1986: U.S. Supreme Court
rules 5-4 to uphold a Georgia law banning sodomy between consenting
adults. The court said sodomy had long been banned in the
nation, and it endorsed the state's view that sodomy is immoral.
1993: Hawaii's Supreme Court opens the door
to same-sex marriages by ruling that the state constitution's
guarantee of equal protection under the law could give gay
couples the same marital rights and benefits that heterosexual
couples have.
1996: Congress passes and
President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act, which
defines marriage as a "union between one man and one
woman" and allows a state to ignore same-sex marriages
from another state. Most states pass their own versions.
1996: U.S. Supreme Court
gives gays and lesbians a major victory by striking down an
amendment to the Colorado Constitution that banned local laws
protecting gay people from discrimination.
1998: Hawaii voters amend
the state constitution to ensure marriage is reserved for
opposite-sex couples.
2000: Vermont becomes first
state to allow civil unions between same-sex partners, giving
them most of the benefits of marriage. Since July 1, 2000,
more than 5,000 civil unions have been performed in Vermont
– about 4,000 involving out-of-state couples.
2001: The Netherlands and
then Belgium become the first countries to legalize gay marriage.
May 2003: Texas becomes
37th state to enact a "defense of marriage" law
or amendment.
May 2003: U.S. Rep. Marilyn
Musgrave, R-Colo., proposes a federal constitutional amendment
to ban same-sex marriage.
June 2003: U.S. Supreme Court
strikes down a Texas law barring consensual gay sex. And a
court in Ontario, Canada, rules that homosexual couples cannot
be prevented from marrying there. Several dozen U.S. gay couples
seek marriage licenses there.
August 2003: The Episcopal
Church approves the installation of V. Gene Robinson as its
first openly gay bishop and allows the blessings of same-sex
unions.
Source: USA TODAY
PDF: Text of Mass. court decision 
