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The Stonewall Riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place on June 28, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, New York City. It is regarded as the first major protest for LGBTQ rights.
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The first Gay Liberation Day March is held in New York City, as well as the first LGBTQ Pride Parade in Los Angeles.
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President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act banning federal recognition of same-sex marriage. He established the first definition of marriage as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.”
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Rules that gay and lesbian couples should be given the same rights as heterosexual couples
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Rules that a ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional
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In San Francisco, close to 4,000 couples get their first marriage licenses. The California Supreme Court eventually orders San Francisco to stop issuing marriage licenses. The nearly 4,000 marriages are soon nullified by the California Supreme Court
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Massachusets legalizes same-sex marriage, it is the first state to do so
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California's law that limits marriage to union between a man and a woman is ruled unconstitutional
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The California legislature passes a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger later vetoes the bill.
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Texas becomes the 19th state to adopt a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage
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The highest court in Massachusetts rules that same-sex couples cannot get married in Massachusets unless same-sex marriage is legal in their home states
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A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage is passed in 7 states, except for Arizona
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California Supreme Court rules that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional
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Voters strike down the law in November 2009
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President Obama signs a memorandum granting some benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees
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Judge Joseph Tauro of Massachusets rules that the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional because it interferes with a state's right to define marriage
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Obama administration instructs the Justice Department to stop defending the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act in court
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The US Department of Defense issued new guidelines allowing military chaplains to perform same-sex ceremonies
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Obama is the first sitting president to issue a statement supporting same-sex marriage. He feels the legal decision should be up to the states
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Same-sex marriage is legalized the next day
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The US Treasury Department rules that legally married same-sex couples will be treated the same for tax purposes, regardless of what state they live in
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Days later, State officials announce that the more than 1,000 marriages performed in prior weeks will not be recognized
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A federal appeals court rules that about 1,300 marriages performed earlier in the year must be recognized by Utah
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The US Supreme Court hears arguments in this case. The court ruling will decide whether states can constitutionally ban same-sex marriage
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In a 5-4 ruling, same-sex marriage is legalized nationwide
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The Trump administration effectively banned transgender people from joining the military. The more than 14,000 already serving will be allowed to do so openly.
