From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Overview of the events of 2004 in LGBT rights
This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 2004.
Events
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January
[
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]
- 1 ?
Tasmanian
laws come into effect recognising
civil unions
between same-sex couples. Tasmania becomes the first Australian state to enact such laws.
- 8 ? The
New Jersey
legislature passes a bill creating a
domestic partnership
status for
same-sex couples
, with many of the same legal rights as marriage. Governor
James McGreevy
signs the bill into law four days later, making New Jersey the fifth US state to offer such a status to same-sex couples. The law officially takes effect 180 days later.
[1]
February
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- 4 ? The
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
answers the state's senate that the proposed
civil unions
will still violate the constitution by maintaining an inferior status of same-sex couples.
[2]
[3]
- 6 ?
Bob Taft
, governor of the U.S. state of
Ohio
, signs the state's
Defense of Marriage Act
which denies recognition of
same-sex marriages
,
civil unions
or
domestic partner
agreements performed in other states. It also outlaws same-sex marriage within the state and forbids state benefits from being extended to gay and lesbian couples.
[4]
[5]
[6]
- 10 ? In the United Kingdom, the
Gender Recognition Bill
passes in the
House of Lords
.
- 12
- National Freedom to Marry Day
in the United States
- City officials in San Francisco start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in violation of state law, staging what they view as an act of
civil disobedience
, by marrying
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon
in the first known civil marriage of a same-sex couple in the country. Over 80 couples are whisked through quick ceremonies.
[7]
- In the U.S. state of
Virginia
, the
House of Delegates
gives preliminary approval to legislation that would ban the recognition of same-sex civil unions and partnerships.
[8]
- 15 ? Officials at the city and county of San Francisco turn away hundreds of would-be same-sex newlyweds after thousands of couples show up to marry over the weekend. The city claims it can only handle between 400 and 600 marriages a day, or about one a minute.
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
- 16 ? Officials at the city and county of San Francisco estimate by the end of the day that they will have issued 2,000 marriage licenses for same-sex couples in the four days since they started granting licenses to same-sex couples.
[14]
- 17 ? San Francisco
Superior court
Judge James L. Warner postpones any decision to block San Francisco from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples and to void the 2,464 same-sex marriages that were performed in the city since February 12. This was on the grounds that the Proposition 22 Legal Defense and Education Fund's order for San Francisco to "cease and desist issuing marriage licenses to and/or solemnizing marriages of same-sex couples; to show cause before this court..." had an improper
semicolon
. To do both, rather than one or the other, would have exceeded the judge's jurisdiction.
[15]
- 18 ? The California state agency that records marriages states that
forms
which have been altered, as San Francisco slightly did on its same-sex marriage licenses, will not be registered.
[16]
- 19
- 20
- 22 ? Saying he will defend California's laws limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples, state attorney general Bill Lockyer dismisses governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's "order" in the San Francisco marriage licenses debate, saying the office of Attorney General is independent of gubernatorial power.
[24]
- 24
- United States President
George W. Bush
announces his support for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Bush did not explicitly endorse the
Federal Marriage Amendment
(FMA), which has been criticised for potentially also denying states the ability to recognise same-sex
civil unions
and
partnerships
. However, he did say that the FMA "
meets his principles
" in protecting the "
sanctity of marriage
" between men and women.
[25]
[26]
[27]
- 26 ? The mayor of
New Paltz
, a village in the U.S. state of New York, announces that the town will start performing civil marriages for same-sex couples. It will not attempt to issue marriage certificates, but married couples in New York state will have six months from the date of their wedding to seek a certificate.
[28]
- 27
- The
Supreme Court of California
refuses a petition by state Attorney General Bill Lockyer asking for an immediate ruling on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage and a
cease and desist order
to prevent San Francisco from granting marriage licenses to more same-sex couples.
[29]
- Republican
lawmakers in the
Indiana House of Representatives
fail to introduce legislation for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, due to legal maneuvering by
Democratic
lawmakers in the House's leadership causing the Republicans to miss the 2004 deadline for introducing new legislation.
[30]
March
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- 2 ?
Jason West
, mayor of
New Paltz
is charged with 19 criminal counts of "solemnizing" marriages without a license after officiating same-sex marriage unions. He faces up to a $500 fine and a year in jail on each count.
[31]
- 3 ?
Multnomah County, Oregon
, which includes the city of
Portland
, becomes the second county in the United States where same-sex marriages are legally performed after four county commissioners decide the current state law banning marriage from same-sex couples is against the Oregon constitution.
