David McReynolds appears on the Socialist Party ballot, becoming the first openly gay 1980: individual to run for President of the United States. A lethal virus is noticed spreading through the gay community. It is first reported in the 1981: as a rare pneumonia and skin cancer and is initially referred to by the Centers New York Times for Disease Control (CDC) as gay-related immunodeficiency [disease] (GRID). When it is recognized that the virus is found in other populations, it is renamed the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force initiates a project aimed to counter the rise in 1982: violence related to homophobia in the United States. The first National Lesbians of Color Conference is organized in Los Angeles. 1983: After an eight-year legal battle Duncan Donovan, a Los Angeles gay activist, wins the 1984: right to receive the death benefits of his life partner. The United States Supreme Court ruling in upholds the right of each 1986: Bower v. Hardwick state to criminalize private same-sex acts. ACT UP is formed in order to protest inaction in response to the AIDS epidemic in the 1987: U.S. The Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) is founded with the goal of fighting against ageism and for lesbian rights. The brochure is mailed by the CDC to every American household. 1988: Understanding AIDS The World Health Organization organizes the first World AIDS Day in attempts to spread awareness of the disease. Homosexuality is removed from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases by 1992: the World Health Organization. The Department of Defense issues the under this policy, 1993: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy; applicants to the U.S. Armed Forces would not be asked about nor required to disclose their sexual orientation. In the case of the United States Supreme Court rules that Colorado's 1996: Romer v. Evans, second amendment, which denies gays and lesbians protections against discrimination, is unconstitutional. President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law, which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Widow of the late Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, speaks out against 1998: homophobia in America, despite receiving criticism for comparing Black civil rights to gay rights. California adopts a domestic partner law, allowing same-sex couples equal rights, 1999: responsibilities, benefits, and protections as married couples.
1980: David McReynolds appears on the Socialist Party ballot, becoming the first openly gay individual to run for President of the United States. 1981: A lethal virus is noticed spreading through the gay community. It is first reported in the New York Times as a rare pneumonia and skin cancer and is initially referred to by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as gay-related immunodeficiency [disease] (GRID). When it is recognized that the virus is found in other populations, it is renamed the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 1982: The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force initiates a project aimed to counter the rise in violence related to homophobia in the United States. 1983: The first National Lesbians of Color Conference is organized in Los Angeles. 1984: After an eight-year legal battle Duncan Donovan, a Los Angeles gay activist, wins the right to receive the death benefits of his life partner. 1986: The United States Supreme Court ruling in Bower v. Hardwick upholds the right of each state to criminalize private same-sex acts. 1987: ACT UP is formed in order to protest inaction in response to the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. The Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) is founded with the goal of fighting against ageism and for lesbian rights. 1988: The brochure Understanding AIDS is mailed by the CDC to every American household. The World Health Organization organizes the first World AIDS Day in attempts to spread awareness of the disease. 1992: Homosexuality is removed from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases by the World Health Organization. 1993: The Department of Defense issues the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy; under this policy, applicants to the U.S. Armed Forces would not be asked about nor required to disclose their sexual orientation. 1996: In the case of Romer v. Evans, the United States Supreme Court rules that Colorado's second amendment, which denies gays and lesbians protections against discrimination, is unconstitutional. President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law, which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. 1998: Widow of the late Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, speaks out against homophobia in America, despite receiving criticism for comparing Black civil rights to gay rights. 1999: California adopts a domestic partner law, allowing same-sex couples equal rights, responsibilities, benefits, and protections as married couples.