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1994 
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, a policy prohibiting out queer military service members, was adopted by the U.S. federal government.

September 21, 1996
President Bill Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act, prohibiting federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

February 10, 1997
Voters in Maine repeal a gay rights law passed in 1997, becoming the first U.S. state to abandon such a law.

April 17, 1997 
Texas legislators amend the family code to prohibit same sex marriage.

April 30, 1997
In a watershed moment for the queer community, in 1997, Ellen DeGeneres came out as a lesbian on her sitcom and in real life. The aftermath of the airing of led to career setbacks for DeGeneres and her co-star, Laura Dern.

August 31, 1997
Princess Diana dies in a car accident in Paris.

October 12, 1998
Matthew Shepard dies from head injuries.

November 28, 1998
, a Black transgender woman, is murdered in Allston (Boston), Massachusetts. Her death is a part of what inspires the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

1998
New Hampshire provides protections to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment and housing.

1998
Ohio allows single LGBT+ adults to adopt, but will not allow shared custody or joint adoptions within same sex relationships.

2000
The U.S. Presidential election is inconclusive, and Florida’s results are debated to this day. Al Gore, former Vice President, concedes to George W. Bush, who is sworn in as President of the United States in January of the following year. Bush would go on to propose a failed amendment to ban same-sex marriages at the federal level.

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Published April 2025