TIMELINE: FROM 2000-TILL DATE

April 26, 2000: Vermont becomes the first state in the U.S. to legalize civil unions and registered partnerships bet een same!se" couples.

#une 26, 200$: %n &a rence v. 'e"as the U.S. Supreme (ourt rules that sodom) la s in the U.S. are unconstitutional.

*a) +,, 200-: *assachusetts becomes the first state to legalize ga) marriage. 'he court finds the prohibition of ga) marriage unconstitutional because it denies dignit) and e.ualit) of all individuals. %n the follo ing si" )ears, /e 1ashington 2.(. ill follo 0ampshire, Vermont, (onnecticut, %o a and

suit.

August 3, 2004: Sponsored b) the 0uman 5ights (ampaign, the &ogo cable channel hosts the first American presidential forum focusing specificall) on &67' issues, inviting each presidential candidate. Si" 2emocrats participate in the forum, including 0illar) (linton and 7arac8 9bama, decline. hile all 5epublican candidates

/ovember -, 200,: (alifornia voters approve :roposition ,, ma8ing same!se" marriage in (alifornia illegal. 'he passing of the ballot garners national attention from ga)!rights supporters across the U.S. :rop , inspires the /90, campaign, a

photo pro;ect that uses celebrities to promote marriage e.ualit).

#une +4, 2003: :resident 9bama signs a :residential *emorandum allo ing same! se" partners of federal emplo)ees to receive certain benefits. 'he memorandum does not cover full health coverage.

9ctober 2,, 2003: 'he *atthe into la

Shepard Act is passed b) (ongress and signed

b) :resident 9bama on 9ctober 2,th. 'he measure e"pands the +363 to include crimes motivated b) a victim=s actual

U.S. <ederal 0ate (rime &a

or perceived gender, se"ual orientation, gender identit) or disabilit). *atthe Shepard as tortured and murdered near &aramie, 1)oming on 9ctober

4, +33, because of his se"ual orientation.

August -, 20+0: A federal ;udge in San <rancisco decides that ga)s and lesbians have the constitutional right to marr) and that :rop , is unconstitutional. &a )ers 2A2' 5epeal Act. ill challenge the finding. :resident 9bama signs the

2ecember +,, 20+0: 'he U.S. Senate votes 6>!$+ to repeal ?2on=t As8, 2on=t 'ell? polic), allo ing ga)s and lesbians to serve openl) in the U.S. *ilitar).

<ebruar) 2$, 20++::resident 9bama states his administration the 2efense of *arriage Act,

ill no longer defend

hich bans the recognition of same!se" marriage.

#une 2-, 20++: /e

@or8 State passes the *arriage A.uit) Act, becoming the

largest state thus far to legalize ga) marriage.