1997 in LGBTQ rights

This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 1997.

Events

• Sodomy is decriminalized in the People's Republic of China. ^[1]
• Fiji becomes the second country in the world whose constitution explicitly protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation, although the Fijian government does not invalidate or repeal its sodomy laws. ^[2]
• U.S. state of Maine bans sexual orientation discrimination in the private sector. The ban is later repealed in a referendum. ^[3]
• U.S. state of New Hampshire bans sexual orientation discrimination in the private sector. ^[4]

April

• 30 — Ellen DeGeneres's character Ellen Morgan comes out as gay in "The Puppy Episode", seen by 42 million viewers. ^[5]

July

• 2 — District judge Eugene Nickerson in Abel v. United States of America , a challenge to "don't ask, don't tell", rules that the law in its entirety violates the First and Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. ^{[6] [7]}

October

• 3 — In Ontario, Canada court rules that the Government of Ontario's Insurance Act must include same-sex partners in its definition of spouse. ^[8]

November

• 25 — Homosexuality is decriminalized in Ecuador following a landmark decision handed down by the Constitutional Tribunal. ^[9]

December

• Annise Parker is elected as an at-large member of the Houston City Council alongside mayoral candidate Lee P. Brown. ^[10]
• 2 — David Catania becomes the first openly gay or lesbian person to be elected to the city council of Washington, D.C. ^[11]
• 10 — The Constitution Review Committee in Florida votes 6–2 to reject adding sexual orientation as a criterion for protection in the state constitution. ^[12]
• 16 — In New Zealand, the court of appeal rules unanimously not to grant same-sex couples the right to marry. ^[13]
• 17 — In the U.S. state of New Jersey, same-sex couples are given the right to jointly adopt children. ^[14]

See also

• Timeline of LGBT history — timeline of events from 12,000 BCE to present
• LGBT rights by country or territory — current legal status around the world
• LGBT social movements

References

1. Emily Rauhala (June 15, 2009). "Gay pride in China? Yes and no". GlobalPost . Retrieved May 22, 2012.
2. Staff writer (November 3, 2009). "Fijians fighting for equal rights". Sydney Star Observer . Retrieved May 22, 2012.
3. Emmet Meara (May 27, 1999). "Gay Alliance seeks 2000 vote on discrimination". Sun Journal . Retrieved May 22, 2012.
4. Staff writer (June 9, 1997). "American Topics". International Herald Tribune . Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
5. Rachel Shatto (November 1, 2008). "Ellen through the ages: a chronicle of her rise to fame and lesbo fortune". Curve . Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
6. Abel v. United States of America,94CV0974( United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York 1997-07-02).
7. Lyle Denniston (July 3, 1997). "Judge rejects policy on gays; Military's 'don't ask, don't tell' is ruled unconstitutional". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved May 22, 2012.
8. Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (April 17, 2012). "Applying for permanent residence from within Canada: Spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (IMM 5289)" . Retrieved May 23, 2012.
9. Mario Gonzalez (July 24, 1997). "Ecuador-Rights: Homosexuals Fight For Decriminalization". Inter Press Service . Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
10. Michael Graczyk (January 4, 2010). "Houston mayor calls swearing-in milestone for gays". The Seattle Times . Retrieved May 23, 2012.
11. Ben Wattenburg (December 17, 1997). "Don't dis Washington, D.C." The Daily News . Retrieved May 23, 2012.
12. Ph.D, David E. Newton (2009-10-27). Gay and Lesbian Rights: A Reference Handbook, 2nd Edition: A Reference Handbook, Second Edition. ABC-CLIO. ISBN   9781598843071.
13. James R. Edwards Jr. (May 1999). "Homosexuals and Immigration: Developments in the United States and Abroad". Center for Immigration Studies . Retrieved May 23, 2012.
14. Ronald Smothers (December 18, 1997). "Accord Lets Gay Couples Adopt Jointly". The New York Times . Retrieved May 23, 2012.