt Whitman Ellen Gates Starr, found Hull House in Chicago. married man, is publishes "Martha's Lady," a defenses of love in Camden, New convicted of theft in short story celebrating the between men Jersey, in the midst of READ MORE Font du Lac, Wisconsin, redemptive power of love influenced Walt a triumphant cross- “Women’s Independence and Sexual and is revealed to be a between women. Jewett lived Whitman, is honored country speaking tour. Possibility” woman named Anna for nearly 30 years in a "Boston with the first statue Widespread press Morris. Gertrude Field, Marriage" (romantic friendship)

commemorating an coverage of the tour Dr. G. Frank Lydston reports that "there is in Morris' wife, vows to with Annie Adams Fields. American poet, noted Wilde's every community of any size a colony of male appeal the conviction. unveiled in New effeminacy, and one sexual perverts known to each other, likely to WATCH York's Central Park newspaper wrote, congregate together, and characterized by Scenes From a Boston by President "There is a school of effeminacy of voice, dress, and manner." Marriage Rutherford B. Hayes. gilded youths eager to embrace his peculiar READ MORE tenets." “Sarah Orne Jewett”

A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States 7

1907 1926 1915 1925 A German paper supportive of Crow warrior hero Osh-Tish, a "bade" On a speaking tour crossing the homosexuals prints an Blueswoman Ma Rainey is (man who dressed as a woman), dies. anonymous "Letter from country Emma Goldman defends White Indian agents had attacked Osh- lesbianism and homosexuality. arrested in her house in Harlem Boston," which reports: "Here, for having a lesbian party. Her Tish and the bade tradition for years, as in Germany, homosexuality Goldman's appearances prompted and no other Crow men took up the bade many women, unhappy with having to protege, Bessie Smith, bails her extends throughout all classes, out of jail the following morning. role after his death. from the slums of the North End hide their lesbianism, to share their Rainey and Smith were part of an to the highly fashionable Back stories with her. extensive circle of lesbian and The Broadway performance of The Bay. Reliable homosexuals have bisexual African-American women Captive, a play about a lesbian told me names that reach into Havelock Ellis notes customs of "sexual in Harlem. relationship, prompts a New York State inverts." the highest circles of Boston, law making the performance of any play New York, and Washington, DC, READ MORE depicting "sex perversion" a names which have left me READ MORE “Blueswomen in Harlem” misdemeanor. The law remained on the speechless with astonishment." “Gay Codes” books until 1967.

1914 1917 1924 1925 1928

Medical article links US immigration Henry Gerber and six other Eva Kochever, a Polish-Jewish Radclyffe Hall's Well of women's participation law is modified men in Chicago found the immigrant, opens "Eve Addam's Loneliness, a novel banned in the suffrage to ban "persons Society for Human Rights, Tearoom" in Greenwich Village. The in England for its lesbian movement with with abnormal the United States' first lesbian gathering place had a sign content, is published in the "repressed sexual instincts" known gay-rights at the door which read, "Men are United States and becomes homosexuality." from entering organization. admitted but not welcome." In an immediate best-seller. the United 1926, the tea room was raided, and In 1929, an appellate court READ MORE States. WATCH Eva Kochever was deported, holds that the book is not ”Medical Theory and Henry Gerber’s charged with "disorderly conduct" obscene, and the book is Homosexuality” Declaration and writing an "obscene" book, even more widely Lesbian Love. distributed. READ MORE “Henry Gerber”

8 A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States

1948 1933 1941 1944 1931 1935 Kinsey's study of sexuality Eleanor Roosevelt and her lover, in the US reveals that 50 journalist Lorena Hickok, begin Gay men and The Army The Baltimore Afro- Sigmund Freud writes percent of American men their voluminous lesbians become part conducts an American covers a "Letter to an and 28 percent of correspondence as Roosevelt of the massive investigation of local drag ball, American Mother," American women have moves into the White House. mobilization for World lesbian activity at describing the urging compassion "homosexual tendencies," During one separation Hickok War II, transforming the Women's "coming out of new and tolerance for shocking the American writes: "I've been trying today lesbian and gay life in Army Corps debutantes into gay homosexuality. public. to bring back your face. Most the United States. training center in society." clearly I remember your eyes, Georgia. Its READ MORE Gore Vidal's novel The City with a kind of teasing smile in READ MORE findings lead to a READ MORE “Freud’s Letter to them, and the feeling of that “World War II and call for more and the Pillar is published, “Coming Out” an American soft spot just north-east of the the Growth of Gay stringent providing readers with an Mother” corner of your mouth against Communities” screening of WAC insider's portrait of gay

my lips." recruits. life.