[32]
Couples lined up, and clergy performed ceremonies for 3,022 gay couples, mostly from Oregon, over the next month and a half. Couples from throughout the country flocked to Portland to obtain a license and marry legally. See April 20 for a continuation of the story.
- 5
- 10 ?
Indianapolis
, Indiana mayor
Bart Peterson
issues an executive order that prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in city and
county
employment as well as city contractors and vendors.
- 11 ? The
California Supreme Court
orders San Francisco officials to stop performing
same-sex marriages
. San Francisco officials comply with this order and, for the first time since February 12, refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. At the same time, the City Attorney of San Francisco sues the State of California on the grounds that prohibiting same-sex marriages is unconstitutional (on a state level).
[33]
- 12
- 15
- 16 ?
Rhea County, Tennessee
commissioners vote 8?0 to ask that state law be changed to allow county officials to effectively ban homosexuals from the county by being able to charge them with "crimes against nature". After a community uproar, the resolution is withdrawn two days later.
- 19 ?
Quebec
joins
Ontario
and
British Columbia
in legalizing same-sex marriage after the Quebec Court of Appeals upholds
Hendricks and Leboeuf v. Quebec
. More than two-thirds of the Canadian population now live in provinces that recognize same-sex marriage.
[34]
- 31 ? The British government announces the details of the new
Civil Partnerships Bill
. This would give legal recognition to same sex couples.
[35]
April
[
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- 1 ? The first legal
same-sex marriage
in the Canadian province of
Quebec
is celebrated;
Michael Hendricks and Rene Leboeuf
wed in
Montreal
.
- 20 ?
Oregon Circuit Court
Judge Frank Bearden ruled that the state must "accept and register" marriages of same-sex couples. He then ordered a temporary stop to issuing new licenses, but gave the
Oregon Legislative Assembly
90 days from the start of its next session to write a law that ensures identical rights for same-sex couples, which could happen through civil marriage or civil union. If the legislature fails to act on the issue within the 90 days, licenses to same-sex couples will resume. The order has been appealed by both proponents and opponents of same-sex marriage, in hopes of the issue making a fast track to the
Oregon Supreme Court
, which may rule the ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. A ruling upheld by the state supreme court in 1999 says government officials must meet an extraordinary burden to treat gays and straights differently ? the same high burden required to justify disparate treatment of blacks and whites, or men and women. Opponents hope to change the Oregon constitution to define marriage as restricted to one man and one woman through a vote on the November 2004 ballot.
- 17 ?
Massachusetts
becomes the first state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couple and perform same-sex marriages.
- 29 ? U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner (in Massachusetts) rules that stating that someone is homosexual does not libel or slander them, saying that "a finding that such a statement is defamatory requires this court to legitimize the prejudice and bigotry that for too long have plagued the homosexual community". The ruling came in a lawsuit of James Albright against the singer
Madonna
: Albright's name had appeared in a photo caption in a book by Andrew Morton about Madonna. Gertner said previous rulings that stating someone is homosexual is defamatory had relied on laws criminalizing same-sex sexual acts, and had to be reevaluated in light of more recent rulings that such laws are Constitutionally suspect.
[36]
June
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July
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August
[
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- 9
- Appointed by
Michigan
Gov.
Jennifer Granholm
, Rudy Serra
[37]
is sworn in as a judge in the state's District 36, serving Detroit, becoming the first openly gay judge in the state.
- Authorities in
Nepal
raid bars and clubs to arrest 39 members of the
Blue Diamond Society
, a gay rights and AIDS education organization and charge them with "spreading perversion".
- 12
- In a 5?2 vote, the
Supreme Court of California
voids the almost 4,000 same-sex marriages performed in San Francisco between February 12 and March 11 after another, unanimous decision that the city's officials overstepped their legal rights in ignoring state laws in issuing marriages licences to same-sex couples.
- New Jersey
governor
James McGreevey
becomes the first openly gay chief executive of a US state when he discloses an extramarital affair with another man and announces his resignation effective November 12.
- 13 ? The
Australian Senate
passes legislation by a 38?7 vote that defines marriage as a union of one man and one woman, granting prime minister
John Howard
a victory in his campaign to outlaw same-sex marriage in the country.
- 16
- Federal justice minister
Irwin Cotler
announces that the federal government will no longer resist court proceedings aiming to require provincial governments to issue same-sex marriage licences.
- Ohio
election officials approve the wording to be placed on the state ballot for the proposed state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and extension of marriage rights to the non-married.
- 17
- UNAIDS
and
Human Rights Watch
call on the government of Nepal to release the 39 members of the Blue Diamond Society imprisoned August 9.
- Indiana
Governor
Joseph Kernan
issues an executive order banning gender identity discrimination in the public sector.
