2004 in LGBT rights 476990 226043981 2008-07-16T16:03:28Z Slyguy 48410 /* June */ Factual correction re: Maine gov. Baldacci's directive {{Year nav topic2|2004|LGBT rights}} {{gay rights}} ==Events== ===January=== * [[January 1]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in Australia]]: ***[[Tasmania|Tasmanian]] laws come into effect recognising [[civil union]]s between same-sex couples. Tasmania becomes the first [[Australia|Australian]] state to enact such laws. * [[January 7]] - [[Illinois]] Gov. [[Rod Blagojevich]], a Democrat, releases a total of $3.7 million in state grants to [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago's]] under-construction [[Center on Halsted]] LGBT community center. [http://www.wctimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=3204] * [[January 8]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: *** The [[New Jersey]] legislature passes a bill creating a [[domestic partnership]] status for [[gay|same-sex]] couples, with many of the same legal rights as [[marriage]]. Governor [[James McGreevy]] signs the bill into law four days later and New Jersey becomes the fifth [[United States|U.S.]] state to offer such a status to same-sex couples. The law officially takes effect 180 days later. [http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/01/08/nj_senate_oks_legal_rights_for_same_sex_couples_governor_expected_to_sign/] ===February=== *[[February 4]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]] ***The [[Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] answers the state's Senate that the proposed [[civil union]]s will still violate the constitution by maintaining an inferior status of same-sex couples. [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/04/national/04CND-MASS.html?ex=1076562000&en=fb2725df7cba633d&ei=5062] [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040204_988.html] [[White House Press Secretary]] [[Scott McClellan]] states that the [[George W. Bush|Bush]] administration is reviewing the [[Precedent|legal decision]]. The spokesman also states that the court's findings are "''deeply troubling''" and that the president is "''firmly committed to protecting and defending''" [[marriage]] (as being defined between a [[man]] and a [[woman]]).[http://www.wnbc.com/family/2817365/detail.html] [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,110447,00.html] [http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/02/020404consRxn.htm] *[[February 6]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]] *** [[Ohio]] Gov. [[Bob Taft]], a [[United States Republican Party|Republican]], signed the state's [[Defense of Marriage Act (Ohio)|Defense of Marriage Act]] which denies recognition of [[same-sex marriage]]s, [[civil union]]s 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.[http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/02/07/loc_DOMA07.html] [http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Feb/02042004/nation_w/135571.asp] [http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=9&id=2096] *[[February 10]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]] ***According to a poll by [[right-wing]] newspaper, [[Washington Times]], the [[majority]] of [[United States|American]]s (2 to 1 margin) respond they do not want laws in their states that would [[legal]]ize [[same-sex marriage]]s. The poll is taken after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling. [http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040209-115420-5105r.htm] ** [[Legal aspects of transsexualism]] ***The [[Gender Recognition Bill]] passes in the [[House of Lords]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. *[[February 12]] **[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: *** [[National Freedom to Marry Day]] in the United States *** City officials in [[San Francisco, California]] start issuing marriage [[license]]s to [[homosexual]] couples in violation of state law, staging what they view as acts of [[civil disobedience]], by performing the first known civil [[marriage]] of a same-sex couple in the U.S. by marrying the homosexual [[activist]]s and [[lesbian]] couple, [[Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon]]. Over 80 couples are whisked through quick ceremonies. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&e=2&u=/ap/gay_marriage_calif] *** Various [[Social conservatism|conservative]] and other [[family]] groups, including the [[Campaign for California Families]], plan to sue the [[mayor]] of [[San Francisco]] for [[violation|violating]] [[California]]'s [[marriage]] [[law]]s. [http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200402%5CCUL20040212a.html] The [[Family Research Council]] (FRC) states that "''It could not be clearer that the [[culture|institution]] of [[marriage]] is under a direct assault by [[homosexual]] [[activist]]s''". *** [[Virginia]] [[House of Delegates]] give preliminary approval to legislation that would [[ban (law)|ban]] the recognition of [[homosexual|same-sex]] [[civil union]]s and [[domestic partnership]]s. * [[February 14]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]] ***Staff advisors for U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] say he will support the proposed [[Federal Marriage Amendment]] to the [[U.S. Constitution]] which would outlaw [[same-sex marriage]] and federalize [[marriage]] law, which has been set by individual [[U.S. state|states]] since the founding of the