​​​          June 1 – National​
                    "Gay Moments: My Beautiful Boyfriend" Book 6 of 10. Shannon Cooper is a gay high school                     student who is overweight. He was born that way. His world at Alston High undergoes radical change                     with the arrival of new boy Jaimie Ashton. Jaimie is not only cute – he is impossibly beautiful. Of                     course, many of the girls and even some of the sporting hearties can hardly take their eyes off him.                     Shannon is shocked and amazed when the new boy appears to wink at him in class. “Nah, it must be                     my fervid imagination” he decides. The wink was probably destined for Doreen Childers who has                     been playing with herself beneath her desk whilst staring at the boy.

                    The situation becomes more complex when Jaimie approaches the fat boy while he is having his                     solitary lunch. Suspecting that the new boy is simply being used as bait to lure him into a trap and a                     bashing, Shannon takes to his heels. Will Shannon, the despised over-weight gay boy succeeds in                     winning a beautiful boyfriend?

​​​          October 13 – National​
                    Rostam Batmanglij is evidence that you never know who will become a positive influence in one’s                         life. In an Instagram post he said that Ed Droste of the band Grizzly Bear influenced his decision to                       publicly come out. 

​​​          April 13 – North Carolina
                    Ron Lane was shot by a former student of Wayne Community College, identified as Kenneth M.                     Stancil III, who he had supervised at the campus print shop. His mother made unconfirmed                     allegations that Lane, who was gay, made unwanted sexual advances towards Stancil. 

​​​          April 28 – National
                    "Gay Moments: The Beach of Dreams" Book 5 of 10. At the Happy Surfies’ Haven where he is                     staying in the legendary surfer's town of Margaret River, Jay falls in love with Sebastian, a beautiful                     Viennese boy. Together they decide to set off on a quest to discover the Boys of Summer and the                     Beach of Dreams. Surviving a dangerous trip through the enchanted Boranup Forest they come                     across a seemingly endless beach populated by beautiful naked boys who seem to spend all their                     days surfing. Have Jason and Sebastian discovered the legendary Beach of Dreams?

         January 1 – National​

​                    “Queer Saint” One of the art world's biggest patrons, the legendary Peter Watson helped Francis                    Bacon and Lucian Freud begin their careers--and was tragically cut down in his prime by a jealous                    lover.

February 26 - ​North Carolina
16-year-old Ash Haffner, a transgender boy from North Carolina has taken his life after enduring years of bullying. He stepped into oncoming traffic near his home inIndian Trail. His mother, April     Quick, found the body.

         March 3 - National
                    "Coming on Strong" Acclaimed since its original publication, Coming on Strong has become a                     much-cited touchstone in scholarship on women and sports. In this new edition, Susan K. Cahn                     updates her detailed history of women's sport and the struggles over gender, sexuality, race, class,                     and policy that have often defined it. A new chapter explores the impact of Title IX and how the                     opportunities and interest in sports it helped create reshaped women's lives even as the legislation                     itself came under sustained attack.

          January 6 – Georgia
                    Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed fires Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran after Cochran published an anti-                         LGBT book. Cochran later filed suit against the city and became the face of so-called “religious                               freedom” bills.

          January 1 – National
                    President Obama acknowledges the LGTBQ community in the State of the Union address. For the                     first time in U.S. history, the words “lesbian,” “bisexual,” and “transgender,” were used in the                     president’s State of the Union address, when President Obama mentioned that, as Americans, we                     “respect human dignity” and condemn the persecution of minority groups.

​​​​          October 21 – National
                    Troye Sivan releases his trilogy "Wild", "Fools" and "Talk Me Down" and hitting the US charts only                     months after it was released. The music video that accompany the songs released present Troye                     with gay characters and relationships. The video tells a story of coming to age with a best friend.

Rostam Matmanglij

​​​​          November 8 - ​Washington State
                    Nicklaus Ellison commits suicide after court-ordered Christian drug treatment program tried to ‘un-                    gay’ him

​​​          November 11 – National​
                    “Ekaj” is a film packed with real life drama and a real sense of humor. The film capture's a naïve                     teen's runaway journey to one of the most difficult cities to survive in, New York City. We feel Ekaj                     (Jake Mestre) as he goes through so much rude awakenings. He meets "Mecca" (Badd Idea) a                     Cynic Artist/Hustler who takes Ekaj under his care. Mecca is a very funny, foul mouthed character                     and has multiple problems of his own. He stays at his cousin’s place and we get glimpses of the fact                     that he has Aids, since he has tattoos with the word written on his knees. He drinks all day and still                     manages to be sane and sharp. He is also an opportunistic thief. Their relationship develops into true                     love and care for each other. At the beginning of the film Mecca is doing ok but as the film                     progresses, he becomes sicker and his medication does not really seem to be working for him. At                     the same time, we see Ekaj becoming stronger and less vulnerable. Ekaj lives for the love of his life,                     a Painter named "Johnny " (Scooter LaForge) who has no tolerance and is constantly beating him.                     "Johnny" seems indifferent and cold towards Ekaj's desperate love and obsession for him. With no                     place to really sleep, Ekaj stays during the day with Mecca at his cousin's place, at Johnny's place,                     or at times staying in hotel rooms payed by coins (clients.)

​​​          December 1 – National
                    "The Gender Quest Workbook" If you are a transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) teen,                     you may experience unique challenges with identity and interpersonal relationships. In addition to                     experiencing common teen challenges such as body changes and peer pressure, you may be                     wondering how to express your unique identity to others. The Gender Quest Workbook incorporates                     skills, exercises, and activities from evidence-based therapies—such as cognitive behavioral therapy                     (CBT)—to help you address the broad range of struggles you may encounter related to gender                     identity, such as anxiety, isolation, fear, and even depression.

                    Despite outdated beliefs, gender no longer implies being simply male or female, but rather a whole                     spectrum of possibilities. This fun, engaging workbook is designed specifically for teens like you who                     want to explore the concept of gender and gender identity and expression—whether you already                     identify as TGNC or are simply questioning your gender identity. The activities in this book will help                     you explore your identity internally, interpersonally, and culturally. And along the way, you’ll learn                     how to effectively express yourself and make informed decisions on how to navigate your gender                     with family, friends, classmates, and coworkers. The book also includes chapters on sex and dating,                     balancing multiple identities, and how to deal with stressful challenges when they arise.

Zella Ziona

​​​          July 27 - National
                    Boy Scouts of America President Robert Gates announces "the national executive board ratified a

                    resolution removing the national restriction on openly gay leaders and employees."

