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Events

• Tom Vilsack, governor of the U.S. state of Iowa, issues an executive order prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the public sector.^[1] The order is later rescinded, then reinstated for sexual orientation only.
• U.S. state of Nevada bans sexual orientation discrimination in the private sector.^[2]
• Bob Taft, governor of the U.S. state of Ohio, rescinds a 1984 executive order by then-governor Dick Celeste banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in the public sector.
• San Jose, California, prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation in the private sector.

February

• February 28 — In the United Kingdom, The Queer Youth Alliance is founded, the first such "youth-led" gay rights organisation.

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March

• March 29 — In New Zealand, immigration law changes approved by the cabinet in 1998 allow gay and lesbian couples the same rights as straight de facto couples applying for permanent residency under the relationship category. Prior to the change, gay and lesbian couples spent twice as long waiting for residency than straight couples. Scott Fack and Noel Turner were the "poster boys" for this change through the gay media, including Express Newspaper and the Queer Nation television show.

October

• October 2 — Gray Davis, governor of the U.S. state of California, signs three gay rights bills into law. The first outlawed harassment of homosexual students and teachers in the state's public schools. The second created a new state-wide domestic partnership registry. The third outlawed job and housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
• October 10 — In Northern Ireland, Patrick Buckley, Catholic bishop in Belfast comes out as a gay man.
• October 11 — Turner Broadcasting's World Championship Wrestling says it will discontinue use of its "Lenny and Lodi" duo after protests from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation claiming that during televised events with Lenny and Lodi, officials encouraged the audience to chant the anti-gay slur "fag."
• October 13 — In France, the National Assembly grants unwed opposite- and same-sex couples the same rights as married couples.
• October 15 — Washington Times reports claims George W. Bush ensured conservative supporters that he would not "knowingly" appoint any homosexuals as ambassadors or department heads in his administration if elected president.
• October 22 —
  • Boeing begins offering domestic partner health benefits.
  • William Levada, archbishop of San Francisco, donates US$30,000 to promote a state initiative to ban same-sex marriage.
• October 27 — Government of the Canadian province of Ontario changes 67 laws to give same-sex couples the same rights as married couples.

November

• November 1 — Nancy Katz becomes the first openly-lesbian judge in the U.S. state of Illinois.
• November 3 — Aaron McKinney found guilty of murdering Matthew Shepard. He is sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison.

December

• December 7 — Orange County, California, school board votes unanimously to reject the formation of a gay-straight alliance at El Modena High School.
• December 20 — Supreme Court of the U.S. state of Vermont orders the state legislature to devise a law that would give same-sex couples identical rights as married couples.

See also

LGBT portal

• Timeline of LGBT history — timeline of events from 12,000 BCE to present
• LGBT rights by country or territory — current legal status around the world
• LGBT social movements

References