February 22 - Utah
The Salt Lake City School Board votes 4-3 to ban all extracurricular clubs, rather than allow East High’s Gay Straight Alliance Club equal access.
State equality and discrimination bills
September 21 - Washington D.C.
Defense of Marriage Act public Law 104-199 [H.R. 3396], September 21, 1996 Defined marriage as between one woman/one man and allowed states to not recognize same-sex marriages from other states. President Bill Clinton signs the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), denying same-sex couples to the right to have their unions/partnerships recognized by the federal government.
July 19 - Georgia
David Pichler and Patrick Jeffrey, two openly gay divers, compete in the Atlanta Olympics.
December 1 - National
Keith Hartman a writer publishes “Congregations in Conflict”
March 8 - National
When Nathan Lane told his mother that he was gay, she told him "I would rather you were dead," to which he replied, "I knew you'd understand." He goes on to star in a lineup of great movies including “The Birdcage”.
June 7 - National
Junior Vasquez a musician had a falling out with Madonna and produce the song “If Madonna Calls”. It is widely believed that the dub in the song is the break up call that he had with her. Since the falling out he has worked with many artists while still producing his own music. His gay anthem is “Wok That Pussy”
November 1 - National
Ken Stone a biblical scholar publishes “Sex, Honor and Power in the Deuteronomistic History”
August 1 - Kentucky
Nick Moraida, a 34-year-old Latino gay man, was murdered during a robbery.
January 1 - California
“What’s bisexuality got to do with it?” training held in conjunction with California’s Lesbian, Gay and AIDS LIFE Lobby and Institute.
June 1 - Hawaii
Southern Baptist Convention an extensive resolution is passed following the Hawaiian Supreme Court’s ruling regarding same-sex marriages, in which the church “steadfastly oppose[s] the legislation of homosexual marriage by the state of Hawaii, or by any other state, or by the United States of America” and claims that the passage of any such legislation “is an abominable sin calling for God’s swift judgment upon any such society.”
May 18 - Washington D.C.
The U. S. Supreme Court rules 6-3 in the case of Romer v. Evans that Colorado’s 2nd amendment, which denies gays and lesbians protections against discrimination, is unconstitutional. The ruling puts an end to 20 years of state and local ballot initiatives aimed at stripping gays of anti-discrimination protections, leaving same-sex marriage as the main issue for anti-gay organizers.
January 1 – National
Doug Langway a screenwriter produces his first movie “Raising Heroes”
January 1 – National
Wayne Hoffman an author and journalist publishes “Policing Public Sex: Queer Politics and the Future of AIDS Activism”
March 1 - National
From the March edition of The Public Eye Magazine: An eerie unease hangs in the air in Colorado. For lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals, nagging questions pervade everyday life: did the kindly person who just gave me her parking place vote for Amendment 2? Did my landlord vote for the amendment, knowing that I am gay? Will gay rights be pushed back to the days before Stonewall? Who or what is behind this hate?
January 4 - Texas
Fred Mangione, a gay man, was murdered in Texas by two Neo-Nazi brothers. His partner, Kenneth Stern, was also attacked, but survived. One of the attackers, Ronald Henry Gauthier, later received at 10-year probation sentence.
David Pichler
Olympic Diver
November 1 - Oregon
In the Republican primary for U. S. Senate, anti-Gay leader Lon Mabon wins only 8% of the vote.
The Oregonian editorializes against same-sex marriage.
September 1 - National
Dave Brousseau’s weekly comic strip “A COUPLE OF GUYS” is first syndicated. It can now be found in over 20 newspapers
May 14 - National
Simon LeVay publishes “Queer Science: The Use and Abuse of Research into Homosexuality”. The book discusses the development of sexual orientation, and the social and political implications of research on the topic. He critically evaluates theories about homosexuality put forward by authors such as Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, Magnus Hirschfeld, and Sigmund Freud.
President Bill Clinton
January 1 – National
“Dancing around the volcano” is published.
November 21 - Wisconsin
A federal court jury finds that three high school administrators in Ashland, WI violated the rights of former student Jamie Nebozny. Ashland officials agree to pay $900,000 plus up to $62,000 in Jamie's potential medical expenses. Jamie is the student who, from middle school until he dropped out of high school, suffered years of abuse from fellow students. Jamie required surgery for many injuries he suffered during various attacks. One year, students performed a mock rape on him in front of an entire class. In another year, students pushed his head into a toilet and urinated on him. Even though Jamie and his parents repeatedly asked school officials to discipline Jamie’s attackers, nothing happened. In fact, Jamie was told by one school official that he must learn to expect such treatment since he is gay.
Rudy Galindo
Olympic Skating Champion
January 1 – National
Victor E. Hodge’s BLACK GAY BOY FANTASY, about black gay life in Washington DC begins as a one-shot, single-page strip in the 1996 Black Lesbian and Gay Guide. Though intended as a bi- weekly comic trip for LGBT newspapers.
