1997 in LGBT rights
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This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 1997.
Events
[edit]- Sodomy is decriminalized in the People's Republic of China.[1]
- Fiji becomes the second country in the world whose constitution explicitly protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation, although the Fijian government does not invalidate or repeal its sodomy laws.[2]
- U.S. state of Maine bans sexual orientation discrimination in the private sector. The ban is later repealed in a referendum.[3]
- U.S. state of New Hampshire bans sexual orientation discrimination in the private sector.[4]
April
[edit]- 30 — Ellen DeGeneres's character Ellen Morgan comes out as gay in "The Puppy Episode", seen by 42 million viewers.[5]
July
[edit]- 2 — District judge Eugene Nickerson in Abel v. United States of America, a challenge to "don't ask, don't tell", rules that the law in its entirety violates the First and Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.[6][7]
October
[edit]- 3 — In Ontario, Canada court rules that the Government of Ontario's Insurance Act must include same-sex partners in its definition of spouse.[8]
November
[edit]- 25 — Homosexuality is decriminalized in Ecuador following a landmark decision handed down by the Constitutional Tribunal.[9]
December
[edit]- Annise Parker is elected as an at-large member of the Houston City Council alongside mayoral candidate Lee P. Brown.[10]
- 2 — David Catania becomes the first openly gay or lesbian person to be elected to the city council of Washington, D.C.[11]
- 10 — The Constitution Review Committee in Florida votes 6–2 to reject adding sexual orientation as a criterion for protection in the state constitution.[12]
- 16 — In New Zealand, the court of appeal rules unanimously not to grant same-sex couples the right to marry.[13]
- 17 — In the U.S. state of New Jersey, same-sex couples are given the right to jointly adopt children.[14]
See also
[edit]- 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
[edit]- ^ Emily Rauhala (June 15, 2009). "Gay pride in China? Yes and no". GlobalPost. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ Staff writer (November 3, 2009). "Fijians fighting for equal rights". Sydney Star Observer. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ Emmet Meara (May 27, 1999). "Gay Alliance seeks 2000 vote on discrimination". Sun Journal. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ Staff writer (June 9, 1997). "American Topics". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ Rachel Shatto (November 1, 2008). "Ellen through the ages: a chronicle of her rise to fame and lesbo fortune". Curve. Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ Abel v. United States of America, 94 CV 0974 (United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York 1997-07-02).
- ^ Lyle Denniston (July 3, 1997). "Judge rejects policy on gays; Military's 'don't ask, don't tell' is ruled unconstitutional". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (April 17, 2012). "Applying for permanent residence from within Canada: Spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (IMM 5289)". Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Mario Gonzalez (July 24, 1997). "Ecuador-Rights: Homosexuals Fight For Decriminalization". Inter Press Service. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Michael Graczyk (January 4, 2010). "Houston mayor calls swearing-in milestone for gays". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Ben Wattenburg (December 17, 1997). "Don't dis Washington, D.C." The Daily News. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Ph.D, David E. Newton (2009-10-27). Gay and Lesbian Rights: A Reference Handbook, 2nd Edition: A Reference Handbook, Second Edition. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598843071.
- ^ James R. Edwards Jr. (May 1999). "Homosexuals and Immigration: Developments in the United States and Abroad". Center for Immigration Studies. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Ronald Smothers (December 18, 1997). "Accord Lets Gay Couples Adopt Jointly". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2012.