40 Reasons Why 2011 Was A Great Year For GaysCULTURE BUZZ2011 was a great year for gays, and I have a feeling, considering the way things are going, 2012 will be even better.
On September 20, "Don't Ask Don't Tell" was officially repealed.
"Our military will no longer be deprived of the talents and skills of patriotic Americans just because they happen to be gay or lesbian," President Obama said in a statement released by the White House.
On February 23, the Justice Department announced that it will no longer defend the constitutionality the Defense of Marriage Act in court.
Source: nationaljournal.com
On July 14, California governor Jerry Brown signed the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful Education Act. The new law mandates that educational material in California schools includes information on the contributions of LGBT people to California and United States history, prohibits discriminatory material and lessons and adds "sexual orientation" to existing laws that prohibit discrimination in education.
Source: advocate.com
On February 23, Hawaii governor Neil Abercrombie signed the state's civil unions bill. The law will take effect on January 1, 2012.
Source: huffingtonpost.com
On January 17, Ohio governor John Kasich signed an executive order that prohibited discrimination in state employment on the basis of sexual orientation.
Source: plunderbund.com
On February 1, The United States Department of State began issuing passport applications that asks applicants for "Mother or parent one" and "Father or parent two" instead of for "Father" and "Mother." The change is "in recognition of different types of families."
Source: washingtonpost.com
On February 18, in an 8-2 vote, the University of Alaska's Board of Regents added sexual orientation to its public university antidiscrimination policy.
"With the elimination of 'don't ask, don't tell' from the military, the trend is clear," University President Pat Gamble said in agenda material prepared for the board.
Source: advocate.com
On March 24, Roman Catholic-operated Marquette University announced that it would offer domestic partnership benefits to employees beginning in 2012.
Source: jsonline.com
In May, in what is believed to be a world first, Nepal's Central Bureau of Statistics gave official recognition to gay and transgender people by adding a third gender to their census.
Source: articles.cnn.com
On February 18, Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick signed an executive order banning discrimination against state employees based on gender identity or expression.
Source: boston.com
On May 5, the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil ruled in a unanimous 10-0 decision to legalize same-sex civil unions. Brazil became the largest country yet to legalize civil unions.
Source: bbc.co.uk
On May 5, the Presbyterian Church voted to allow openly gay clergy. In this photo, Reverend Scott Anderson is greeted after becoming the first openly gay person to be ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian Church.
Source: christianpost.com
On May 11, Delaware Governor Jack Markell signed the state's civil unions bill into law, granting same-sex couples in the state all of the rights of marriage. The law will take effect January 1, 2012.
Source: usatoday.com
On May 17, the Nevada Legislature passed a bill to bar employment discrimination in the state on the basis of gender identity or expression.
Source: queermeup.com
On June 16, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a declaration that condemned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Source: hrw.org
On July 5, Governor Dan Malloy of Connecticut signed a bill that barred discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit and other laws based on gender identity or expression.
Source: baywindows.com
In November, Bruce Harris was elected mayor of Chatham Borough, N.J. He’s the nation’s first openly gay, African American, Republican mayor.
Source: gaypolitics.com
On July 26, the Constitutional Court of Colombia ruled that same-sex couples in de facto unions constitute a family. The Court further ruled that the Congress of Colombia has two years to address marriage equality through the legislative process. If the deadline passes without legislation, same-sex couples will be able to formalize their unions through notary publics.
Source: advocate.com
On November 8, voters in Traverse City, Michigan defeated by a two-to-one margin a ballot initiative to repeal the town's anti-discrimination ordinance that was enacted in 2010.
Source: michiganmessenger.com
On September 2, the California State Senate passed "Seth's Law" after 13-year-old Seth Walsh, who committed suicide in 2010 after constant anti-gay harassment at his school. The bill requires every school in California to implement anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies and programs that include actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
Source: theseattlelesbian.com
On September 15, the San Antonio, Texas City Council approved a budget that included domestic partnership benefits for city employees.
Source: blogs.sacurrent.com
On December 6, the US made its first ever push for gay rights abroad. The Obama Administration issued a memorandum directing U.S. agencies acting abroad to use foreign aid to assist LGBT people who are facing human rights violations and to protect vulnerable LGBT refugees and asylum seekers. In a related speech to the United Nations in Geneva, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton declared that LGBT rights are universal human rights.
Source: abcnewsradioonline.com
On December 12, Orlando, Florida established a domestic partnership registry. The law, which will take effect January 12, 2012, offers registered same-sex partners the right to hospital and jail visitation, the right to make health care decisions and the right to make funeral arrangements.
Source: joemygod.blogspot.com
In November, Adam Ebbin, a gay man who has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2004, became Virginia's first openly gay senator.
Source: washingtonblade.com
New York State Senator Roy McDonald, one of a handful of Republicans who voted against his party for same-sex marriage, got sick and tired of being pushed around by gay marriage opponents. He released this statement to the press, which is quite possibly the most badass comment of the year:
“You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing."
“You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f*** it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing."
“I'm tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I'm trying to do the right thing, and that's where I'm going with this."
Source: nydailynews.com
On July 16, over 300 active duty troops and war veterans marched in San Diego's gay pride parade becoming the first American troops to ever openly participate in a gay pride celebration.
Source: towleroad.com