[38]
September
[
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]
- 16 ?
Manitoba
becomes the fifth of Canada's provinces or territories to have legal same-sex marriage. Neither the federal nor provincial governments opposed the lawsuit filed by three couples, one of whom had previously filed suit for same-sex marriage in 1974. See
Same-sex marriage in Manitoba
.
- 23 ? California governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger
signs SB 1234, a bill that defines the legal term "hate crime" (which includes LGBT-motivated violence) for all state and local agencies, encourages the creation of local law enforcement hate-crime protocols and increased hate crime awareness training for law enforcement officers.
- 24 ?
Nova Scotia
becomes the sixth of Canada's provinces or territories to have legal same-sex marriage. Neither the federal nor provincial governments opposed the lawsuit filed by three couples, one of whom had already been married in Ontario and sought recognition for their marriage in their home province. See
Same-sex marriage in Nova Scotia
.
- 25 ? California governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger
signs AB 2900, a bill to unify all state anti-discrimination codes to match the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. In essence it adds "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" anti-discrimination protections to the California government, labor, military and veterans, public utilities, unemployment and insurance, and welfare and institutions codes.
- 27 ? California governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger
signs SB 1193, a bill to provide a $10,000
death benefit
to the surviving spouse or designated beneficiary of a member of one of the state military reserves (California
National Guard
, State
Military Reserve
, or
Naval militia
). The bill, retroactive to March 1, 2003, allows LGBT partners of military personnel be listed as "designated beneficiary".
- 30 ? The proposed
Federal Marriage Amendment
fails to pass the
United States House of Representatives
, with a vote of 227?186 on House Joint Resolution 106.
October
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- 1 ? The cabinet of Spanish Prime Minister
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero
approves a bill to legalize
same-sex marriage
; the government believes that it will pass the full parliament.
- 29 ? Germany expands the rights of same-sex couples, allowing registered domestic partners to
adopt
each other's children.
November
[
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December
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]
- 6 ?
Louisiana
Governor
Kathleen Blanco
issues an executive order banning sexual orientation discrimination in the public sector.
[40]
- 9
- Parliament of New Zealand
passes the
Civil Union Bill
, establishing the new institution of
civil union
, available to same-sex and de facto couples. The Civil Union Bill has been described as a copy of the Marriage Act with "marriage" replaced by "civil union". Its companion bill, the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill, was to remove discriminatory provisions from a large number of pieces of legislation, but has run into stumbling blocks in Parliament and has been shelved until 2005.
- The
Supreme Court of Canada
rules in its
reference
on same-sex marriage that altering the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples is within the jurisdiction of the
Parliament of Canada
. Prime Minister
Paul Martin
indicates that his government will introduce such a bill early in the new year.
- 21 ?
Newfoundland and Labrador
becomes the eighth province to legalize same-sex marriage after a
Supreme Court
judge approves the licences for two lesbian couples.
Deaths
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See also
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References
[
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]
- ^
Mansnerus, Laura (January 9, 2004).
"New Jersey To Recognize Gay Couples"
.
The New York Times
.
ISSN
0362-4331
. Retrieved
June 29,
2021
.
- ^
Bravin, Jess (February 5, 2004).
"Massachusetts Court Says Gays Have the Right to Marry"
.
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. Retrieved
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.
- ^
"Mass. High Court Rules for Gay Marriage"
.
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.
- ^
"Taft Signs Gay Marriage Ban Bill"
.
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. Retrieved
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.
- ^
"Ohio's gay marriage ban heads to governor's desk"
. Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from
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- ^
"Ohio Governor Signs Anti-Gay Marriage Ban"
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- ^
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- ^
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.
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.
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.
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.
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- ^
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.
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.
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.
- ^
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. KansasCity.com. Archived from
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- ^
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"ACLU vows to fight ruling that bans gay adoptions"
. Miami Herald. Archived from
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- ^
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"Same-Sex Couples Line Up in Sandoval County To Get Married"
.
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- ^
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.
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- ^
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. Al Jazeera. Archived from
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- ^
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.
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.
- ^
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- ^
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.
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- ^
"Bush calls for ban on same-sex marriages"
.
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. Retrieved
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.
- ^
"Bush Calls for Gay Marriage Ban"
.
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.
- ^
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- ^
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- ^
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.
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.
- ^
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.
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.
- ^
"Gov. Kernan Protects Transgender State Employees"
.
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.
- ^
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- ^
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. December 6, 2004. Archived from
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. Retrieved
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2021
.
External links
[
edit
]
Media related to
LGBT history in 2004
at Wikimedia Commons