May 1 - National
Controversial artist David Wojnarowicz writes the autobiographical graphic novel 7 MILES A SECOND
May 28 - National
John J. McNeill a Jesuit priest publishes “Taking a Chance on God: Liberating Theology for Gays, Lesbians, and Their Lovers, Families, and Friends”
January 4 - National
The Directorate of the Office of Church in Society of the United Church of Christ and the Board of Directors of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries of the UCC both express support for equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.
June 3 - National
Jonathan Rauch a writer published “Beyond Queer: Challenging Gay Left Orthodoxy”
April 1 - California
USC Alumni Association recognizes Don Gabard, founder of Lambda Alumni, with the first President’s Award at its annual banquet.
June 30 - National
Andrew Holleran a writer publishes his novel “The Beauty of Men”
May 14 - National
Richard Isay a psychiatrist publishes “Becoming Gay: The Journey to Self-Acceptance”
January 1 – National
Alexander Chee writes “Boys Like Us: Gay Writers Tell Their Coming Out Stories”
January 1 – National
Steve Schalchlin is one of the first HIV/AIDS bloggers to keep family and friends updated on his failing health and started blogging this year.
January 1 - Tennessee
The National Pro-Family Forum, dedicated to “one man-one woman” marriage, holds its first secret meeting in a Memphis church cellar with representatives from more than 20 major anti-gay groups. Before the end of the year, forum members successfully push the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) through Congress.
January 1 - Oregon
A Multnomah County Judges rules in favor of Chris Tanner’s lawsuit against OHSU for domestic partner benefits. The ruling is appealed.
Phoenix Rising receives a $9,000 grant to serve transsexual and transgender young people.
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, led by Rodney Page, vote unanimously to invite MCC membership; leads to UFMCC denomination joining World Council of Churches
The Oregon Court of Appeals overturns a fine for wearing a Gay rights button in a polling place.
June 13 - California
High school runner for cross-country coach Eric Anderson is attacked by school football player,
launching Anderson’s advocacy work.
March 19 - National
Robert Smigel creates the “AMBIGUOUSLY GAY DUO,” a parody of 1960’s Filmation-style superhero cartoons, which first appears on The Dana Carvey Show ABC, then Saturday Night Live and TV Funhouse.
January 1 – National
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, led by Rodney Page, votes unanimously to invite MCC membership. This leads to Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC) denomination joining World Council of Churches
April 1 - Georgia
The Atlanta Lesbian Cancer Initiative is formed, later called the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative, and then The Health Initiative.
November 1 - National
Victory Fund endorses 50 candidates – the most in its history. With enthusiastic backing from Victory Fund, endorsed candidate Ed Flanagan becomes the first openly LGBTQ person elected to a statewide office, winning his race for State Auditor in Vermont. Ed Flanagan attends a Victory Fund fundraiser.
August 1 - National
Michael Thomas Ford publishes his first book “The World Out There: Becoming Part of the Lesbian and Gay Community”
June 3 - National
Douglas Sadownick publishes his second book “Sex Between Men An Intimate History of the Sex Lives of Gay Men”
August 22 - Washington D.C.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) is the first federal law to clearly and openly promote marriage and support the formation of families with two heterosexual parents.
April 2 - National
Frank Browning, an author releases “A Queer Geography: Journeys Toward a Sexual Self”
Junior Vasquez
June 15 - Ohio
“Pride and Cultural Fest” (all kinds of events, but no rally or parade) (Gay & Lesbian Community Center Cincinnati)
March 1 - National
Lutheran bishops of the ELCA release an open letter to Church members in response to the call for made at the 1995 Assembly, in which they reiterate the Church’s previous statements welcoming gays and lesbians into ELCA congregations and supporting civil rights for homosexuals. The letter acknowledges the “bitter” debates around homosexuality within the Church but tries to create a greater sense of unity.
December 3 - Hawaii
Judge Chang rules that the state does not have a legal right to deprive same-sex couples of the right to marry, making Hawaii the first state to recognize that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to the same privileges as heterosexual married couples.
Southern Baptist
Boycott
September 1 - National
In “THE ACTS OF GOD” in THE SPECTRE #45 written by John Ostrander, the Spectre and his alter-ego Jim Corrigan first condone, then come to oppose violence against gays in the name of religion.
July 1 - National
Shawn Stewart Ruff a writer, from Cincinnati Ohio, published “Go the Way Your Blood Beats: An Anthology of Lesbian and Gay Fiction by African-American Writers”
August 31 - National
The movie “Bound” is released.
June 12 - California
The Southern Baptist Convention announces a boycott of Disney parks and products because the company gives insurance benefits to partners of gay workers and allows “Gay Days” at its theme parks. “Beware of the Magic Kingdom,” Focus on the Family advises parents. Gay Day protests become a staple of the anti-gay movement.
March 18 - National
Muffin Spencer Devlin, an 18 year veteran on the LPGA tour, comes out as a lesbian in Sports
Illustrated and The Advocate.
January 26 - Delaware
The first adoption of a child by an openly gay Delawarean occurs when Charles Veal adopts a baby boy. Charles' spouse Edward McGrath will co-adopt the boy
Julianne Williams and Lollie Winans
January 1 – National
XY Magazine was founded by Peter Ian Cummings in San Francisco for young gay and Bisexual males.
