20th Century Inclusivity Timeline
1924
The Society for Human Rights is founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago It is the first documented gay rights organization.
April 1952
The American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual lists homosexuality as a sociopathic personality disturbance.
April 27, 1953
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order than bans homosexuals from working for the federal government, saying they are a security risk.
July 1961
Illinois becomes the first state to decriminalize homosexuality by repealing their sodomy laws.
June 28, 1969
Police raid the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Protests and demonstrations begin, and it later becomes known as the impetus for gay civil rights movement in the United States.
January 1, 1973
Maryland becomes the first state to statutorily ban same-sex marriage.
December 15, 1973
By a vote of 5,854 to 3,810, the American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.
1974
Kathy Kozachenko becomes the first openly LGBTQ American elected to any public office when she wins a seat on the Ann Arbor, MI City Council
March 1975
Technical Sergeant Leonard P. Matlovich reveals his sexual orientation to his commanding officer and is forcibly discharged from the Air Force six months later. Matlovich is a Vietnam War veteran and was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
January 9, 1978
Harvey Milk is inaugurated as San Francisco city supervisor, and is the first openly gay man to be elected to a political office in California. In November, Milk and Mayor George Moscone are murdered by Dan White.
1978
Inspired by Milk to develop a symbol of pride and hope for the LGBTQ community, Gilbert Baker designs and stitches together the first rainbow flag.
March 2, 1982
Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.
November 30, 1993
President Bill Clinton signs a military policy directive that prohibits openly gay and lesbian Americans from serving in the military, but also prohibits the harassment of "closeted" homosexuals. The policy is known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
September 21, 1996
President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act, banning federal recognition of same-sex marriage, and defining marriage as "a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife."
June 2003
The US Supreme Court strikes down the "homosexual conduct" law, which decriminalizes same-sex sexual conduct, with their opinion in Lawrence v. Texas.
May 17, 2004
The first legal same-sex marriage in the United States takes place in Massachusetts.
October 25, 2006
The New Jersey Supreme Court rules that state lawmakers must provide the rights and benefits of marriage to gay and lesbian couples.
September 20, 2011
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is repealed, ending a ban on gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military.
May 9, 2012
In an ABC interview, Obama becomes the first sitting US president to publicly support the freedom for LGBTQ couples to marry.
June 26, 2015
The US Supreme Court rules that states cannot ban same-sex marriage.
February 26, 2018
The Pentagon confirms that the first transgender person has signed a contract to join the US military.
March 23, 2018
The Trump administration announces a new policy that bans most transgender people from serving in the military. After several court battles, the Supreme Court allows the ban to go into effect in January 2019.
September 22, 2019
Billy Porter becomes the first openly gay Black man to win the Emmy for best lead actor in a drama series.
June 15, 2020
The Supreme Court rules that federal law protects LGBTQ workers from discrimination
January 25, 2021
President Joe Biden signs an executive order repealing the 2019 Trump-era ban on most transgender Americans joining the military.
March 28, 2022
Florida governor signs "Don't Say Gay" law, prohibiting classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity.