LGBT rights milestones: A brief recent history
A gay rights supporter demonstrates in Buenos Aires, Argentina prior to the legislature’s vote to legalize gay marriage in July 2010.
The last 10 years have seen unprecedented advances for the increasingly globalized LGBT rights movement. These are some key milestones from the recent past.
Dec. 1993 — U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy goes into effect
Sept. 1996 — U.S. Defense of Marriage Act enacted
Apr. 2001 — The Netherlands becomes first country to legalize same-sex marriage
Sept. 2001 — Rev. Jerry Falwell blames gays for 9/11
May 2005 — Massachusetts becomes first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage
July 2005 — Spain legalizes gay marriage
2008 — Candidate Barack Obama promises to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" if elected
Jan. 2009 — Iceland elects world's first openly gay head of state, Johanna Sigurdardottir
May 2009 — Lt. Dan Choi comes out on U.S. national TV
July 2009 — Homosexual acts decriminalized in India
Oct. 2009 — Ugandan MP introduces “Kill the Gays” Bill
July 2010 — Argentina legalizes gay marriage
Sept. 2010 — A rash of U.S. teen bullying suicides, inspiring the “It Gets Better” campaign
Dec. 2010 — Don't Ask, Don't Tell repealed
June 2011 — UN passes first-ever Gay Rights Protection Resolution
June 2011 — New York legalizes gay marriage
Sept. 2011 — Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal goes into effect
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