Photograph By Benedicte Desrus
More than 100 gay Ugandans and their supporters met in the capital of Kampala on Valentine's Day to discuss the Anti-Homosexuality Act that threatens their safety.
Michael Sam - May 10
Michael Sam became the first openly gay football player in the NFL. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams, and congratulated in a statement by President Barack Obama. He made his professional debut on August 8, but was cut by the Rams later that month. On September 3, he was added to the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys.
Photo Credit: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
Boy Scouts - January 1
The Boy Scouts of America implemented its policy to allow openly gay young people into the ranks, though gays and lesbians over age 18 are still barred from serving as scout leaders, troop members, or volunteers. After a long debate, the organization's national board approved the policy change in a 2013 vote, as a compromise for an organization facing declining sponsorship due to discriminatory policies, and declining membership.
Photo Credit: Stewart House/Getty Images
Bashing in Philadelphia - September 23
Three people were charged by police in the physical attack on a gay couple in Philadelphia on September 11. Both victims suffered facial fractures. Police released closed-circuit surveillance footage of the group of as many as 15 suspects, and amateur online sleuths matched the alleged assailants to Facebook check-ins of a group at an area restaurant. The attack outraged residents and politicians, as Pennsylvania has no protection for sexual orientation in the state's hate crimes statute.
Sultan of Brunei - May 1
Under Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Shariah law commenced in Brunei. The law will eventually include the death penalty by stoning for those found guilty of homosexual acts. Boycotts against properties owned by the sultan kept much of Hollywood away from the Beverly Hills Hotel and much of the fashion industry away from Milan's Principe di Savoia. The Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize was canceled this year after Vogue editor Anna Wintour and other fashion industry notables boycotted the event.
Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images
Arizona - February 20
The Arizona legislature passed the so-called "license to discriminate" bill and sent it to Gov. Jan Brewer (above) for her signature. The measure would have given legal protection to businesses and individuals that denied goods and services to certain consumers -- including LGBT individuals, same-sex couples, single women, or people of different religions -- on the grounds that serving them would place a substantial burden on their exercise of religion. On February 26, the governor vetoed the bill.
Photo Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Marriage Equality Rulings - January 6
The marriages that began in Utah at the end of 2013 (in the first post-Windsor marriage decision) were stayed by the Supreme Court. On January 10, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the U.S. government would recognize the marriages performed in Utah between December 20, 2013, and January 6, 2014. Most states with constitutional bans were in the midst of cases challenging those bans.
October 6
The Supreme Court rejected appeals from five states (Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin). Because the rulings struck down bans in other states as well, the appeals court decisions raised the number of marriage equality states from 19 to 30, plus Washington, D.C. The following day, a federal appeals court rejected bans in two more (Nevada and Idaho), though as of press time, Idaho must await further action before marriages can begin.
Photo Credit: George Frey/Getty Images
Mozilla CEO Resigns - April 3
Fewer than two weeks after being named CEO of Mozilla, the tech company he co-founded, Brendan Eich stepped down. Eich's appointment had been the subject of controversy after it was revealed that he donated $1,000 to California's Prop 8 antigay campaign in 2008. The company's employees (not LGBT activists) pressured Eich to resign, sparking a vigorous public debate.
Barneys - January 31
Luxury retailer Barneys New York's Spring 2014 campaign, titled "Brothers, Sisters, Sons & Daughters," featured 17 transgender models photographed by Bruce Weber and interviewed by Vanity Fair's Patricia Bosworth. Rather than releasing a traditional catalog, Barneys released portfolios with photos of the models and their stories, along with a series of videos to coincide with the campaign.
Photo Credit: Bruce Weber/ Barneys New York; Tricia Uveges
California Bans Gay Panic Defense - September 27
California became the first state to officially ban "trans panic" and "gay panic" legal defenses. In the past, defendants in murder cases could ask for a lesser charge of manslaughter, claiming they were so shocked to learn that their victim was gay or trans that they had no recourse besides violence, as in the 2011 murder trial of teenager Brandon McInerney for the killing of classmate Larry King. McInerney cited "gay panic" and pled guilty to second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 21 years in prison. The new law makes clear that a defendant's fear of a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity may not be used as a legal defense.
Gay Games Cleveland - August 6
Some 8,000 people from 48 states and 51 countries registered for the Gay Games in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, this year -- but a whopping 25,000 came to town for the event. Though the two cities have less international cachet than previous host cities such as New York, Amsterdam, and Cologne, the games were a rousing success. Event organizers cited record-setting performances by a 99-year-old in the 100-meter dash, and a Masters swimmer in the 50 free, and successfully handed off the flag to a delegation from Paris, the host city for the 2018 Gay Games.
Photo Credit: Tricia Uveges (Ceremony); Michelle Rodriquez (Cheer); Proevent Photo (Skaters); Gary Sponholz (Winners)