1932 1934 1939 1942 1947

Molly Dewson, a close Hollywood adopts the so- The Jewel Box Revue, a Working with The State Department begins friend of Eleanor called "Hayes Code," which troupe of female psychiatrists, the firing suspected homosexuals Roosevelt, is appointed stipulates, among other impersonators, begins military develops under President Truman's head of the Women's things, that "sex touring the US from its guidelines for National Security Loyalty Division of the Democratic perversion or any base at the Jewel Box in recruiters in order Program. By 1955, anti-gay Party by President Franklin inference to it is forbidden Miami. The show is to identify and witch hunts cost more than D. Roosevelt. Dewson had on the screen." integrated, featuring exclude gay men 1,200 men and women their a life partnership with lesbianism, to share their African-American, Latino, from the services. jobs with the federal another woman, and was stories with her. Native American, and government. one of many women in white performers, and is such partnerships who introduced by Storme READ MORE held positions in the DeLarverie in drag as a “Government Witch Hunts Roosevelt administration. man. and Military Discharges”

A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States 9

1950 1955 1953 1957 The Mattachine Society, a Del Martin, Phyllis Lyon, and six President Dwight D. Eisenhower issues "homophile" organization other women found Daughters A Navy report concludes that there is no Executive Order #10450, banning the aimed at promoting of Bilitis, the first national evidence that "homosexuals cannot employment of homosexuals by the tolerance of homosexuality, lesbian rights group, in San acceptably serve in the military" or that federal government. Many state and local is founded in Los Angeles by Francisco. they are security risks. The report is Harry Hay. governments soon adopted similar suppressed until 1967. policies. Allen Ginsberg gives a public

READ MORE reading of Howl in San The American Civil Liberties Union ‘The Mattachine Society” One, the first openly lesbian and gay Francisco. The police charge him declares that "homosexuality is a valid national publication in the United States, with obscenity but lose in court. consideration in evaluating the risk factor The lesbian-themed novel puts out its first issue. In 1958, the US Supreme Court ruled that the publication in sensitive positions," and advises Women's Barracks becomes READ MORE lesbians facing official discrimination to was not obscene and could be distributed a bestseller. “Allen Ginsberg” become heterosexual. through the US mail.

1952 1954 1956 1958

Christine Jorgensen is The Army-McCarthy James Baldwin, Barbara Gittings forms the first American hearings include the African-American the first East Coast gay-baiting of novelist and Chapter of the Daughters whose sex reassignment Wisconsin Senator intellectual, publishes of Bilitis. surgery became public. Joseph McCarthy's aide Giovanni's Room, a Her surgery causes an Roy Cohn and Army male love story. READ MORE international sensation, attorney Jack Welch “Daughters of Bilitis” and for many, she is the before a national first visible transsexual television audience. in the media.

10 A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States

1967

The Student Homophile League at Columbia University becomes the 1964 first lesbian and gay

1960 campus group to gain Just before the election, 1962 official recognition. Walter Jenkins, President Daughters of Lyndon Johnson's chief of Bilitis hold the Illinois becomes first staff, is arrested in a The Oscar Wilde first "national state to decriminalize bathroom two blocks from Memorial Bookshop, the lesbian homosexual contact the White House for first gay book store in convention" in between consenting "indecent gestures." He the United States, opens San Francisco. adults. resigns immediately. in Greenwich Village.