​​​          April 19 – National
                    "How I Changed My Gender From Female To Male" Deciding to transition gender is likely to be the                     biggest decision you will ever make in your life. It will change your life irrevocably – and based on                     research, it will most likely change it for the better. Nevertheless, it is not an easy choice to make.                     When the author, Thomas Underwood, began to become outwardly the man he always was inside,                     he found it a very difficult and challenging journey, emotionally and physically. He sought advice from                     friends, counselors, support groups, websites, and books. Thomas spent fourteen years going                     through his transition from female to male, and learned a great deal from this experience. Having                     lived now as both a woman and a man, Thomas wants to share his journey, in the hope that it will                     help others on the same journey. When transitioning it is usual to need lots of help and advice – it’s a                     normal and healthy part of your transition. This book will provide some of the guidance that the                     author wishes he had had on his journey. He shares how he experienced his transition, and also                     provides a wealth of information and resources.

​​​          August 1 - ​National
                    “Alto” Two girls. One gun. The Mob. Because coming out to family is hard. But coming out to "family"                     is funny.

         January 15 - National

​                    “Carol” An aspiring photographer develops an intimate                     relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York.

​​​          June 9 – National​
                   Sexual orientation is added to the military’s anti-discrimination policy. Though “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”                    was repealed in 2011, sexual orientation was still not a protected class (unlike race, religion, sex,                    age, and national origin) under the Military Equal Opportunity Policy.

         January 1 – Oklahoma

​                    “Freedom Oklahoma” Freedom Oklahoma is Oklahoma’s statewide LGBT advocacy organization,                     and a proud member of the Equality Federation. Freedom Oklahoma is the unified organization                     resulting from the merger of The Equality Network, a 501 (c) (4) organization that lobbies for pro-                    equality legislation and public policies; and the Cimarron Alliance Foundation, a 501 (c) (3)                     organization that engaged in public education in support of the LGBT community.

David Cicilline

President Barack Obama

Catalogued archive material by subject:

​​​          June 2 - ​Alabama
                    Mercedes Williamson, a transgender female is beat
to death in Alabama.

Alyssa Morgan

         January 1 – Arkansas

​                    “Arkansas Transgender Equality Coalition” Arkansas Transgender Equality Coalition aims to                    advance equality, justice and inclusiveness for transgender and gender non-conforming Arkansans                    through a statewide trans-led organization. Ultimately, improving the lives of all transgender &                    gender non-binary Arkansans.

​​​          October 3 -  Washington D.C.
                    Vice President Joe Biden delivers a speech to the Human Rights Campaign. "When I said, and I                     wasn't making a profound statement, I said transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time. It                     took the sector of defense 10 minutes in July 2015 – to say transgender people are able to serve.                     Ash Carter is a decent man and said all Americans who are qualified to serve physically should be                     able to serve,"

Tamara Dominguez

​​​​          October 15 – California
                    Emmett Castle, 14, died by suicide.

Kandis Capri

​​​          May 1 – National​
                    "Masculine Beauty" Muscular bodies, expressive faces, aesthetic poses: these are the secrets of                     David Vance's photography. His mastery in capturing the body's play with dynamics has no peer.                     Masculine Beauty spotlights a large variety of male elegancy. David Vance's works are displayed in                     the most noted galleries in the world.

Adam Kizer

​​​​          August 31 - ​Washington D.C.
                    A motion was filed with the US Supreme Court to hear the case for Kim Davis. The motion was                               denied without an audience. She continued to deny couples.

​​​          November 17 – National
                    Neil S. Plakcy publishes “The Sea Between us” to continue his writing in the genre of romance                     novels.

Kyler Prescott

​​​​          October 15 – Missouri
                    Julia Derbyshire, 16, a gay teen died by suicide.

          January 22 – National​
                    “The Danish Girl” A fictitious love story loosely inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and                     Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda's marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili's groundbreaking                     journey as a transgender pioneer.

​​​          April 28 – National​
                    Oliver Sacks publishes his autobiography “On the Move: A Life”

​​​​          September 8 - Kentucky
                    Kim Davis is released from jail with a court order "Defendant Davis shall not interfere in any way,                     directly or indirectly, with the efforts of her deputy clerks to issue marriage licenses to all legally                     eligible couples. If Defendant Davis should interfere in any way with their issuance, that will be                     considered a violation of this order and appropriate sanctions will be considered."

                    The county office was required to issue a report every 14 days to the judge to ensure that they                     complied with the law. The deputy clerks issues statements in which they stated that they would not

                    conform to any demand by Kim Davis to refuse marriage licenses.

Lamia Beard

Trevor Moran

         January 1 – Wisconsin

​                    “Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce” The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce works                    to create a fully inclusive state by promoting economic growth and opportunities among LGBT                    owned and allied businesses, corporations, and professionals in Wisconsin. Representing its                    members, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce serves as the business advocate and the                    link between business and government in an effort to promote equality and fairness for all.

         March 6 – Washington D.C.​
                    The assistant secretary of the Army became responsible for approving the discharge of any soldier                      for being transgender. Before the change, commanders in the field were allowed to initiate and                            finalize discharges for transgender soldiers.

         March 26 ​Indiana
                    Indiana Senate Bill 101, titled the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, is a law in the U.S. state of

                    Indiana, which allows individuals and companies to assert that their exercise of religion has been,                     or is likely to be, substantially burdened as a defense in legal proceedings.

                    After the bill's signing, a restaurant owner called Ryan called Indianapolis radio to say that his                     Christian belief in "Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve" means he should be able to turn away                     same-sex couples.

                    Within a week of the bill being signed into law, Memories Pizza, a family-owned business in                     Walkerton, became the first business to publicly announce that they would refuse to cater a same-                    sex wedding as a result of the law. The owners stated that "if a gay couple or a couple belonging to                     another religion came in to the restaurant to eat, they would never deny them service... they just                     don't agree with gay marriages". The announcement was followed by an onslaught of negative Yelp

                    reviews for the restaurant, resulting in an average review of one out of five stars. Following the                     negativity, the business temporarily closed due to fake orders and threats it received. Due to this,                     supporters of the restaurant raised over $800,000 for it.         

​​​          June 26 – National​
                    Because of the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, the U. S. Supreme Court recognizes a Constitutional                     right to gay marriage, making such unions legal nationwide.

         February 13 - ​National
                     "Gay Moments: Boy Works" Book 3 of 10. Just having turned eighteen, young Bryan Cooper has                      decided to give himself a birthday treat – a visit to the legendary gay sauna, Steam Works. He has                      heard all about the sauna at school and he invites his friend Steve to go along with him. Although                      Bryan and Steve have fallen into the habit of sexually experimenting with each other in an                      abandoned warehouse they don’t see their relationship as being particularly romantic – they are                      just two mates helping each other out. They realize during one of their steamy sessions in the                      warehouse that they are being spied upon.

​​​          July 23 – Washington D.C.
                    The Equality Act is introduced. Senators Jeff Merkley, Tammy Baldwin, and Cory Booker, as well as                     Representative David Cicilline formerly introduced The Equality Act, which would make LGBTQ                     individuals a protected class and grant them basic legal protections in areas of life including                     education, housing, employment, credit, and more.

​​​          June 24 – 
                   Jess Shipps, 31, died from suicide.  

​​​          September 4 - ​National
                    The movie “Viva” is released.

         February 15 - ​Georgia
                     15 year old Zander Mahaffey commits suicide from bullying from his family in Austell Georgia.

Londyn Chanel

​​​          December 21 – U.S. Govvernment
                    Major Adrianna M. Vorderbruggen, 36, the first openly out lesbian in the US military was killed in                     action in Afghanistan along with five other soldiers serving their country.

​​​          April 24
                    In a televised interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer, US Olympic gold medal winner Bruce Jenner                     says, "Yes, for all intents and purposes, I'm a woman." Jenner later reveals that she is now Caitlyn                     Jenner and will live as a woman.

​​​          November 7 – National​
                    "Annie’s Plaid Shirt" Annie loves her plaid shirt and wears it everywhere. But one day her mom tells                     Annie that she must wear a dress to her uncle's wedding. Annie protests, but her mom insists and                     buys her a fancy new dress anyway. Annie is miserable. She feels weird in dresses. Why can't her                     mom understand? Then Annie has an idea. But will her mom agree? Annie's Plaid Shirt will inspire                     readers to be themselves and will touch the hearts of those who love them.

Trevor O'Brien

​​​          April 14 – National​
                    Jim Grimsley publishes “How I Shed My Skin: Unlearning the Racist Lessons of a Southern                                  Childhood”

​​​          June 9 – National​
                   Guy Benson came out as gay by announcing in advance of publishing his new book, End of                    Discussion. He is a conservative political writer.

          January 29 – National​
                    Blake Lee starred in “I Am Michael” about an “Ex-Gay” pastor

​​​          December 8 – National
                    “Like You Meant It” When Mark commits to falling back in love with Jonah, he is forced to look at                     himself with unprecedented courage and honesty.

​​​          May 18 – Pennsylvania
                    Londyn Chanel, 21, died of stab wounds. 

Melonie Rose

​​​          November 24 – National​
                    “Eroddity 2” Follows the lives of several gay youths and adults as they discover a world of the odd,                     the erotic and the supernatural.  

​​​          August 8 - ​Michigan
                    Amber Monroe, 20, was found dead.

Taylor Alesana

​​​          September 3 - ​Kentucky
                    By court order, Kim Davis and her entire team were to appear before a judge and found in contempt                     of court. Kim was remanded by the court and jailed.

​​​          July 28 - National
                   Steve Berman is a novelist that wrote “Daughters of Frankenstein: Lesbian Mad Scientists

​​​​          November 2 - Oregon ​
                    Kate Brown becomes Oregon’s second female governor, and the first openly bisexual governor in                     US history.

         January 1 – California

​                    ​“My True Colors Festival”. The My True Colors Festival’s mission is to fight for social justice and                    to promote cultural diversity through the arts by promoting works by and for LGBTQIA+ (lesbian,                    gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and asexual) individuals and persons of color. Our                    mission is actualized by presenting works that explore social issues, encourage dialogue, and reflect                    the whole spectrum of multicultural LGBTQIA+ lives through Theatre, Film, Original Web Series,                    Visual Arts, & Live Stream Internet. The My True Colors Festival is a conduit for bringing new                    LGBTQIA+ talent to the forefront from behind the scenes and to connect with entertainment industry                    insiders.

Kyle Dean Massey

Taja Gabrielle

​​​          May 8 – National​
                    “The D Train” The head of a high school reunion committee tries to get the most popular guy in                     school to attend their class' upcoming 20-year reunion.

​​​​          October 16 – National​
                    “Tab Hunter Confidential” In the 1950s, Tab Hunter was a Hollywood golden boy and matinee idol,                     but his life as a closeted homosexual threatened to bring it all crashing down. John Waters, George                     Takei, Connie Stevens and Debbie Reynolds are among those interviewed.

         March 23 - ​North Carolina
                    18 year old, Blake Brockington a trans advocate and activist commits suicide in North Carolina.                     Blake died in the same city as Ash Haffner.

​​​          July 27 - National
                   "Gay Adoption" Throughout history, adoption has brought so much joy to couples who are                    biologically unable to have children yet still desire to raise a child and start a family. Same-sex                    couples are no exception to how any of this works: As a couple, the bond between you and your                    partner will grow stronger as you fulfill your responsibilities as parents. And as an individual, having a                    child will change you in ways that you couldn’t have imagined. By loving another person                                       unconditionally, you will mature into a better version of yourself. If you and your same-sex partner are                    thinking of adopting a child to complete your family, this guide is for you. Although the process is                    virtually the same as any other adoption, this book was written with the same-sex couple in mind. You                    will learn the different ways to adopt a child, as well as get special tips on same-sex parenting and                    the occasional challenges that you may encounter.

​​​          May 19 – National​
                    “Gaming in Color” Diverse queer themes in game story lines and characters are an anomaly in the                     mainstream video game industry, and LGBTQ gamers have a higher chance of being mistreated in                     social games. Gaming In Color explores how the community culture is shifting and the industry is                     diversifying, helping with queer visibility and acceptance of an LGBTQ presence. Almost every                     gamer will relate to the concept of seeking solace in a video game. Hope for sanctuary guides their                     escape into a virtual universe where they can be anything they want to be. For many, however,                     choosing to be true to themselves becomes an open invitation for hatred. This multiplies for those                     who are marginalized people, including people of color, women, and members of the LGBTQ                     community. Toxic cultures that breed violence and vitriol hide behind a industry that undervalues the                     innovation of its audience. GAMING IN COLOR crusades for anyone who believes that the pixelated                     world can be a better place for everyone, no matter who they are or what they love. A lesbian, gay,                     bisexual, transgender, or otherwise queer gamer has a higher chance of being mistreated in a social                     game. The power dynamics of a male-dominated geek society tips against them. Further, diverse                     queer themes in game story lines and characters are an anomaly in the mainstream video game                     industry. However, the gaming community is far more colorful than one may expect. Gaming In Color                     shows that there is a full spectrum of gamers picking up their controller to play. This feature                     documentary explores the queer side of gaming culture and the game industry's LGBTQ presence.                     The queer geek community is taking huge steps forward in being recognized on a worldwide industry                     scale. At the same time, more popular mainstream and indie games are featuring a greater amount                     of queer characters than ever before, helping with visibility and acceptance. There's a long road                     ahead and tons of aspects that desperately need improvement, but the video games universe will                     continue to mature and diversify both in its community culture and industry only if we elevate the                     conversation about inclusion and respecting one another - not in spite of our gay geekiness, but                     because of it!

Cameron Langrell

​​​​          September 1 - ​Ohio
                    Proud Scholars is founded to help advocate and education Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana for LGBT                     students. As an organization they offer funding sources for LGBT students to pay for higher                     education and educational services to help them find productive careers.

          February 7 - ​National
                    "How to Understand and Accept Your Gay Son" Finding your son is gay might be difficult for a                     variety of reasons. Often, parents are at a loss, and struggle with some typical questions. We hope                     to guide you in this journey of accepting and understanding your son when you learn he is gay.

​​​          September 25 - National
                    “Lust, Men and Meth” Lust, Men, and Meth: A Gay Man's Guide to Sex and Recovery provides                     insight for gay men struggling with the issues of sex and recovery, and for the professionals who                     work with them. The reader is equipped not only with essential information on the problems of drugs                     and sexuality, but also with solutions in the form of tools and resources that will support him along                     his path.  The book is unique in its blend of therapeutic perspectives of addiction and sex therapy,                     from which Dr. Fawcett has integrated the most useful concepts and tools. Additionally, detailed case                     studies will assist clinicians who, in Dr. Fawcett's many trainings for professionals, have asked for                     material on substance use, identity, and sexuality in gay-identified men. These insights and tools will                     be helpful not only in the early stages of sobriety, but for an individual's continuing personal evolution                     of recovery as well.

​​​          July 21 - Florida
                 India Clarke, 22, found dead. India Clarke

​​​          May 6 – National​
                    “Those People” On Manhattan's gilded Upper East Side, a young gay painter is torn between an                     obsession with his infamous socialite best friend and a promising new romance with an older foreign                     concert pianist.

​​​          November 21 – North Carolina​
                    Governor Pat McCrory issues a release that calls on Attorney General Roy Cooper to “stop the

                    federal government from taking over our schools and challenge the ACLU and President Obama's                     attempt to force local districts to open sex-specific locker rooms and bathrooms to individuals of the                     opposite biological sex.”

​​​          December 8 – National
                    Neil S. Plakcy publishes “Love on the Web” and “Love on the Pitch” to finish his love on romance                         storylines.

​​​          June 23 – Montana
                   Jasmine Collins, 32, died from stab wounds.

          February 1 - ​National
                    "Gay Moments: A Helping Hand" Book 2 of 10. Jason has developed a crush on Glenn Cartwright                     who seems almost too good to be true. Glenn is a paragon of virtue; a school prefect and Head Boy                     of Alston High. Jason’s feelings are unrequited, and he begins to wonder if his unattainable friend is                     asexual. Gay Moments: A Helping Hand' will be of interest to gay boys just starting out, mature gay                     men, bi guys and even straight men and women.

​​​          June 8 - ​Washington D.C.
                    First out transgender Army officer. In an interview with BuzzFeed News, Jamie Lee Henry became                         the first Army officer to come out openly transgender. She is a doctor and major in the Army's                                 Medical Corps. The Army granted her request to officially change her name and gender.

​​​          December 1 - ​Oregon
                    Oregon bans conversion therapy on minors by licensed professionals. Basic Rights Oregon leads                     the legislative effort to ban youth conversion therapy.

         March 26 - Indiana
                    Governor Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in a closed-door ceremony                     surrounded by special interest lobbyists. The bill sets an unprecedented acceptance for                                         discrimination in the state.

​​​          November 12 – National​
                    Tyler Oakley a social media personality as of 2015 has raised over a million dollars for The Trevor                          Project. 

​​​          April 8 – Washington D.C. ​
                    After the tragic suicide of a transgender teenager who was subjected to Christian conversion                     therapy, President Obama publicly called for an end to the dangerous practice meant to change                     people's sexual orientation or gender identities.

​​​          September 1 - National
                    “Queer Brown Voices” In the last three decades of the twentieth century, LGBT Latinas/os faced                     several forms of discrimination. The greater Latino community did not often accept sexual minorities,                     and the mainstream LGBT movement expected everyone, regardless of their ethnic and racial                     background, to adhere to a specific set of priorities so as to accommodate a “unified” agenda. To                     disrupt the cycle of sexism, racism, and homophobia that they experienced, LGBT Latinas/os                     organized themselves on local, state, and national levels, forming communities in which they could                     fight for equal rights while simultaneously staying true to both their ethnic and sexual identities. Yet                     histories of LGBT activism in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s often reduce the role that Latinas/os                     played, resulting in misinformation, or ignore their work entirely, erasing them from history.

Taylor Phillips

​​​          June 24 – National​
                   Logan Ireland, an open transgender soldier who was granted permission to wear a men's uniform,                    was invited to the White House's LGBT pride reception and was personally invited by President                    Obama. The policy at the time still stated that transgender soldiers are required to be discharged.

         January 1 – Arkansas

​                    “Transgender Equality Network” We are an Organization based in Fayetteville AR dedicated to                    improving education and resources for the transgender population of Northwest Arkansas. We                    believe that education is the foundation upon which all efforts to improve the lives of transgender                    people rests. By expanding the knowledge of the general populace in addition to our business and                    spiritual community leaders, we enable our community to access the basic necessities we all need                    to live happy, comfortable, and fulfilling lives.

         January 16 – National​

​                    “Out in the Union” Out in the Union tells the continuous story of queer American workers from the                    mid-1960s through 2013. Miriam Frank shrewdly chronicles the evolution of labor politics with queer                    activism and identity formation, showing how unions began affirming the rights of lesbian, gay,                    bisexual, and transgender workers in the 1970s and 1980s. She documents coming out on the job                    and in the union as well as issues of discrimination and harassment, and the creation of alliances                    between unions and LGBT communities.

​​​          May 18 - ​California
                    14 year old Kyler Prescott a transgender boy in San Diego, California, commits suicide

Jess Sipps

         January 1 – New York

​                    “Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley” We envision a future where all members of the greater                     Rochester LGBTQ communities, at all stages of their lives, are free to be fully participating citizens,                     celebrating their lives in which they are safe, stable and fully respected.

          January 26 – Colorado
                    Jessica Hernandez, 17, died from gunshot wounds.

         January 1 – New York

​                    “Lighthouse LGBT Inc” We are a group of NYC-based healthcare providers devoting our careers                     to caring for LGBTQ+ patients and specializing in LGBTQ+ health issues and expanding rapidly to                     serve the LGBTQ+ community nationwide.

​​​          May 1 - ​Wisconsin
                    Cameron Langrell, a Wisconsin transgender teen commits suicide after being bullied for being                     feminine.

​​​          July 14 - Michigan
                   Ashton O’Hara, 25, was found dead.

         March 11 – National​
                    Jonathan Groff was honored by the Point Foundation with the Point Horizon Award, which                                    recognizes a young trailblazer who has taken a leadership role as an advocate of the lesbian, gay,                      bisexual, transgender and queer community.

​​​          July 22 - Indiana​
                   Even after his approval rating plummets from Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Mike Pence told                    the media he is “studying” the issue of LGBT rights and whether or not he’d support across the board                    protections for the LGBT community.

