- 2004 in LGBT rights
Events
January
*
January 1
**Same-sex marriage in Australia :
***Tasmanian laws come into effect recognisingcivil union s between same-sex couples. Tasmania becomes the first Australian state to enact such laws.
*January 7 -Illinois Gov.Rod Blagojevich , a Democrat, releases a total of $3.7 million in state grants to Chicago's under-constructionCenter on Halsted LGBT community center. [http://www.wctimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=3204]
*January 8
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
*** TheNew Jersey legislature passes a bill creating adomestic partnership status for same-sex couples, with many of the same legal rights asmarriage . GovernorJames McGreevy signs the bill into law four days later and New Jersey becomes the fifth U.S. state to offer such a status to same-sex couples. The law officially takes effect 180 days later. [http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/01/08/nj_senate_oks_legal_rights_for_same_sex_couples_governor_expected_to_sign/]February
*
February 4
**Same-sex marriage in the United States
***TheMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court answers the state's Senate that the proposedcivil union s will still violate the constitution by maintaining an inferior status of same-sex couples. [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/04/national/04CND-MASS.html?ex=1076562000&en=fb2725df7cba633d&ei=5062] [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040204_988.html]White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan states that the Bush administration is reviewing the legal decision. The spokesman also states that the court's findings are "deeply troubling" and that the president is "firmly committed to protecting and defending"marriage (as being defined between aman and awoman ). [http://www.wnbc.com/family/2817365/detail.html] [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,110447,00.html] [http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/02/020404consRxn.htm]
*February 6
**Same-sex marriage in the United States
***Ohio Gov.Bob Taft , a Republican, signed the state's Defense of Marriage Act which denies recognition ofsame-sex marriage s,civil union s ordomestic partner agreements performed in other states. It also outlaws same-sex marriage within the state and forbids state benefits from being extended to gay and lesbian couples. [http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/02/07/loc_DOMA07.html] [http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Feb/02042004/nation_w/135571.asp] [http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=9&id=2096]
*February 10
**Same-sex marriage in the United States
***According to a poll by theWashington Times , themajority of Americans (2 to 1 margin) respond they do not want laws in their states that wouldlegal izesame-sex marriage s. The poll is taken after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling. [http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040209-115420-5105r.htm]
**Legal aspects of transsexualism
***TheGender Recognition Bill passes in theHouse of Lords in theUnited Kingdom .
*February 12
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***National Freedom to Marry Day in the United States
*** City officials inSan Francisco, California start issuing marriagelicense s tohomosexual couples in violation of state law, staging what they view as acts ofcivil disobedience , by performing the first known civilmarriage of a same-sex couple in the U.S. by marrying the homosexualactivist s andlesbian couple,Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon . Over 80 couples are whisked through quick ceremonies. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&e=2&u=/ap/gay_marriage_calif]
*** Various conservative and otherfamily groups, including theCampaign for California Families , plan to sue themayor ofSan Francisco for violatingCalifornia 'smarriage law s. [http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200402%5CCUL20040212a.html] TheFamily Research Council (FRC) states that "It could not be clearer that the institution ofmarriage is under a direct assault byhomosexual activist s".
***Virginia House of Delegates give preliminary approval to legislation that would ban the recognition of same-sexcivil union s anddomestic partnership s.
*February 14
**Same-sex marriage in the United States
***Staff advisors for U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush say he will support the proposedFederal Marriage Amendment to theU.S. Constitution which would outlawsame-sex marriage and federalizemarriage law, which has been set by individual states since the founding of the country. [http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=11313&sd=02/14/04-02/17/04] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A36929-2004Feb12¬Found=true]
*February 15
**Same-sex marriage in the United States
***Officials at the city and county ofSan Francisco, California turn away hundreds of would-be same-sex newlyweds after thousands ofgay andlesbian couples show up to marry over the weekend. The city claims it can only handle between 400 and 600 marriages a day, or about one a minute. [http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/02/021604sfUpdt.htm] [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040215_814.html] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A44385-2004Feb15¬Found=true] [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-02-15-gay-marriage-legal_x.htm] [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/16/WEDDINGS.TMP]
*February 16
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
*** Officials at the city and county ofSan Francisco, California estimate by the end of the day that they will have issued 2,000 licenses forsame-sex marriage s in the four days since they started granting legal recognition togay andlesbian unions. [http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/7964972.htm]
*** TheSan Francisco Chronicle reports that the decision ofSan Francisco 's mayor,Gavin Newsom , to express his opinion on same-sex marriage was because ofGeorge W. Bush 's stance on the issue. [http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/7963377.htm]
*February 17
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***San FranciscoSuperior court Judge James L. Warner postpones any decision to block the city and county ofSan Francisco, California from issuingmarriage license s to same-sex couples and to void the 2,464same-sex marriage s that were performed in the city sinceFebruary 12 . This was on the grounds that theProposition 22 Legal Defense and Education Fund 's order for San Francisco to "cease and desist issuing marriage licenses to and/or solemnizing marriages of same-sex couples; to show cause before this court..." had an improper semicolon; to do both, rather than one or the other, would have exceeded the judge's jurisdiction. [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4251510/]
*February 18
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
*** TheCalifornia state agency that records marriages states that forms that have been altered, whichSan Francisco has done slightly on its same-sexmarriage license s, will not be registered. [http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040219-123003-6956r.htm]
*February 19
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***Chicago, Illinois MayorRichard M. Daley said he had "no problem" with the concept same-sexmarriage license s issued inCook County, Illinois , where his city is located.