1961 1963 1965 1969

Hollywood studios alter the Senator Strom Thurmond attempts to Barbara Gittings, Frank Kameny and Transgender and gender- production code to allow derail the Civil Rights March on other homophile activists stage the first nonconforming people are the depiction of gay men Washington by accusing March organizer public picketing to protest government among those who resisted and lesbians again, as long Bayard Rustin of being a Communist and a discrimination against lesbians and gay arrest in a routine bar raid by as the subject is treated "pervert." Thurmond failed, and in August, men. Pickets are held at the White police on June 28 on the with "care, discretion, and more than 250,000 people converged on House, the State Department, the Stonewall Inn in New York restraint." the nation's capital to demand jobs and Pentagon, and Independence Hall in City’s Greenwich Village, thus freedom for African-Americans. Philadelphia. helping to ignite the modern LGBT rights movement. WATCH WATCH The Baiting of Bayard Rustin Barbara Gittings: A Fate on the Front READ MORE “The Stonewall Riots” READ MORE READ MORE “Bayard Rustin” “Barbara Gittings”

A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States 11

1975 1970 US Civil Service Commission announces it will no Lesbians stage longer exclude homosexuals from government "Lavender Menace" employment. 1977 protest action at a feminist conference, Anita Bryant founds Elaine Noble becomes the first openly lesbian or pressing The National "Save Our Children," Organization for gay legislator as she takes her seat in the and starts organized Massachusetts House of Representatives. opposition to the Women, and the 1973 1979 women's movement in movement for lesbian general, to change its The American Psychiatric Minneapolis, Minnesota becomes the first U.S. city and gay rights. Over 100,000 people stance on lesbianism. Association declares that to protect transgender people by amending its take part in the first homosexuality per se is local non-discrimination law to include the phrase READ MORE March on Washington READ MORE not a psychiatric "having or projecting a self-image not associated “Anti-gay Organizing for Lesbian and Gay “Lesbian Feminism” disorder. with one's biological maleness or one's biological on the Right” Rights. femaleness.”

1972 1974 1976 1978

In Baker v. Nelson the Minnesota The Lesbian Herstory The first Michigan Womyn's Harvey Milk, gay San Supreme Court rules that state law Archives open to the public Music Festival is held in Francisco city supervisor and in the New York apartment Hart, Michigan. The festival "Mayor of Castro Street," limits marriage to opposite-sex couples of Joan Nestle and Deborah is one of the largest and and Mayor George Moscone and that this limitation does not violate Edel. In 1993, the Archives' most visible lesbian events are murdered in City Hall by the United States Constitution. The large and growing collection in the United States. former city supervisor Dan United States Supreme Court dismisses moved to a Brooklyn White. an appeal, thereby establishing the brownstone. precedent on same-sex marriage. READ MORE “Harvey Milk” Disco introduces gay culture to the mainstream.

READ MORE “Disco Decade”

12 A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States

1981 1987 Doctors identify first cases of what they term "Gay- Related Immune Deficiency" (GRID). Soon the disease's 1985 ACT UP (Aids Coalition to Unleash name is changed to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Power) is founded in New York City. Syndrome). Rock Hudson acknowledges The group's tactics rejuvenate that he has AIDS, prompting lesbian and gay activism. 1989

The Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press is founded by widespread public attention READ MORE Barbara Smith, Cherrie Moraga, Audre Lorde, Hattie to the epidemic. Celebrated jazz musician Billy “AIDS and ACT UP” Gossett, and Myrna Bain in New York City. That same Tipton dies in Spokane,

year, Moraga and Gloria Anzaldua co-edit This Bridge The Times of Harvey Milk, a Washington, revealing that he Called My Back: The Writings of Radical Women of Color. documentary about the is a woman. Tipton, who career and the murder of the The Second National March on played in big bands in the ‘40s Washington for gay and lesbian READ MORE gay San Francisco city and ‘50s, lived for 56 years as equality draws 500,000. “AIDS” and supervisor, wins an a man, marrying several times

“Woman of Color Organize” Academy Award. and raising children.

1982 1986 1988

Wisconsin passes the In Bowers v. Hardwick, the Supreme The first National Coming Out Day is observed first lesbian and gay Court rules that the Constitution allows on October 11 to celebrate the one-year civil rights bill in the states to pass and enforce sodomy laws anniversary of the 2nd National March on United States. The law targeting homosexuals. Washington. prohibits bias in

housing, employment, READ MORE The governing board of the City College of San and public “Bowers v Hardwick” Francisco approves the creation of the first gay accommodations. and lesbian studies department in the United Conservative activist Terry Dolan dies of States. AIDS. His funeral is attended by conservative political associates such as READ MORE Senator Orrin Hatch and Pat Robertson, “Lesbian and Gay Studies” as well as by Dolan's gay friends.