country. [http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=11313&sd=02/14/04-02/17/04] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A36929-2004Feb12&notFound=true] *[[February 15]] **[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]] ***Officials at the city and county of [[San Francisco, California]] turn away hundreds of would-be same-sex newlyweds after thousands of [[gay]] and [[lesbian]] couples show up to [[marriage|marry]] over the weekend. The city claims it can only handle between 400 and 600 marriages a day, or about one a minute. [http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/02/021604sfUpdt.htm] [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040215_814.html] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A44385-2004Feb15&notFound=true] [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-02-15-gay-marriage-legal_x.htm] [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/16/WEDDINGS.TMP] *[[February 16]] **[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: *** Officials at the city and county of [[San Francisco, California]] estimate by the end of the day that they will have issued 2,000 [[marriage license|licenses]] for [[same-sex marriage]]s in the four days since they started granting legal recognition to [[gay]] and [[lesbian]] unions. [http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/7964972.htm] *** The [[San Francisco Chronicle]] reports that the decision of [[San Francisco]]'s mayor, [[Gavin Newsom]], to express his opinion on same-sex marriage was because of [[George W. Bush]]'s stance on the issue. [http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/7963377.htm] *[[February 17]] **[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: ***San Francisco [[Superior court]] Judge James L. Warner postpones any decision to block the city and county of [[San Francisco, California]] from issuing [[marriage license]]s to same-sex couples and to void the 2,464 [[same-sex marriage]]s that were performed in the city since [[February 12]]. This was on the grounds that the [[Proposition 22 Legal Defense and Education Fund]]'s [[Cease and desist order|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. [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4251510/] *[[February 18]] **[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: *** The [[California]] [[state]] [[government agency|agency]] that records marriages states that [[form (document)|forms]] that have been altered, which [[San Francisco]] has done slightly on its same-sex [[marriage license]]s, will not be registered. [http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040219-123003-6956r.htm] *[[February 19]] **[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: ***[[Chicago, Illinois]] Mayor [[Richard M. Daley]] said he had "no problem" with the concept same-sex [[marriage license]]s issued in [[Cook County, Illinois]], where his city is located. *** The [[White House]] reserves judgement on the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]], a proposed [[constitutional amendment]] to define [[marriage]] as a "union of a man and a woman," until [[Massachusetts]] legislature and [[San Francisco]] courts take further action. Media reports speculate that the White House will probably also keep their opinion quiet until [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] presidential candidate [[John Kerry]] takes a stand on the issue. [http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040218-121438-3512r.htm] *** [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] sues [[California]] to force the state to accept [[marriage license]]s it altered to remove reference to [[bride]] and [[groom]] and recognize [[same-sex marriage]]. [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/7995259.htm] *** [[Laura Bush]] states that homosexual marriage is "''a very, very shocking issue''" for some people. She hopes the subject can be debated by Americans together, rather than it be settled by a [[Massachusetts]] [[court]] or the [[mayor]] of [[San Francisco]]. ** [[Gay adoption]]: ***The [[ACLU]] says it will appeal to [[U.S. federal court]] to overturn [[Florida]]'s laws banning [[adoption]] by GLBT families.[http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/7985914.htm] *[[February 20]] ** [[Same-sex marriage]]: ***King [[Norodom Sihanouk]], the constitutional monarch of [[Cambodia]], states that he believes his country ought to allow same-sex marriage. He says he decided this upon seeing footage of same-sex couples marrying in San Francisco. He also says that [[transvestism|transvestites]] ought to be well-treated in Cambodia. ***[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: **** San Francisco judge denies request to immediately stop same-sex weddings. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4406775] Homosexual couples win reprieve when the judge declines to stop San Francisco from granting them marriage licenses. [http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/news/022004ap_gay_marriage_ruling.html] **** [[Victoria Dunlap]], the [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] [[county clerk]] of rural [[Sandoval County, New Mexico]], starts issuing [[marriage license]]s to same-sex couples, citing lack of legal grounds for denial.