*** TheWhite House reserves judgement on theFederal Marriage Amendment , a proposedconstitutional amendment to definemarriage as a "union of a man and a woman," untilMassachusetts legislature andSan Francisco courts take further action. Media reports speculate that the White House will probably also keep their opinion quiet until Democratic presidential candidateJohn Kerry takes a stand on the issue. [http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040218-121438-3512r.htm]
*** San Francisco suesCalifornia to force the state to acceptmarriage license s it altered to remove reference tobride andgroom and recognizesame-sex marriage . [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/7995259.htm]
***Laura Bush states that homosexual marriage is "a very, very shocking issue" for some people. She hopes the subject can be debated by Americans together, rather than it be settled by aMassachusetts court or themayor ofSan Francisco .
**Gay adoption :
***TheACLU says it will appeal toU.S. federal court to overturnFlorida 's laws banningadoption by GLBT families. [http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/7985914.htm]
*February 20
**Same-sex marriage :
***KingNorodom Sihanouk , the constitutional monarch ofCambodia , states that he believes his country ought to allow same-sex marriage. He says he decided this upon seeing footage of same-sex couples marrying in San Francisco. He also says that transvestites ought to be well-treated in Cambodia.
***Same-sex marriage in the United States :
**** San Francisco judge denies request to immediately stop same-sex weddings. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4406775] Homosexual couples win reprieve when the judge declines to stop San Francisco from granting them marriage licenses. [http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/news/022004ap_gay_marriage_ruling.html]
****Victoria Dunlap , the Republicancounty clerk of ruralSandoval County, New Mexico , starts issuingmarriage license s to same-sex couples, citing lack of legal grounds for denial. [http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/apwed02-20-04.htm] Republican state SenatorSteve Komadina , criticizes the decision and urges stateAttorney General Patricia Madrid to issue a prompt opinion. [http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=37223]
****California Democratic leaders try to withdraw from the divisive political issue ofsame-sex marriage . APublic Policy Institute of California poll indicates that half of Californians opposehomosexual marriage . Some California Democratic officeholders were discontented over the matter becoming a national political issue. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/02/20/MNGSF54RDD1.DTL]
****California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger , a Republican, writes toAttorney General Bill Lockyer telling him to take legal action to stop the city from granting marriage licences to homosexual couples, saying the practice presents "an imminent risk to civil order". [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/53EBC410-48B6-41EE-A40A-3187377999BA.htm]
**** A proposed amendment to the stateconstitution ofOklahoma to outlawsame-sex marriage dies in Senate Human Resources Committee; the Republican leader of theOklahoma Senate criticizes the Democratic Senate leadership for killing the proposed ban. [http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=1182413&TP=getarticle] [http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/2860882/detail.html]
*February 22
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***Saying he will defendCalifornia 's laws limitingmarriage to opposite-sex couples, state attorney generalBill Lockyer dismisses California governorArnold Schwarzenegger 's "order" in theSan Francisco marriage license s debate, saying his office is independent of gubernatorial power. [http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/8012589.htm]
*February 24
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
*** U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush announces his support for aconstitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Bush did not explicitly endorse theFederal Marriage Amendment , proposed by RepresentativeMarilyn Musgrave (R-Colorado ), which has been criticised for potentially also denying states the ability to recognise same-sexcivil union s anddomestic partner ships. However, he said that the FMA "meets his principles" in protecting the "sanctity of marriage" between men and women. [http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.prez.bush.marriage/index.html] [http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8785839%255E2,00.html] [http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-02-24-bush-marriage_x.htm]
*February 26
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***The mayor of New Paltz, a village in New York State, announces that the town will start performing civil marriages for same-sex couples. It will not attempt to issue marriage certificates, but married couples in New York State have six months from the date of their wedding to seek a certificate. [http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/02/022604nyWed.htm]