A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States 13

1990

The Gay and Lesbian Independent School Teachers Network (GLSTN) is founded. Only two known high school student clubs, known as Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), exist in the US at the time.

Term "outing" is coined by Time magazine to describe Michelangelo Signorile's campaign to identify closeted 1992 1995 celebrities and elected officials. Black lesbian poet Audre Lorde President Bill Clinton signs an executive dies of breast cancer. At the order forbidding the denial of security Policies restricting the immigration of lesbians and gays time of her death, she was the clearances on the basis of sexual orientation. to the United States are rescinded. Immigration poet laureate of New York Being closeted and vulnerable to blackmail, restrictions on people with HIV and AIDS, however, State. however, is still a possible grounds for a remain in place. clearance denial.

1991 1993

FTM activist Jamison “James” Green takes over Lou The Minnesota state legislature enacts the first statwide law banning discrimination against transgender people. Sullivan’s FTM newsletter and transforms it into FTM

International, Inc., the world’s largest information and Cheryl Chase founds the Intersex Society of North America to build awareness and offer support to intersex people. networking group for female-to-male transgender people and transsexual men. Transgender youth Brandon Teena is raped and murdered in Humboldt, Nebraska. This crime brings attention to transgender discrimination and violence and becomes the subject of the award-winning film, Boys Don’t Cry. Karen Thompson is named legal guardian of her lover, Sharon Kowalski, eight years after a car accident left Kowalski paralyzed and speech-impaired. Kowalski's Senator Sam Nunn's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for the US military becomes law. The law includes the determination family had refused to recognize the pair's relationship, that "persons who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" are an "unacceptable risk" for and the ruling was a major victory for lesbian and gay inclusion in the military. Witch hunts against gay men and lesbians in the military continue to this day.

couples. The third lesbian and gay March on Washington draws over 1 million participants.

14 A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States

1996 1998

President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act, denying federal benefits to same-sex spouses Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy should gay marriage ever become legal, and creating an exception to the US Constitution to allow Baldwin becomes the first openly gay states to disregard same-sex marriages performed in other states. person to win election to a first-term seat in Congress.

Kelli Peterson founds a Gay-Straight Alliance at East High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. The city school board bans all "non-curricular" student clubs in order to keep the group from meeting. Matthew Shepard is tied to fence, beaten, and left to die by Aaron McKinney and

WATCH Russell Henderson outside Laramie, WY on th Kelli Peterson and a New Generation of Activists October 7 . The incident gains national media attention and sparks vigils around READ MORE the world. Shepard dies five days later. “Kelli Peterson” His death inspires the award-winning play The Laramie Project

1996 (cont) 1997 1999

Students at the University of Virginia organize the first Day of Silence in response to a class Trans Activist Leslie Feinberg The American Counseling assignment about non-violent protests. published Transgender Warriors: Association Governing Council Making History from Joan of Arc adopts a position “opposing to Dennis Rodman, a who’s who ‘reparative therapy’ as a ‘cure’ A federal appeals court issues the first judicial opinion in US history finding that a public school could of transgender people throughout for individuals who are be held constitutionally accountable for not stopping antigay abuse. Ashland, WI school officials knew world history that traces the roots homosexual.” Numerous of anti-gay abuse directed at student Jamie Nabozny but did not intervene. Those officials later offer of transgender oppression. medical, health, and mental a settlement of nearly $1 million to Nabozny. health organizations – representing over 480,000 professionals – adopt position In Romer v. Evans, the Supreme Court strikes down Colorado's Amendment 2, which denied gays the “homosexuality is not a and lesbians protections against discrimination, calling them “special rights.” According to Justice mental disorder and thus not Anthony Kennedy, “We find nothing special in the protections Amendment 2 withholds. These something that needs to be or protections . . . constitute ordinary civil life in a free society.” can be ‘cured.’”

A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States 15

2000

Vermont becomes the first state in the country to legally recognize civil unions between gay or lesbian 2008 couples. The law states that these

“couples would be entitled to the The California Supreme Court same benefits, privileges, and 2004 rules that same-sex couples responsibilities as spouses.” It stops have a constitutional right to short of referring to same-sex unions Massachusetts legalizes same- marry. California becomes the as marriage, which the state defines sex marriage, officially second state in the U.S. to as heterosexual. becoming the first state in the legalize same-sex marriages U.S. to do so. later that year.