​​​          July 23 - National
                   Seth Rudetsky actor and writer published his book “The Rise and Fall of a Theater Geek” 

Reid Ewing

Ron Lane

​​​          April 3 – Iowa
                    Alyssa Morgan, 12, died of suicide.

​​​          August 15 - ​Missouri
                    Tamara Dominguez, 36, died from a hit and run. 

​​​          August 11 - ​Arizona
                    Kandis Capri, 35, was found dead. 

Papi Edwards

​​​          September 17 - National
                    “Peacock Punks” The luminous, detailed drawings of PEACOCK PUNKS, uncluttered by dialogue                     balloons, leave room for the imagination to roam...Five guys who live at the intersection of sexy and                     cute meet on a rainy evening at a nightclub and head home for a shower and group sex. A fun time                     is had by all, including the reader, who can insert himself into the fantasy in a number of                                         combinations.

​​​          April 21 – National
                    Connor Franta publishes his memoir “A Work in Progress”

​​​          June 9 - ​Washington D.C.
                    Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announces that the Military Equal Opportunity policy has been                     adjusted to include gay and lesbian military members.

Ezra Page

         March 28 - ​North Carolina
                    Ezra Page, 19, died by suicide.

​​​          July 27 - National
                   The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) ended its ban on gay adult leaders. The new policy was approved                   by the BSA National Executive Board by a 45-12 vote. The new policy did still allow church-sponsored                   Scout groups to ban gay adults for religious reasons.

​​​          September 26 - ​New York
                    Pope Francis' Mass in Madison Square Garden was in participation with Mo Rocca a gay comedian                       was hailed by gay rights advocates across the country.

         February 10 - ​Washington D.C.
                    The United States appointed Randy Berry as its first Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT                     Persons.

                    The Obama administration announced it had opened a gender-neutral bathroom within the White                     House complex; the bathroom is in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next door to the West                     Wing.

                    President Obama responded to a petition seeking to ban conversion therapy (inspired by the death                     of Leelah Alcorn) with a pledge to advocate for such a ban.

                    When President Obama declared May to be National Foster Care Month, he included words never                     before included in a White House proclamation about adoption, stating in part, "With so many                     children waiting for loving homes, it is important to ensure all qualified caregivers have the                     opportunity to serve as foster or adoptive parents, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation,                     gender identity, or marital status. That is why we are working to break down the barriers that exist                     and investing in efforts to recruit more qualified parents for children in foster care." Thus it appears                     he is the first president to explicitly say gender identity should not prevent anyone from adopting or                     becoming a foster parent.

         January 1 – North Carolina

​                    “LGBTQ Center of Durham” We are committed to improving the quality of life for LGBTQ+ people                     in and around Durham: through programming, resources, and networks of support, by acting as a                     hub for Durham’s LGBTQ+ community, by sharing and affirming all LGBTQ+ lived experiences, by                     educating our neighbors in order to enhance understanding of and sensitivity to LGBTQ+ issues.

Blake Brockington

          January 17 – Virginia
                    Lamia Beard, 30, died from a gunshot wound.

Mercedes Williamson

​​​          May 12 – National​
                    "Two Boys Kissing"

Aubrey Mariko

Ash Haffner

(1999 - 2015)

 State equality and discrimination bills

Jonathan Groff

          January 26 – Texas
                    Ty Underwood, 24, died from gunshot wounds.

​​​          July 14 - National
                    Blake McIver Ewing an actor singer releases his video for his new album called “This Is Who We                           Are”

Keyshia Blige

Jeff Merkley

​​​​          October 20 – National​
                    Wayne Hoffman an author and journalist publishes “An Older Man”

​​​          November 10 - ​Oregon
                    Oregon State University Press publishes the first full biography of Dr. Marie Equi, the first publicly                     known lesbian in the Pacific Northwest. Written by historian and GLAPN member Michael Helquist,                     Marie Equi, Radical Politics and Outlaw Passions presents the fiercely independent advocate for                     economic and social justice who lived most of her adult life in Portland. The American Library                     Association named “Marie Equi” a 2016 Stonewall Honor Book for Non-fiction.

         February 27 - ​National
                    “The Year We Thought About Love” What happens when LGBTQ youth of color band together                     and dare to be 'out' on stage about their lives and their loves? The cast of True Colors: OUT Youth                     Theater transforms their struggles into performance for social change. With wit, candor, and                     attitude, the troupe captivates audiences surprised to hear such stories in school settings. Our                     characters include a transgender teenager who is kicked out of her home, a devout Christian who                     challenges his church's homophobia, and a girl who likes to wear masculine clothing, even as she                     models dresses on the runway. After the Boston Marathon bombs explode yards from their                     rehearsal space, the troupe becomes even more determined to share their stories of love to help                     their city heal.

​​​          November 11 – National​
                    "Something Like Stories" Benjamin Bentley and many other beloved characters from the                     Something Like... series make their triumphant return in this collection of short stories and bonus                     material. Something Like Yesterday travels to the past where Eric Conroy attempts to find love                     against a backdrop of intolerance and political upheaval. In Something Like Fall, Ben meets Jace's                     family and tries to cope with many changes in the years that follow. Allison Cross finally gets her                     dues in Something Like Tonight, examining the relationships in her life during a girls night out.                     Something Like Eternity takes the series where it has never gone before as Victor Hemingway seeks                     out his ultimate destiny. Also included is a character guide and a timeline of key events thus far.                     Laughter and tears await you in this very special anthology!

         March 26 - National​
                    Aisha C. Moodie-Mills is selected to succeed Chuck Wolfe as Victory Fund’s president and CEO,                     making her the first woman and the first person of color to lead the organization. For only the                     second time in history, every U.S. state has at least one openly LGBTQ elected official currently                     serving. Victory Fund President & CEO Aisha C. Moodie-Mills speaks at Victory Institute’s                     International LGBTQ Leaders Conference

         March 9 - Wyoming
                    Trevor O'Brien commits suicide as a result of constant bullying for being gay in Wyoming.

         January 14 - ​California to Ohio

​                    The Rhodes brothers extend a message of                    acceptance and sharing their story.

Ashton O'Hara

​​​          June 9 – National​
                    “The Right Side of History” he Right Side of History tells the 100-year history of queer activism in a                     series of revealing close-ups, first-person accounts, and intimate snapshots of LGBT pioneers and                     radicals. This diverse cast stretches from the Edwardian period to today, including first-person                     accounts of the key protest that is at the heart of the 2015 movie Stonewall. The book shows how                     LGBT folk have always been in the forefront of progressive social evolution in the United States. It                     references heroes like Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bayard Rustin, Harvey Milk, and Edie                     Windsor. Equally, the book honors names that aren’t in history books, from participants in the Names                     Project, a national phenomenon memorializing 94,000 AIDS victims, to underground artists and                     writers.

          January 1 – National
                    Alex Newell carried on his love for singing by embarking on a new series of cover songs and                     collaborations. His work has been recognized by Out and SPIN Magazines.