***Rosie O'Donnell marries her partner Kelli Carpenter atSan Francisco City Hall.
*February 27
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***The California Supreme Court refuses a petition byCalifornia Attorney General Bill Lockyer asking for an immediate ruling on the constitutionalitysame-sex marriage laws and aCease and desist order againstSan Francisco 's granting ofmarriage license s to same-sex couples. [http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/02/022704calCourt.htm]
*** Missing the 2004 deadline for new bill introduction because of legal maneuvering by Democrat leadership,Indiana House of Representatives Republican lawmakers fail to introduce legislation for a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. [http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/news/article/0,1626,ECP_734_2687467,00.html]March
*
March 2
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***Jason West , mayor ofNew Paltz is charged with 19 criminal counts of "solemnizing" marriages without a license after officiating same-sex marriage unions. He faces up to a $500 fine and a year in jail on each count.
*March 3
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***Multnomah County, Oregon , which includes the city of Portland, becomes the second county in the United States where same-sex marriages are legally performed after four county commissioners decide the current state law banning marriage from same-sex couples is against the Oregon constitution. Couples lined up, and clergy performed ceremonies for 3,022 gay couples, mostly from Oregon, over the next month and a half. Couples from throughout the country, flocked to Portland to obtain a license and marry legally. SeeApril 20 for a continuation of the story.
*March 5
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***TheWisconsin State Assembly approves state constitution amendment (voted 68-27) to bansame-sex marriage orcivil union s, to counter efforts elsewhere to legalize such partnerships.
***TheKansas House passes, by 88 votes to 36, a proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
*March 10 -Indianapolis, Indiana mayorBart Peterson issues an executive order that prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in city and county employment as well as city contractors and vendors.
*March 11
**New Jersey 'sSeton Hall University , aRoman Catholic institution is sued by 19-year-old studentAnthony Romeo and 16 other students for violating the state's sexual orientation anti-discrimination law and the university's own policies after the university denied the formation of anLGBT student organization.
*The California Supreme Court ordersSan Francisco officials to stop performingsame-sex marriage s. San Francisco officials comply with this order and, for the first time sinceFebruary 12 , refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. At the same time, the City Attorney of San Francisco sues the State of California on the grounds that prohibiting same-sex marriages is unconstitutional (on a state level). [http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/03/031104calRuling.htm]
*March 12
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***Oregon 's attorney general issues his opinion on same-sex marriage within Oregon. He concludes that current state law prohibits issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but that theOregon Supreme Court is likely to conclude those statutes violate the state's constitution.
*** TheWisconsin State Senate approves state constitution amendment (voted 20-13) to ban same-sex marriages orcivil union s, to counter efforts elsewhere to legalize such partnerships.
*March 15
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***Commissioners ofMultnomah County, Oregon dismiss state attorney generalHardy Myers ' non-binding opinion thatsame-sex marriage s are illegal and vow to continue issuingmarriage license s to same-sex couples.
*March 16 -Rhea County, Tennessee commissioners vote 8-0 to ask that state law be changed to allow county officials to effectively banhomosexual s from the county by being able to charge them with "crimes against nature." After a community uproar, the resolution is withdrawn two days later.
*March 19
**Same-sex marriage in Canada :
***Quebec joinsOntario andBritish Columbia in legalizing same-sex marriage after the Quebec Court of Appeals upholds "Hendricks and Leboeuf v. Quebec". More than two-thirds of the Canadian population now live in provinces that recognize same-sex marriage. [http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/03/031904queMarry.htm]
*March 31
** The British government announces the details of the newCivil Partnerships Bill . This would give legal recognition to same sex couples. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3584285.stm]April
*
April 1
**Same-sex marriage in Canada :
*** The first legalsame-sex marriage in the Canadianprovince ofQuebec is celebrated;Michael Hendricks and René Leboeuf wed inMontreal .
*April 20
**Same-sex marriage in the United States
***Oregon Circuit Court JudgeFrank Bearden ruled that the state must "accept and register" marriages of same-sex couples. He then ordered a temporary stop to issuing new licenses, but gave theOregon Legislative Assembly 90 days from the start of its next session to write a law that ensures identical rights for same-sex couples, which could happen through civil marriage or civil union. If the legislature fails to act on the issue within the 90 days, licenses to same-sex couples will resume. The order has been appealed by both proponents and opponents of same-sex marriage, in hopes of the issue making a fast track to theOregon Supreme Court , which may rule the ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. A ruling upheld by the state supreme court in 1999 says government officials must meet an extraordinary burden to treat gays and straights differently — the same high burden required to justify disparate treatment of blacks and whites, or men and women. Opponents hope to change the Oregon constitution to define marriage as restricted to one man and one woman through a vote on the November 2004 ballot.