2003

The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Lawrence v Texas that sodomy laws in the U.S. are unconstitutional. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote, “Liberty presumes an autonomy of self that includes freedom of thought, belief, expression, and certain intimate conduct.”

V. Gene Robinson is elected bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He enters office in 2004, becoming the first openly gay, non-celibate priest to be ordained a bishop in a major Christian denomination.

The Massachusetts Supreme Court rules that barring gays and lesbian from marrying violates the state constitution. The Massachusetts Chief Justice concludes that to “deny the protections, benefits, and obligations conferred by civil marriage” to gay couples is unconstitutional because is denies “the dignity and equality of all individuals” and makes them “second-class citizens.”

16 A Timeline of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in the United States

1624 - Sodomy Laws 1652 - Colonial European Cross-dressing 1677 - Acts v. Identity

European colonial governments sought to control Men dressing as women (and, to a lesser extent, women Looking at historical evidence of homosexual the sexual behavior of the people within their dressing as men) was not uncommon in European society, behavior, it is hard to figure out how people in the settlements. The British, French, and Spanish all usually among common people in the context of social past understood and interpreted same-sex passed laws regarding sex outside of marriage protests and Carnival celebrations. Men who cross- sexuality. In New England, for example, laws and and "sodomy" - a range of same-sex sexual dressed were more likely to be in disguise or making a religious thinkers condemned many different kinds activities. In early British colonies, as under political statement than expressing anything about their of sexual activity (both heterosexual and English law, sodomy was a capital crime sexual identity in the manner of a modern-day "drag homosexual) as sinful acts, but it is not clear (punishable by death). One of the earliest queen." Colonial laws actually made it a crime to cross- whether people who engaged in sexual activity with recorded convictions for sodomy in the colonies dress, usually imposing a fine and some form of public people of the same sex were considered to be a was that of Richard Cornish, a sea captain contrition for the offense. Laws about what people could different kind of person - like a "gay man" or a executed in Virginia for an alleged sexual assault wear were generally intended to preserve social order and "lesbian" in modern society. It is also unclear on another man. maintain a hierarchy within society, and were not directly whether all members of the society shared the concerned with homosexuality. However, evidence from official attitude toward homosexuality expressed by Colonial authorities were not always certain which England in the early 1700s indicates that there was some harsh anti-sodomy laws. sexual acts fell under the category of "sodomy." link between cross-dressing and male homosexuality in Religious leaders debated the point in the early British popular culture. In London, observers wrote about a The 1677 sodomy trial of Nicholas Sension offers 1600s, and the laws adopted by different colonies type of man referred to as a "mollie," who enjoyed sex some interesting clues as to popular attitudes varied in what specific acts were punishable by with other men. Some mollies wore women's clothes. The toward and perceptions of homosexual activities in death. Most only dealt with sexual acts between accusations of cross-dressing lodged against New York's colonial society. Historian Richard Godbeer points men. One law also covered sexual activity royal governor in 1704 may have been meant to make this out that Sension had been open about his desire for between women. Despite the severity of the laws, association in order to ruin his reputation. other men for many years, and had not faced any however, we know of only a few instances of serious punishment for his behavior despite his executions in sodomy cases during the colonial Women's motives for dressing as men were also probably notoriety. His neighbors who testified in court had period. People were more likely to be tried for the mixed - to lodge a protest or to be in disguise. However, resisted his advances, but hadn't felt the need to lesser offense of "lewd behavior," which did not the possible sexual aspects of women's cross-dressing report him to the authorities. Godbeer notes that incur the death penalty. Sodomy was a difficult should not be overlooked. A writer describing Deborah witnesses at the trial also used language which charge to prove - two witnesses were required, Sampson's career as a male soldier during the might suggest that they understood Sension to be a and there was no possibility of a tell-tale Revolutionary War took great pains to explain Sampson's different kind of person who was attracted to other pregnancy - and people may have been reluctant reported affairs with other women while disguised: "It men. to place their neighbors' lives in jeopardy with must be supposed that she acted more from necessity such a dire accusation. than voluntary impulse of passion; and no doubt succeeded beyond her expectations, or desires."