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The Supreme Court of Canada gives the go-ahead for the federal government to legalize gay marriage, but refused a government request to say the constitution required the legalization of gay marriage. It rules that the constitution allowed the proposed redefinition of marriage as "the lawful union ... |
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New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey, who stunned the nation with the disclosure that he is gay and would resign from his post, delivers his farewell address |
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During nationwide elections in the United States, voters in 11 states passed state constitutional amendments defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Those states include: Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah. |
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California's Supreme Court annulls more than 4,000 gay marriages in San Francisco. The court rules that the city acted improperly in granting the marriage licenses earlier this year in defiance of state law. |
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Missourians voted 71% to 29% to amend their state constitution to define marriage as between a man and woman only. It is the first time voters got to weigh in since the U.S. Senate rejected a proposed marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution on July 14. In addition to Louisiana, the nine other ... |
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The U.S. Senate effectively kills the proposal for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages, which is backed by President Bush, for the remainder of this election year. |
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In his weekly radio address, U.S. President Bush says that activist judges are imposing their arbitrary will on the people. He calls for a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. |
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New Paltz Town Court Justice Jonathan Katz dismisses the charges againt Mayor Jason West. The ruling found that the district attorney had failed to show that the state had a legitimate interest in preventing the marriages. |
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The Gender Recognition Act 2004 passes in the UK House of Commons. |
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Masachusetts becomes the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. |
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Anthony Romeo and 16 other students sue Seton Hall University for violating the New Jersey state sexual orientation anti-discrimination law and the university's own policies. It had denied the formation of an LGBT student organization. |
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New York state judge Vincent Bradley issues a temporary restraining order to bar New Paltz Mayor Jason West from performing any more same-sex civil weddings. |
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Multnomah County issued the state's first marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Portland, Oregon |
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The mayor of New Paltz, New York, Jason West, is charged with 19 misdemeanor counts of "solemnizing marriages without a license" by Ulster County District Attorney Donald Williams. |
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Jason West, the mayor of New Paltz, NY, announces that he will be performing same-sex civil weddings. |
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The Republican Governor of Ohio, Bob Taft, signs Ohio's Defense of Marriage Act denying recognition of same-sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partner agreements performed in other states. It also outlaws same-sex marriage within the state and forbids state benefits from being extended to gay a ... |
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New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey signs New Jersey's domestic partnership law. |
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Tasmania becomes the first Australian state to recognize civil unions between same-sex couples. |
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Jason West is elected mayor of New Paltz in 2003, heavily supported by students at the State University of New York campus. |
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The U.S. Supreme Court overturns a Texas sodomy law that prohibited consensual sex by same-sex partners. |
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The Superior Court of Ontario orders Ontario to recognize same-sex marriages. |
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Vermont passes HB847, legalizing Civil Unions for same-sex couples. |
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Alaska's voters amend their constitution to require that all marriages be between a man and a woman. |
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Twenty-one year old homosexual Matthew Shepard dies from wounds he suffered in a gay bashing crime on October 7 near Laramie, Wyoming. Aaron James McKinney and Russel Arthur Henderson were later arrested and convicted to life sentences, without the possibility of parole. |
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University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard is viciously attacked by two assailants for being gay (he died on October 12). |
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Peter Michalski, an Alaska Superior Judge, rules in favor of plaintiffs Jay Brause and Gene Dugan. The ruling states that the selection of a marital partner is a fundamental right which the state should not deny without a compelling reason. |
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The American Medical Association declares its opposition to the concept of "treatments" to "cure" homosexuality. |
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U.S. President Clinton announces what will become known as "don't ask, don't tell" policy and effectively lifts the ban on homosexuals in the military. |
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The World Health Organisation declassifies homosexuality as a mental illness in its catalog the ICD-10. |
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Denmark allows civil unions for same-sex couples, in the form of registered partnerships, that offer equivalent rights of marriage within the country. |
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