Zander Mahaffey

(2000 - 2015)

Yazmin Vash Payne

         February 10 - ​Louisiana
                    Penny Proud, 21, died from multiple gun shot wounds.

Shade Schuler

Bri Golec

​​​          June 2 – National​
                    Isaac Oliver publishes “Intimacy Idiot”, which is a collection of essays about dating, living, working,                     and being single in New York City

​​​​          October 24 – Ohio
                    This essay expands upon a lecture presented at “Mapplethorpe + 25,” a symposium organized by                     FotoFocus and the Contemporary Arts Center.

          January 9 – Kentucky
                    Papi Edwards, 20, was shot to death in Louisville.

​​​          April 28 - ​Washington D.C.
                    The US Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the question of the freedom to marry in Kentucky,                     Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan. The decision may bring a national resolution on the issue of same-                                       sex marriage.

​​​          December 31 – Indiana​
                    Governor Pence said on ABC’s “This Week” that it was “absolutely not” a mistake to sign RFRA,                     throwing Indiana into a $250 million economic panic and putting Indiana’s “Hoosier Hospitality”                     reputation in jeopardy.

​​​          October 9 – National​
                    Trevor Moran publicly came out as gay in a YouTube video. He underwent what he called an                               "identity crisis" and questioned whether he may be transgender. Overall, he stated that he feels just                       as much a woman as he does a man and can be whatever gender he sees fit in his own skin

​​​​          October 15 – Maryland
                    Zella Ziona, 21, died from multiple gunshot wounds.

​​​          October 13 – National
                    Larry Sullivan, his husband, and adopted son appeared in a Campbell’s Soup commercial. Which                     invoked a jaw dropping response from “One Million Mom’s”:


                                        “A homosexual ‘married’ couple is featured prominently with a young boy (their son) in                                         the new Campbell's Soup advertisement.”
                                        “How confusing for this little boy and for all children viewing this commercial. Obviously,                                         Campbell's is sending the message that homosexual men are raising children, whom                                         they wouldn't have if a woman wasn't involved, and they are ok with it.
                                        “Campbell's Soup is glorifying this unnatural marriage. One Million Moms believes family

                                        is based on love, but this does not justify normalizing sin.” 


                    One Million Moms is an off-shoot organization of the American Family Association that promotes                     fundamentalist Christian values. It opposes same-sex marriage, pornography, and abortion. They                     organize weekly boycotts for products, companies, or people that they feel are offensive.

​​​          July 21 – National ​
                  
Jon Robin Baitz is a playwright that wrote “Stonewall”.

​​​          August 12 - ​Kentucky
                    A judge ordered Kim to keep her religious beliefs to herself and continue to offer her services to the                     country. She started appealing her case to the courts and was denied unanimously.

​​​          June 26 – Georgia
                   Sam Ehly, 21, died by suicide. 

​​​          June 25 – Delaware
                   H.B. 115, allowing Delaware prisoners to change their names based on gender identity, having been                    overwhelmingly passed by the Delaware legislature, is signed into law by Gov. Jack Markell. It is the                    first such law in the nation. The legislation makes the lawsuit on behalf of Kai Short (see above)                    moot.

​​​​          October 26 – National​
                    David Michael Conner began writing a blog for The Huffington Post that features interviews with                            celebrities and commentary on LGBT issues.

​​​​          November 3 – North Carolina​
                    Charlotte elects a new mayor, Jennifer Roberts, who openly supports the LGBT-inclusive changes                     that were originally proposed for the city in March. The City Council adds two new members,                     Democrats Julie Eiselt and James Mitchell, both of whom also support the changes.

         February 24 - ​California
                    22 year old trans activist Aubrey Mariko Shine jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in San                     Francisco.

         January 1 – Colorado

​                    “Springs Equality” We are a network of individuals and business owners within various facets of                     the Colorado Springs community. We partner with Allies and other LGBT organizations in the state                     of Colorado to keep equality awareness alive and to provide understanding and mentorship to those                     in need.

Tamara Dominguez

​​​          July 1 - National
                   “Not Gay: Sex Between Straight White Men” Ward illustrates that sex between straight white men                    allows them to leverage whiteness and masculinity to authenticate their heterosexuality in the context                    of sex with men. By understanding their same-sex sexual practice as meaningless, accidental, or                    even necessary, straight white men can perform homosexual contact in heterosexual ways.  These                    sex acts are not slippages into a queer way of being or expressions of a desired but unarticulated gay                    identity. Instead, Ward argues, they reveal the fluidity and complexity that characterizes all human                    sexual desire. In the end, Ward’s analysis offers a new way to think about heterosexuality—not as the                    opposite or absence of homosexuality, but as its own unique mode of engaging in homosexual sex, a                    mode characterized by pretense, dis-identification and racial and heterosexual privilege. Daring,                    insightful, and brimming with wit, Not Gay is a fascinating new take on the complexities of                                       heterosexuality in the modern era.

         February 13 - ​Ohio
                     Bri Golec, 22, was killed by her father and he reported that the transgender movement is a cult.

Skyler Marcus

​​​          September 1 – National​
                    Greg Scarnici released his first collection of comedic essays, "I Hope My Mother Doesn't Read                     This" was published by Thought Catalog books.

​​​​          September 14 - ​Kentucky
                    Kim Davis returned to work and altered the state marriage license form. She was immediately                     received a subpoena from the court and was sued by the ACLU. The governor made a public                     statement in which he stated that he would not validate the legality of the altered forms but all                     marriage licenses issued will be recognized.

​​​          May 20 – National​
                    "Something Like Thunder" This isn’t a coming out story. Nor is it the tale of a lonely heart seeking                     companionship. This is about how I learned to fight.

                    My name is Nathaniel Courtney and I’m a survivor. I didn’t let the cruelty of others wear me down,                     and I’ve weathered the more subtle hardships of the heart. Love is a Trojan horse, slipping past your                     guard and leaving you ransacked and vulnerable. I emerged from that war not unscathed but as a                     new man. The only mistake I ever made was letting the right guy get away. Now I’ve got one more                     chance. This is the final battle, because if I fail now… I won’t. You’ll see. Just listen to my story, Kelly                     Phillips, and when I’m done, please don’t walk away. Take this weary soldier into your arms so we                     can find peace together. Something Like Thunder is the sixth book in the ongoing Something Like…                     series, shedding light on past events while leading the reader toward an exciting new future.

​​​          November 23 – National​
                    Reid Ewing came out as gay and revealed that he has suffered from body dysmorphic disorder.                     Dysmorphophobia, is a mental disorder characterized by the obsessive idea that some aspect of                     one's own body part or appearance is severely flawed and warrants exceptional measures to hide or                     fix their dysmorphic part on their person.

​​​          May 21 - ​California
                    Adam Kizer a 16 year bisexual commits suicide after months of bullying. He is survived                                         only by his father.