[http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/apwed02-20-04.htm] Republican state Senator [[Steve Komadina]], criticizes the decision and urges state [[Attorney General]] [[Patricia Madrid]] to issue a prompt opinion. [http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=37223] ****[[California]] [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] leaders try to withdraw from the divisive political issue of [[same-sex marriage]]. A [[Public Policy Institute of California]] [[opinion poll|poll]] indicates that half of Californians oppose [[homosexual]] [[marriage]]. Some California Democratic officeholders were discontented over the matter becoming a national political issue. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/02/20/MNGSF54RDD1.DTL] **** [[California]] [[Governor]] [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]], a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], writes to [[Attorney General]] [[Bill Lockyer]] telling him to take legal action to stop the city from granting marriage licences to homosexual couples, saying the practice presents "''an imminent risk to civil order''". [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/53EBC410-48B6-41EE-A40A-3187377999BA.htm] **** A proposed amendment to the state [[constitution]] of [[Oklahoma]] to outlaw [[same-sex marriage]] dies in Senate Human Resources Committee; the [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] leader of the [[Oklahoma]] [[Senate]] criticizes the [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] Senate leadership for killing the proposed [[ban (law)|ban]]. [http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=1182413&TP=getarticle] [http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/2860882/detail.html] *[[February 22]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: ***Saying he will defend [[California]]'s laws limiting [[marriage]] to opposite-sex couples, state attorney general [[Bill Lockyer]] dismisses California governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]'s "order" in the [[San Francisco]] [[marriage license]]s debate, saying his office is independent of gubernatorial power. [http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/8012589.htm] *[[February 24]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: *** [[President of the United States|U.S. 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]], proposed by Representative [[Marilyn Musgrave]] ([[United States Republican Party|R]]-[[Colorado]]), which has been criticised for potentially also denying [[U.S. state|states]] the ability to recognise same-sex [[civil union]]s and [[domestic partner]]ships. However, he said that the FMA "''meets his principles''" in protecting the "''sanctity of marriage''" between men and women.[http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.prez.bush.marriage/index.html] [http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8785839%255E2,00.html] [http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-02-24-bush-marriage_x.htm] *[[February 26]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: ***The mayor of [[New Paltz (village), New York|New Paltz]], a village in [[New York|New York State]], 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 have six months from the date of their wedding to seek a certificate. [http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/02/022604nyWed.htm] ***[[Rosie O'Donnell]] marries her partner Kelli Carpenter at [[San Francisco]] City Hall. *[[February 27]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: ***The [[Supreme Court of California|California Supreme Court]] refuses a petition by [[California]] [[Attorney General]] [[Bill Lockyer]] asking for an immediate ruling on the constitutionality [[same-sex marriage]] laws and a [[Cease and desist order]] against [[San Francisco]]'s granting of [[marriage license]]s to same-sex couples. [http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/02/022704calCourt.htm] *** Missing the 2004 deadline for new bill introduction because of legal maneuvering by [[United States Democrat Party|Democrat]] leadership, [[Indiana House of Representatives]] [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] lawmakers fail to introduce legislation for a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. [http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/news/article/0,1626,ECP_734_2687467,00.html] ===March=== *[[March 2]] **[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: ***[[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. *[[March 3]] **[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: ***[[Multnomah County, Oregon]], which includes the city of [[Portland, Oregon|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. 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. *[[March 5]] **[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: ***The [[Wisconsin State Assembly]] approves state constitution amendment (voted 68-27) to [[ban (law)|ban]] [[same-sex marriage]] or [[civil union]]s, to counter efforts elsewhere to legalize such [[Personal relationship|partnership]]s. ***The [[Kansas]] House passes, by 88 votes to 36, a proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriage. *[[March 10]] - [[Indianapolis, Indiana]] mayor [[Bart Peterson]] issues an executive order that prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in city and [[Marion County, Indiana|county]] employment as well as city contractors and vendors. *[[March 11]] **[[New Jersey]]'s [[Seton Hall University]], a [[Roman Catholic]] institution is sued by 19-year-old student [[Anthony Romeo]] and 16 other students for violating the state's sexual orientation anti-discrimination law and the university's own policies after the university denied the formation of an [[LGBT]] student organization. *The [[Supreme Court of California|California Supreme Court]] orders [[San Francisco]] officials to stop performing [[same-sex marriage]]s. 