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Archival material: News items affecting
Gays and lesbians from 1996 to 2000-SEP

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More recent news is located elsewhere on this web site.

This section records major developments over the years 1996 to 2000 in what has been called "the gay agenda" -- working towards:

	Achieving equality for persons of all sexual orientations in areas of employment, accommodation, freedom of assault, etc.
	Acceptance of all sexual orientations (heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality) as normal, natural human variations.

We make no claim to completeness, or even balance. Our aim was to record items of a major nature in the drive for equal rights for persons of all sexual orientations. More recent news is located elsewhere on this web site.

You will find Canadian news over-represented in this list. That is because this Web site is located in Canada and most of our readers are in the US. Americans often do not have access to news from Canada -- yet there have been many major developments "north of the border." Canada made marriage available to same-sex couples in mid 2005.

For news in related areas, see:

	Statements and policies of religious groups towards homosexuality
	Statements by mental health organizations about homosexuality
	Developments in same-sex Marriages
	Gay-lesbian support groups in public schools

Items from the most recent month are listed first.

2000-OCT

Government: VP candidate Dick Cheney supports civil unions.

2000-JUN:

Government: United Nations conference fails to extend womens' programs

2000-MAY:

	Government: People for the American Way release "Hostile Climate" annual report
	Media: Internet censorship companies use double standard
	Education: Teaching about homosexuality in Scottish schools

2000-APR:

Civil rights: Same-sex marriage initiative in Vermont succeeds.

2000-MAR:

	Media: Controversy over Dr. Laura Schlessinger's upcoming TV program.
	Media: KeyWord Ministries, the church in Staten Island sponsored some anti-gay billboards. They were quickly removed.

2000-FEB:

	Civil Rights: New South African anti-discrimination law may have major implications for gay rights.
	Media: DC Comics introduces The Authority: a comic book featuring two gay superheroes.

2000-JAN:

	1st Amendment rights: Orange County CA school board vs. gay-positive high school students.
	1st Amendment rights: Gay-positive clubs in public schools.

1999-DEC:

Civil rights: Same-sex marriage initiatives in California

1999-OCT:

Government: Governor of California signs three gay-positive bills into law.

1999-AUG:

Politics: Stance of presidential candidates on equal rights for gays and lesbians.

1999-JUN

Government: President Clinton issues proclamation for national "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month."

1999-MAY

	Government: New Hampshire law prohibiting gay and lesbian adoptions was repealed
	Government: Gays and lesbians win equal spousal rights in Ontario

1999-JAN

Government: Immense victory for human rights in Canada

1998-NOV

Government: Supporting U.S. federal anti-hate crime law

1998-JUN

Government: Senator Lott vs. Homosexuality

1998-APR

Civil Rights: Gay Teacher appeals to Supreme Court of Canada

1998-FEB

Civil rights: Equal rights in Maine and Missouri

1998-JAN

Government: Democratic National Convention requires gay and lesbian delegates

1997-DEC

	Civil rights: Gay and lesbian couples adopting children
	Civil rights: Canadian mayor refuses to proclaim Gay Pride Week
	Religion: Mickey Mouse Anti-Gay Protest

1997-NOV

	Government: Danish Church Accepts Gay & Lesbian Marriages
	Civil Rights: Gay Civil Rights Case in Alberta, Canada
	Government: President Clinton Speaks to "Human Rights Campaign

1997-OCT

	Government: Clinton Selects Gay Nominees
	Government: Britain Eases Immigration for Gay Partners

1997-SEP

Civil Rights: Growing Acceptance of Homosexuality in China

1997-AUG

	Mental Health: American Psychological Association and Gay Conversion Therapy
	Media: Gay Character Appears Again in Comic Strip

1997-JUL

Civil Rights: Canadian Province Recognizes Gay Partnerships

1997-JUN

	Pride: President Clinton Greets Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration
	Equal Rights: British Columbia may Recognize Same-sex Couples

1997-MAY

	Gathering: Christian Lesbians Out (CLOUT) Gathering
	Religion: Roman Catholic Church Boycotts "Dignity"
	Religion: Cyprus Debates Legalization of Homosexual Behavior
	Equal Rights: Fallout From the US Supreme Court's "Romer" Decision

1997-APR

	Funding Cuts: Anti-Gay Funding Cuts in Charlotte NC
	Equal Rights: Advertisement in "Honolulu Advertiser"
	Boycotting: Religious Right Boycotts American Airlines
	Equal Rights: ACLU Targets Chicago Boy Scouts of America
	Civil Rights: Regressive Legislation in North Dakota
	Religion: Roman Catholic Church Urges Acceptance of Gays
	Outing: "Ellen" update

1997-MAR

	Equal Rights: Gay/Lesbian Rights Bill in New Hampshire
	Religion: Peaceful Protest at Anti-gay Conference in Phoenix
	Religion: Presbyterian Church Rejects Inclusiveness
	Equal Rights: Anti-Hate Law Upheld

1997-FEB

	Homophobia: Homophobia in Namibia
	Equal Rights: German Lutherans Approve Blessing for Gay Partners
	Equal Rights: Government list of 1049 federal laws affecting married couples
	Gay Bashing: "Army of God" claims they bombed Gay bar in Atlanta
	Equal Rights: Amnesty International advocate decriminalization of homosexual behavior
	Religion: Episcopals meet Fundamentalists in Philadelphia
	Equal Rights: The Gay Rights Agenda and Status
	Religion: First Gay and Lesbian Mass in Rochester NY

1997-JAN

	Outing: Ellen planning to come out of the closet
	Media: First lesbian kiss on TV
	Education: School film teaches tolerance
	Politics: Letter from Mel White to President Clinton on Inauguration Day
	Courts: Supreme Court Limits Homophobic Picketing

1996-DEC

	Equal Rights: Same-sex marriages legalized in Hawaii
	Civil Rights: Caning for Gays & Lesbians in Malaysia
	Religion: Gays & Lesbians rediscover Christmas
	Equal Rights: Same-sex benefits required by San Francisco
	Outing: Massive outing in Britain
	Boycott: Romanian boycott planned
	Civil Rights: South African Constitution

1996-NOV

	Employment: Diversity statement by the State of Illinois
	Employment: Diversity statement by Chrysler
	Gay Bashing: "Jenny Jones" TV show: homophobia ignored
	Homophobia: "Ellen" Show under attack by American Family Assoc.
	Freedom of Speech: Furor over high school article
	Obituary: Evelyn Hooker Dies
	Gay Ordination: Church of England holds gay and lesbian service
	Gay Bashing: Gay former student wins discrimination case
	Gay Bashing: Gay-bashing victim wins large settlement
	Equal Rights: Anti-gay law declared unconstitutional
	Freedom of Association: High school gay-lesbian-straight support group

Sources

We obtain this lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender information from a variety of sources. One of the best is "MEDIAlert!" [TM] (formerly the "GLAAD Media Watch") It is distributed biweekly, free, as a community service. Contact MEDIAction@aol.com to be placed on their distribution list.

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