​​​          October 6 – National​
                    Michael Golding publishes “A Poet of the Invisible World

         March 28 - Indiana
                    Angie’s List announces that they will not be expanding their business in Indiana as a result                                   of Mike Pence signing the RFRA.

          January 20 – National​
                    "Gay Moments: My Girlfriends Brother" Book 1 of 10. Damon cannot remember a time when he                     didn't know his 'girlfriend' Sandy. Because they grew up together their parents assumed that one day                     they would get married. However as he gets older Damon realizes that he's more interested in                     Sandy's brother Tyler and what he's got hanging between his legs.

         January 1 – National​

​                    "Fast Friends” Fast Friends tells the story of two men who accidentally find refuge, in each other's                    strong arms, from both a winter storm and the cruel lovers who don't cherish them. Without words,                    Lazarov and Broderick tell a story in graphic novel form that's rich in detail, feeling, and sexual                    sensitivity.

​​​          April 23 – New York​
                    Rachel Bryk, 23, died by suicide.

​​​          July 29 - Texas
                   Shade Schuler, 22, was found dead.  

​​​          June 16 – National​
                    "Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda” Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier                     prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his                     secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now change-averse Simon has to find a way to step                     out of his comfort zone before he's pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself,                     or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he's never met.

​​​​​          November 5 - ​Kentucky
                    Kim Davis’s lawyers issued a motion to have her ruling thrown out because they were rushed. The                     motion was denied.

​​​          May 6 – National​
                    “Beautiful Something” Four diverse gay men navigate art, sex and love in one sublime night.

          February 1 - ​National
                    “All About E” A beautiful sexy DJ is forced to run when she stumbles on a stash of cash. Can she                     keep the money, conquer her demons, AND get the girl?

​​​          November 13 – National​
                    "Throwing Stones" In this paranormal romance, something is drawing seventeen-year-old Jesse                     Bryce toward the community of Pagans who live in "the village," just outside his rural Oklahoma                     town. Maybe it's that he has a crush on Griffin Holyoke, a tall, dark-haired boy with a tree tattooed all                     up his back. Or maybe it's that the Pagans accept Jesse for who he is, unlike his family—or his                     church, where he hears that being gay is a sin.

                    After a man from the village is murdered while trying to prevent an assault on a girl from the town,                     Jesse's confusion at the town's unsympathetic reaction inspires him to set a mission for himself: to                     build a bridge of acceptance between the town and the village.

                    As Jesse defies his parents and continues to visit the village, he witnesses mysterious rituals that                     haunt him with their beauty and intensity. And he falls in love with one enigmatic, mercurial Pagan                     who opens his eyes to a whole new world. This first-person story explores what can happen when                     we make conclusions about others based on too little information, or on the wrong information.                     Whether we're misunderstanding each other's religions or each other's sexual orientation, everyone                     benefits from learning the truth. And everyone benefits from forgiveness.

​​​          June 6 – National​
                    "I Am Not Gay" Alex Wesley is a seventeen-year-old senior at Fairmont High School. He is a star                     jock and the captain of the swim team. Everything in his life seems perfect, except for one big secret:                     Alex has a boyfriend. In his efforts to keep his relationship hidden from his friends and family, Alex                     makes a mistake that changes everything and pushes him deeper into the closet. I am Not Gay is the                     second book in Jay Argent's best-selling Fairmont Boys series. It is a story about fear and the kind of                     courage that is found in the most unlikely places.

​​​          August 1 - ​Kentucky
                    Kim Davis refuses to support the federal law that legalizes same sex marriages and gains the

                    international spot light with religious rights groups. She was acting “under God’s authority”. She                     served jail time and rallied on anti LGBT rights to no avail. Marriages licenses which are a legal                     document owned by the government are being issued to all the seek it. She falsely claimed that the                     Pope came to the United States to meet with her and validate her conviction and refusal to comply.

                    The Holy See Press Office denied that the Pope came to see Kim. He was on a previously                     scheduled tour and she went to see him and they did not support her actions.

                    The Kentucky state attorney general would not support Kim in her fight. The governor of Kentucky

                    issued an immediate mandate that all government employees will comply with the law.

                    The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit against Kim and won.

                    Independent plaintiffs filed individual suits against Kim.

                    14 counties in three states continued to deny marriage licenses to same sex couples.

​​​          June 2 – National​
                    “This Book Is Gay” Lesbian. Bisexual. Queer. Transgender. Straight. Curious. This book is for                     everyone, regardless of gender or sexual preference. This book is for anyone who's ever dared to                     wonder. This book is for YOU.

                    Inside you'll find the answers to all the questions you ever wanted to ask: from sex to politics,                     hooking up to stereotypes, coming out and more. This candid, funny, and uncensored exploration of                     sexuality and what it's like to grow up LGBT also includes real stories from people across the gender                     and sexual spectrums, not to mention hilarious illustrations. You will be entertained. You will be                     informed. But most importantly, you will know that however you identify (or don't) and whomever you                     love, you are exceptional. You matter. And so does this book.

​​​          November 24 – National​
                    “Paternity Leave” Four years into his first stable relationship, a man finds out that he is pregnant                     with his partner's baby.

​​​          September 4 - ​Kentucky
                    One day into Kim’s jail sentence her office began issuing marriage licenses to everyone that

                    requested it. Kim appealed to the governor of Kentucky and he denied her request for aid.

         February 11 - ​Maryland
                    Melonie Rose a 19 year old trans woman commits suicide.

Tammy Baldwin

​​​          September 11 - National
                    “Hoovers War On Gays” At the FBI, the “Sex Deviates” program covered a lot of ground, literally; at                     its peak, J. Edgar Hoover's notorious “Sex Deviates” file encompassed nearly 99 cubic feet or more                     than 330,000 pages of information. In 1977–1978 these files were destroyed—and it would seem                     that four decades of the FBI's dirty secrets went up in smoke. But in a remarkable feat of                                         investigative research, synthesis, and scholarly detective work, Douglas M. Charles manages to fill in                     the yawning blanks in the bureau's history of systematic (some would say obsessive) interest in the                     lives of gay and lesbian Americans in the twentieth century. His book, Hoover’s War on Gays, is the                     first to fully expose the extraordinary invasion of US citizens' privacy perpetrated on a historic scale                     by an institution tasked with protecting American life. For much of the twentieth century, when                     exposure might mean nothing short of ruin, gay American men and women had much to fear from                     law enforcement of every kind—but none so much as the FBI, with its inexhaustible federal                     resources, connections, and its carefully crafted reputation for ethical, by-the-book operations. What                     Hoover’s War on Gays reveals, rather, is the FBI’s distinctly unethical, off-the-books long-term                     targeting of gay men and women and their organizations under cover of "official" rationale—such as                     suspicion of criminal activity or vulnerability to blackmail and influence. The book offers a wide-scale                     view of this policy and practice, from a notorious child kidnapping and murder of the 1930s                     (ostensibly by a sexual predator with homosexual tendencies), educating the public about the threat                     of "deviates," through WWII's security concerns about homosexuals who might be compromised by                     the enemy, to the Cold War's "Lavender Scare" when any and all gays working for the US                     government shared the fate of suspected Communist sympathizers. Charles's work also details                     paradoxical ways in which these incursions conjured counterefforts—like the Mattachine Society;                     ONE, Inc.; and the Daughters of Bilitis—aimed at protecting and serving the interests of postwar gay                     culture.