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). [http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/03/031104calRuling.htm] *[[March 12]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: *** [[Oregon]]'s [[attorney general#United States|attorney general]] issues his opinion on [[Same-sex marriage in the United States#Oregon|same-sex marriage within Oregon]]. He concludes that current state law prohibits issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but that the [[Oregon Supreme Court]] is likely to conclude those statutes violate the [[Oregon Constitution|state's constitution]]. *** The [[Wisconsin State Senate]] approves state constitution amendment (voted 20-13) to [[ban (law)|ban]] [[homosexuality|same-sex]] [[same-sex marriage|marriages]] or [[civil union]]s, to counter efforts elsewhere to legalize such [[Personal relationship|partnership]]s. *[[March 15]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: ***Commissioners of [[Multnomah County, Oregon]] dismiss state attorney general [[Hardy Myers]]' non-binding opinion that [[same-sex marriage]]s are illegal and vow to continue issuing [[marriage license]]s to [[homosexual|same-sex]] couples. *[[March 16]] - [[Rhea County, Tennessee]] commissioners vote 8-0 to ask that state law be changed to allow county officials to effectively ban [[homosexual]]s from the county by being able to charge them with "crimes against nature." After a community uproar, the resolution is withdrawn two days later. *[[March 19]] **[[Same-sex marriage in Canada]]: ***[[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. [http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/03/031904queMarry.htm] *[[March 31]] ** The British government announces the details of the new [[Civil Partnerships Bill]]. This would give legal recognition to same sex couples. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3584285.stm] ===April=== *[[April 1]] **[[Same-sex marriage in Canada]]: *** The first legal [[same-sex marriage]] in the [[Canada|Canadian]] [[province]] of [[Quebec]] is celebrated; [[Michael Hendricks and René Leboeuf]] wed in [[Montreal]]. *[[April 20]] **[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]] ***[[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. * [[Rio Grande do Sul]] is the first [[Brazil]]ian State to legalize [[Civil union]]s. ===May=== *[[May 17]] **[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: ***[[Massachusetts]] becomes the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. *[[May 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 (entertainer)|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. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Gay%20Defamation] ===June=== *[[June 3]] **The first [[civil union]] is realized in [[Rio Grande do Sul]], [[Brazil]]. *[[June 21]] **[[Maine]] Governor [[John Baldacci]], a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], issues an executive order requiring businesses contracting with the state not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. *[[June 24]] **the [[United Kingdom]] government suffers a defeat in the [[House of Lords]] as they approve a [[wrecking amendment]] to the [[Civil Partnership Bill]] *[[June 30]] ** The [[Spain|Spanish]] minister of justice, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, announces a number of social bills to be introduced, including one that will legalize [[same-sex marriage in Spain]], one that will introduce rights for [[common-law marriage|common-law couples]], and one that will allow [[transsexual]] and [[transgender]]ed people to legally change their [[name change|name]] and sex designation without the requirement of [[sex reassignment surgery|surgery]]. ===July=== *[[July 1]] **In the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Gender Recognition Act 2004]] receives [[Royal Assent]] *[[July 14]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in Canada]] ***The Yukon becomes the first territory to legalise same-sex marriage after a ruling by the Yukon Supreme Court. ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]] ***The [[United States Senate]] votes 48-50 against a [[cloture|procedural motion]] that would have ended debate on the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]], effectively denying Senate approval this session. *[[July 22]] **[[Same-sex marriage in the United States]] ***the [[United States House of Representatives]] today passes legislation preventing federal courts from ordering courts in other states recognize same-sex marriage granted elsewhere. *[[July 30]] **Having been passed by the Legislature in April, [[Domestic partnership in Maine|Maine's Domestic Partnership]] law comes into effect. ===August=== *[[August 9]] ** Appointed by [[Michigan]] Gov. [[Jennifer Granholm]], [[Rudy Serra]] was 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 charged them with "spreading perversion." *[[August 12]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]] ***In a 5-2 vote, the [[Supreme Court of California|California Supreme Court]] 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]], a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], becomes the first openly-gay chief executive of a [[U.S. state]] when he discloses an extramarital affair with another man and announces his resignation effective [[November 12]]. *[[August 13]] **[[Same-sex marriage in Australia]] ***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 is campaign to outlaw same-sex marriage in the country. *[[August 16]] **[[Same-sex marriage in Canada]] ***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. ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: ***[[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 to read as follows: ::::"Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage." *[[August 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]], a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], issues an executive order banning gender identity discrimination in the public sector.<ref>[http://intraa.tgcrossroads.org/connections/story/?iid=39&aid=956 Gov. Kernan Protects Transgender State Employees | Civil Rights | Feature Story | September—October 2004 | INTRAAconnections<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===September=== *[[September 16]] **[[Same-sex marriage in Canada]]: [[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]]. *[[September 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. *[[September 24]] **[[Same-sex marriage in Canada]]: [[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]]. *[[September 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. *[[September 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 on of the state military reserves (California [[United States National Guard|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." *[[September 30]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: The proposed [[Federal Marriage Amendment]] fails to pass the [[United States House of Representatives]], with a vote of 227&ndash;186 on House Joint Resolution 106. ===October=== *[[October 1]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in Spain]]: The [[cabinet]] of [[Spain|Spanish]] Prime Minister [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] approves a bill to legalize [[same-sex marriage]]; the government believes that it will pass the full parliament. *[[October 29]] ** [[Germany]] expands the rights of same-sex couples, allowing registered domestic partners to [[adoption|adopt]] each other's children. ===November=== *[[November 2]] **As [[George W. Bush]] is reelected, voters in 11 states pass amendments to their state constitutions banning same-sex marriage, and in most of those states, civil unions and domestic partnership as well. **Voters in [[San Mateo County, California|San Mateo County]], [[California]] approve a measure to prohibit public-sector employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, with 70.5 per cent of votes in favor. *[[November 5]] ** A judge in [[Saskatchewan]] rules that same-sex couples have the right to [[same-sex marriage in Saskatchewan|marry in that province]]. *[[November 18]] ** In the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Civil Partnership Act]] receives [[royal assent]]. *[[November 29]] ** [[Same-sex marriage in the United States]]: Without comment, the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] refuses to hear arguments appealing the [[Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] ruling that same-sex marriage must be allowed in that state, in essence letting the ruling stand. ===December=== *[[December 6]] ** [[Louisiana]] Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]], a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], issues an executive order banning sexual orientation discrimination in the public sector.<ref>[http://www.politicsla.com/press_releases/2004/december/120604_GOVERNOR_ISSUES_EXECUTIVE_ORDER.htm PoliticsLA.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[December 9]] ** [[New Zealand]] [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]] passes the [[Civil unions in New Zealand|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 question|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. *[[December 21]] ** Canada: *** [[Newfoundland and Labrador]] becomes the seventh province to legalize same-sex marriage after a [[Supreme Court of Canada|Supreme Court]] judge approves the licences for two lesbian couples. ==Deaths== *[[January 13]] - [[James Robinson]], 44, editor of the ''Stanford Report'' *[[March 7]] - [[Paul Winfield]], 62, American actor *[[July 1]] - [[Marlon Brando]], 80, American actor (bisexual) *[[November 28]] - [[Leroy F. Aarons]], 70, founder of the [[National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association]] == See also == * [[Timeline of LGBT history]]. * [[Table of years in LGBT rights]]. * [[1925 in LGBT rights]] - [[1934 in LGBT rights]] * [[1943 in LGBT rights]] - [[1969 in LGBT rights]] ([[Stonewall riots|Stonewall]]) * [[1990 in LGBT rights]]. ==External links== * [http://www.advocate.com Web site for Advocate news magazine] * [http://www.365gay.com 365gay.com] * [http://news.google.com/news?as_q=&svnum=10&as_scoring=r&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=gay+lesbian+bisexual+transgender+homosexual&as_eq=&as_nsrc=&as_nloc=&as_occt=any&as_drrb=q&as_qdr=&as_minm=1&as_mind=20&as_maxm=2&as_maxd=19 Google search for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender news] ==References== <references/> [[Category:2004|LGBT rights]] [[Category:LGBT rights by year]] [[Category:Years in LGBT rights]]