*Rio Grande do Sul is the firstBrazil ian State to legalizeCivil union s.May
*
May 17
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.
*May 29 - U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner (in Massachusetts) rules that stating that someone is homosexual does not libel or slander them, saying that "a finding that such a statement is defamatory requires this court to legitimize the prejudice and bigotry that for too long have plagued the homosexual community". The ruling came in a lawsuit of James Albright against the singer Madonna: Albright's name had appeared in a photo caption in a book by Andrew Morton about Madonna. Gertner said previous rulings that stating someone is homosexual is defamatory had relied on laws criminalizing same-sex sexual acts, and had to be reevaluated in light of more recent rulings that such laws are Constitutionally suspect. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Gay%20Defamation]June
*
June 3
**The firstcivil union is realized inRio Grande do Sul ,Brazil .
*June 21
**Maine GovernorJohn Baldacci , a Democrat, issues an executive order requiring businesses contracting with the state not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
*June 24
**theUnited Kingdom government suffers a defeat in theHouse of Lords as they approve awrecking amendment to theCivil Partnership Bill
*June 30
** The Spanish minister of justice, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, announces a number of social bills to be introduced, including one that will legalizesame-sex marriage in Spain , one that will introduce rights for common-law couples, and one that will allowtranssexual andtransgender ed people to legally change their name and sex designation without the requirement of surgery.July
*
July 1
**In theUnited Kingdom , theGender Recognition Act 2004 receivesRoyal Assent
*July 14
**Same-sex marriage in Canada
***The Yukon becomes the first territory to legalise same-sex marriage after a ruling by the Yukon Supreme Court.
**Same-sex marriage in the United States
***TheUnited States Senate votes 48-50 against a procedural motion that would have ended debate on theFederal Marriage Amendment , effectively denying Senate approval this session.
*July 22
**Same-sex marriage in the United States
***theUnited States House of Representatives today passes legislation preventing federal courts from ordering courts in other states recognize same-sex marriage granted elsewhere.
*July 30
**Having been passed by the Legislature in April, Maine's Domestic Partnership law comes into effect.August
*
August 9
** Appointed byMichigan Gov.Jennifer Granholm ,Rudy Serra was sworn in as a judge in the state's District 36, serving Detroit, becoming the first openly gay judge in the state.
** Authorities inNepal raid bars and clubs to arrest 39 members of theBlue Diamond Society , a gay rights and AIDS education organization and charged them with "spreading perversion."
*August 12
**Same-sex marriage in the United States
***In a 5-2 vote, the California Supreme Court voids the almost 4,000 same-sex marriages performed in San Francisco betweenFebruary 12 andMarch 11 after another, unanimous decision that the city's officials overstepped their legal rights in ignoring state laws in issuing marriages licences to same-sex couples.
**New Jersey governorJames McGreevey , a Democrat, becomes the first openly-gay chief executive of aU.S. state when he discloses an extramarital affair with another man and announces his resignation effectiveNovember 12 .
*August 13
**Same-sex marriage in Australia
***TheAustralian Senate passes legislation by a 38-7 vote that defines marriage as a union of one man and one woman, granting prime ministerJohn Howard a victory in is campaign to outlaw same-sex marriage in the country.
*August 16
**Same-sex marriage in Canada
***Federal justice ministerIrwin Cotler announces that the federal government will no longer resist court proceedings aiming to require provincial governments to issue same-sex marriage licences.
**Same-sex marriage in the United States :
***Ohio election officials approve the wording to be placed on the state ballot for the proposed state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and extension of marriage rights to the non-married to read as follows:::::"Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage."
*August 17
**UNAIDS andHuman Rights Watch call on the government of Nepal to release the 39 members of the Blue Diamond Society imprisonedAugust 9 .
**Indiana GovernorJoseph Kernan , a Democrat, issues an executive order banning gender identity discrimination in the public sector. [ [http://intraa.tgcrossroads.org/connections/story/?iid=39&aid=956 Gov. Kernan Protects Transgender State Employees | Civil Rights | Feature Story | September—October 2004 | INTRAAconnections ] ]eptember
*
September 16
**Same-sex marriage in Canada :Manitoba becomes the fifth of Canada's provinces or territories to have legal same-sex marriage. Neither the federal nor provincial governments opposed the lawsuit filed by three couples, one of whom had previously filed suit for same-sex marriage in 1974. SeeSame-sex marriage in Manitoba .