          April 2 - ​California
                    16 year old, Taylor Alesana commits suicide in California because she was bullied for being                     transgender.

         January 1 – National​

​                    "Mulholland Meat" Hollywood, Thursday 24 September 1953 - the star-studded West Coast                    premiere of The Robe, the world's first Cinemascope epic, lights up Hollywood with searchlights and                    glamour. Far from the bright lights, in a run-down apartment in West Los Angeles, private                    investigator and studio fixer Rick Barker finds a victim of brutal murder. Meanwhile in downtown                    L.A., a Greyhound bus delivers troubled teenager Zeke Candy to Tinseltown, where he hopes to                    make it in pictures. As the movie industry launches a fight-back against the onslaught of TV, the City                    of Angels, where anything goes and dog eats dog in the quest for fame and riches, reveals its true                    nature: young Zeke is soon plunged into a maelstrom of exploitation and corruption where his only                    asset is to be sexy meat for movie moguls, stars, and has-beens, traded by unscrupulous fixers out                    for an easy buck.

Ty Underwood

          January 1 – National​
                    Ed Luce a cartoonist starts publishing “Wuvable Oaf”. The series focuses on Oaf Jadwiga, a bearish                     gay ex-wrestler looking for love.

​​​          July 13 - National
                   “Perfect Cowboy” Two gay fathers of a straight country western singers, all living in a rural community                    and playing music together. Jimmy Poole gets out of prison and kicks his step-son Mark out of the                    family's band.

          February 1 - ​California
                    Taja DeJesus, 36, a trans woman of color, was found stabbed to death in the Bayview                                         neighborhood of San Francisco, California.

​​​          July 1 – National
                    Episcopal Church Votes to Allow Same-Sex Weddings

​​​          July 24 - California
                   K.C. Haggard, 66,

​​​          August 27 - ​National
                    “Holding the Man” Tim and John fell in love while teenagers at their all-boys high school. John was                     captain of the football team, Tim an aspiring actor playing a minor part in Romeo and Juliet. Their                     romance endured for 15 years to laugh in the face of everything life threw at it - the separations, the                     discrimination, the temptations, the jealousies and the losses - until the only problem that love can't                     solve tried to destroy them.

​​​          June 23 – National
                   Seth Rudetsky actor and writer published his book “The Rise and Fall of a Theater Geek

​​​          November 6 – National​
                    "The Transgender Workbook" The Transgender Workbook: Your Journey to Womanhood is a                     companion to The Transgender Guidebook: Keys to a Successful Transition. It takes you through a                     step-by-step process of exploring and expressing a feminine gender identity for those born male-                    bodied. The Transgender Workbooks follow the format of the highly-rated Transgender Guidebook                     and add worksheets, charts, tips, and journal exercises. This volume is a complete up-to-date                     workbook for anyone considering a transition from a male to female gender presentation. Although                     written for transgender clients it will be a helpful resource for anyone working with or seeking to                     understand those who seek to have their gender expression match their gender identity.

          January 8 – National​
                    “Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party” Preacher's kid Henry Gamble is turning 17 today. Bring your                     swimsuit.

​​​          April 9 – Washington D.C. ​
                    Transgender soldier comes out in WaPo profile. Sgt. Shane Ortega has served in two combat tours                       in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He served two of them as a woman and one as a man. When his                           testosterone levels went up due to hormones, he was barred from flight duties. Ortega came out as                       transgender in the profile in hopes of influencing policy.

          January 13 – National​
                    “A Transgenders Faith” A Transgender’s Faith tells the remarkable true story of a man plagued                     since childhood with thoughts and feelings that he should have been a girl. The torment intensifies                     as he grows up, marries and starts a family, and builds an amazing career. Desperate, he secretly                     seeks out a radical treatment that promises relief, but also could risk the destruction of all he holds                     dear. With the same resolute determination that propelled him to success in his career, he                     relentlessly pursues healing and wholeness, not giving up until he knows without a doubt he is safe                     in the arms of Jesus. A Transgender’s Faith courageously challenges political correctness and the                     gender change activists who say “Transgenders are born that way” by daring to share the powerful                     testimony of one man’s faith and restoration to his birth gender.

​​​​          September 1 - ​Utah
                    Utah suicides spike as the religious organization takes a hard stance against the LGBT community.                     Utah enters the top five states for hate related suicides in the United States.

Tyler Oakley

​​​          July 10 – National ​
                   The movie “Tangerine” is released.

​​​          September 28 - Wisconsin
                    Skylar Marcus Lee, 16, a transgender boy died by suicide.

         March 7 - Illinois
                    Keyshia Blige, 33, died from gun shot wounds. 

Emmett Castle

Aisha C. Moodie-Mills

Cory Booker

          January 31 – California
                    Yazmin Vash Payne, 33, died from stab wounds.   

         February 15 - ​Florida
                     Katirina Gomez Reinwald, 46, died from stab wounds.

​​​          May 12 – National​
                    Joey Graceffa released a song with an accompanying music video titled "Don't Wait". It is an                     unconventional fantasy fairytale story featuring goblins, a witch, and a prince. The video ends with                     Graceffa, dressed as a prince, kissing his male co-star, now current boyfriend, Daniel Preda. By                     October 2016, it had received more than 24 million views.

​​​          September 18 - National
                    “Kiss Me Kill Me” While confronting his unfaithful boyfriend, Dusty blacks out. When he comes to,                     his boyfriend has been murdered and Dusty the prime suspect.

         March 16 - 
                    Taylor Phillips died by suicide. 

​​​          November 10 - ​Washington D.C.
                    President Barack Obama officially announced his support for the Equality Act of 2015.

          January 1 – National​
                    HUD, the government agency for housing and urban development initiates a study in Cincinnati                     Ohio and Houston Texas that will enable the community to eliminate LGBT homelessness. Up to                     40% of homeless youth living on the streets identify as LGBT.
                    Safe & Supported is formed to drive the study and eliminate homelessness among LGBT youth.

         March 3 - ​California
                    Sage, commit suicide in San Diego California

United States LGBT History for 2015

​​​          June 1 – National​
                    Keith Banner is an American writer, whose 2014 novel Next to Nothing was a shortlisted nominee                           for the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction at the 27th Lambda Literary Awards in 2015. 

          January 26 – National​
                    Kyle Dean Massey lands a reoccurring role on the show “Nashville” as a gay character.

Julia Derbyshire