August 1 - National
Boze Hadleigh a author publishes “Hollywood Gays”
June 3 - Virginia
Julianne Williams, 24, and Lollie Winans, 26, were murdered at their campsite along the Appalachian Trail on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.
Muffin Spencer
LPGA Golfer
September 22 - National
Chandler Burr writes “A Separate Creation: The Search for the Biological Origins of Sexual Orientation”, which investigated sexual orientation research. A Separate Creation was published by Hyperion, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company, and its argument that sexual orientation is inborn prompted a call by Southern Baptists to boycott Disney films and theme parks.
January 1 – National
QUEERCOMIX, an online mailing list, is begun by Roger Klorese
September 1 - Washington D.C.
Congress passes Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), forbidding federal recognition of (and benefits for) married same-sex couples.
January 1 – National
Kenji Yoshino a writer, publishes "Suspect Symbols: The Literary Argument for Heightened Scrutiny for Gays"
May 14 - National
With only one original sponsor, the Domestic Partnerships Act (H.B. 578) is introduced and later stricken in Congress. It would have established as a legal status for domestic partnerships between persons of the same gender and would have guaranteed visitation rights in health care facilities and prisons.
July 1 - National
D. Michael Quinn a writer and activist published “Same-Sex Dynamics Among Nineteenth- Century Americans: A Mormon Example”
January 21 - National
Rudy Galindo, the national figure skating champion reveals that he is gay.
January 1 – National
Basic Rights Oregon (BRO) is incorporated after evolving from an organization that formed to oppose Measure 13, another anti-LGBT ballot measure promoted by the OCA.
May 31 - Michigan
Closeted Lansing State Journal sportswriter Bob Gross found murdered in his home.
November 16 - National
The Board of Directors of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries of the UCC votes for “Equal Marriage Rights for Same Gender Couples.”
June 26 - National
David Mixner published his first novel “Stranger Among Friends” about From my fear of coming out to coming on strong in the struggle for human rights.
November 1 - Michigan
Citizens opposed to LGBT equality gather enough signatures to place the recently adopted human right ordinance on the November ballot. Lansing City Council subsequently approves two ballot measures related to the ordinance. Citizens of Lansing reject the comprehensive human rights ordinance.
June 3 - Florida
Angel Fabian co-organizes National Task Force on AIDS Prevention’s first Gay/Bisexual Young Men of Color Summit in Miami Fla.
October 9 - National
The British coming-of-age and coming-out film, Beautiful Thing debuted in U.S. theaters. Based on the play by Jonathan Harvey, Beautiful Thing, was about Jamie (Jonathon Harvey), an unpopular teen growing up in South-East London. He lives next door to Ste (Scott Neal) a popular and athletic boy, who gets beaten up by his father. Jamie's mother allows Ste to stay at their place when things get bad. Ste shares Jamie's bed and the two become friends and then lovers.
January 1- Missouri
Gary Wolverton, HIV prevention counselor and Jon Spinner, founds Bisexuals of Greater Kansas City, Missouri, which meets at Kansas City Free Health Clinic.
Steve Schalchilin
February 15 - National
Frank Ronan a writer publishes “Handsome men are slightly sunburnt”
May 1 - National
Fenton Johnson publishes his memoir “Geography of the Heart: A Memoir”
November 1 - Washington D.C.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would prohibit discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation, narrowly fails in the U.S. Senate in a vote of 50-49. It is the first time a vote on lesbian and gay civil rights has ever been before the full Senate. In the event of a tie, Vice President AI Gore had been prepared to vote in favor, and President Bill Clinton had pledged to sign the bill into law. As of 2015, ENDA still has not been passed.
The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Amendment 2 (Romer v. Evans) in a landmark 6-3 ruling. In its decision, the Court makes clear that antigay sentiment does not justify governmental discrimination and shatters the "special rights" rhetoric of those who oppose equal treatment for lesbians and gay men. The Court rules that Amendment 2 violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee that all citizens have a fundamental right to equal protection laws.
United States LGBT History for 1996
April 1 - National
ICE MAIDEN tells Nuklon she prefers the romantic company of women in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 110 (DC, April 1996), written by Gerard Jones.
January 1 – National
Daniel Curzon’s comedic novel SUPERFAG (Igna, 1996) features a Christ-figure in superhero drag sent from heaven to speak out against homophobia.
September 10 - Washington D.C.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would have projected discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace, narrowly fails in the U.S. Senate in a vote of 50-49. It is the first time a vote on lesbian and gay civil rights has ever been before the full Senate.
January 1 – National
“Friends” NBC Ross’ ex-wife Carol (Jane Sibbett) married girlfriend Susan (Jessica Hecht) and the three shared parental duties of Carol and Ross’ son, Ben.
January 1 – National
GLASS presents a first annual scholarship to a continuing student who has helped to build a more gay-affirmative society, by a grant from Christopher Street West/ Los Angeles.
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