*September 23
**California governorArnold Schwarzenegger signs "SB 1234," a bill that defines the legal term "hate crime" (which includes LGBT-motivated violence) for all state and local agencies, encourages the creation of local law enforcement hate-crime protocols and increased hate crime awareness training for law enforcement officers.
*September 24
**Same-sex marriage in Canada :Nova Scotia becomes the sixth of Canada's provinces or territories to have legal same-sex marriage. Neither the federal nor provincial governments opposed the lawsuit filed by three couples, one of whom had already been married in Ontario and sought recognition for their marriage in their home province. SeeSame-sex marriage in Nova Scotia .
*September 25
**California governorArnold Schwarzenegger signs "AB 2900," a bill to unify all state anti-discrimination codes to match the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. In essence it adds "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" anti-discrimination protections to the California government, labor, military and veterans, public utilities, unemployment and insurance, and welfare and institutions codes.
*September 27
** California governorArnold Schwarzenegger signs "SB 1193," a bill to provide a $10,000death benefit to the surviving spouse or designated beneficiary of a member of on of the state military reserves (California National Guard, StateMilitary Reserve , orNaval militia ). The bill, retroactive toMarch 1 ,2003 allows LGBT partners of military personnel be listed as "designated beneficiary."
*September 30
**Same-sex marriage in the United States : The proposedFederal Marriage Amendment fails to pass theUnited States House of Representatives , with a vote of 227–186 on House Joint Resolution 106.October
*
October 1
**Same-sex marriage in Spain : Thecabinet of Spanish Prime MinisterJosé Luis Rodríguez Zapatero approves a bill to legalizesame-sex marriage ; the government believes that it will pass the full parliament.
*October 29
**Germany expands the rights of same-sex couples, allowing registered domestic partners to adopt each other's children.November
*
November 2
**AsGeorge W. Bush is reelected, voters in 11 states pass amendments to their state constitutions banning same-sex marriage, and in most of those states, civil unions and domestic partnership as well.
**Voters in San Mateo County,California approve a measure to prohibit public-sector employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, with 70.5 per cent of votes in favor.
*November 5
** A judge inSaskatchewan rules that same-sex couples have the right to marry in that province.
*November 18
** In theUnited Kingdom , theCivil Partnership Act receivesroyal assent .
*November 29
**Same-sex marriage in the United States : Without comment, theSupreme Court of the United States refuses to hear arguments appealing theMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling that same-sex marriage must be allowed in that state, in essence letting the ruling stand.December
*
December 6
**Louisiana GovernorKathleen Blanco , a Democrat, issues an executive order banning sexual orientation discrimination in the public sector. [ [http://www.politicsla.com/press_releases/2004/december/120604_GOVERNOR_ISSUES_EXECUTIVE_ORDER.htm PoliticsLA.com ] ]
*December 9
**New Zealand Parliament passes the Civil Union Bill, establishing the new institution ofcivil union , available to same-sex and de facto couples. The Civil Union Bill has been described as a copy of the Marriage Act with "marriage " replaced by "civil union". Its companion bill, the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill, was to remove discriminatory provisions from a large number of pieces of legislation, but has run into stumbling blocks in Parliament and has been shelved until2005 .
** TheSupreme Court of Canada rules in its reference on same-sex marriage that altering the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples is within the jurisdiction of theParliament of Canada . Prime MinisterPaul Martin indicates that his government will introduce such a bill early in the new year.
*December 21
** Canada:
***Newfoundland and Labrador becomes the seventh province to legalize same-sex marriage after a Supreme Court judge approves the licences for two lesbian couples.Deaths
*
January 13 -James Robinson , 44, editor of the "Stanford Report"
*March 7 -Paul Winfield , 62, American actor
*July 1 -Marlon Brando , 80, American actor (bisexual)
*November 28 -Leroy F. Aarons , 70, founder of theNational Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association See also
*
Timeline of LGBT history .
*Table of years in LGBT rights .
*1925 in LGBT rights -1934 in LGBT rights
*1943 in LGBT rights -1969 in LGBT rights (Stonewall)
*1990 in LGBT rights .External links
* [http://www.advocate.com Web site for Advocate news magazine]
* [http://www.365gay.com 365gay.com]
* [http://news.google.com/news?as_q=&svnum=10&as_scoring=r&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=gay+lesbian+bisexual+transgender+homosexual&as_eq=&as_nsrc=&as_nloc=&as_occt=any&as_drrb=q&as_qdr=&as_minm=1&as_mind=20&as_maxm=2&as_maxd=19 Google search for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender news]References
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