October 13 - National
                    Beefcake the movie is released that documents the muscle magazines of the 1940s, 1950s, and                     1960s and how they shaped the modern field.

         May 13 - Kansas
                    Kansas passes the Romeo and Juliet law in Senate Bill 149, a sixty-page omnibus bill introduced                     to the Kansas Senate at 11:30 p.m. on May 13, 1999, the last day of the session. It mandates                     lighter sentences (a maximum of 15 months in prison) for illegal sex between young people who                     are similar in age. The law stipulates that in order for the lesser sentence to apply, the two parties                     must engage in consensual sex, be less than four years in age apart and between 14 and 19,                     involve no third party in the exchange, and be members of the opposite sex.

         February 23 - National
                    A Gallup poll indicates that 75 percent of Americans believe that "homosexuals" should be                     covered by hate crimes laws.

         September 23 - National
                    The first Celebrate Bisexuality Day was organized by Michael Page, Gigi Raven Wilbur, and                     Wendy Curry.

         June 15 - National
                   
Michael Thomas Ford publishes his first book “That's Mr. Faggot to You

         June 1 - National
                    Adam Nagourney published “Out for Good: The Struggle to Build a Gay Rights Movement in                     America”

         February 1 - National
                    Guess Who's Coming Out At Dinner (Rubicon Media, February 1999) is the first collection                     of Julian Lake’s cartoons. 

          January 1 – Wisconsin
                    “Proud Theater” Proud Theater is an award-winning, exciting and innovative youth theater program                     whose mission is ‘to change the world through the power of theater and the theater arts, and to make                     a positive difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ and allied youth through the tenets of art, heart, and                     activism’.  

Michael Piazza

         November 28 - National
                    “Execution of Justice”. The story of an assassin who killed a mayor in the 1970's in what was                     known as the "Twinkie Defense".

          January 1 – National
                    “Men I’ve Loved”. The first book of one of the most successful American photographers of the male                     nude, this collection is culled from more than 30 years of the artist's portraiture of his friends and                     lovers, highlighting images from his private archive. Regarded by the artist as his most personal and                     important work, this array combines intimate pictures with handwritten short stories, describing                     Bianchi's relations and demonstrating his talents as both a writer and a photographer.

 State equality and discrimination bills

Catalogued archive material by subject:

         August 1 - National
                    Michael S. Piazza is named one of the most influential people in the gay and lesbian rights                     movement and he was honored by the Pacific School of Religion with its "Leading Voice" award                     for his social justice work on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

         December 27 - National
                    Baseball player John Rocker is suspended by Major League Baseball after spewing homophobia                     to Sports Illustrated.

         March 10 - National
                    “Gendernauts: A Journey Through Shifting Identities”. Monika Treut explores the worlds and                     thoughts of several trans-gendered individuals. As with Treuts first film, Jungfrauenmaschine,                     Gendernauts, enters a minority sector of San Fransisco culture. The individuals in this film are                     people whose (genetically) assigned gender does not match their social gender identity. The                     subject is pinpointed in the film independent of sexual orientation. Leave your conservative hats at                     the door, this is going to need your special attention.

         March 31 - National
                    “Boys Don’t Cry”. Young female-to-male transgender Brandon Teena (Hilary Swank) leaves his                     hometown under threat when his ex-girlfriend's brother discovers that he's biologically female.                     Resettling in the small town of Falls City, Nebraska, Brandon falls for Lana (Chloë Sevigny), an                     aspiring singer, and begins to plan for their future together. But when her ex-convict friends, John                     (Peter Sarsgaard) and Tom (Brendan Sexton III), learn Brandon's secret, things change very                     quickly.

         July 22 - National
                    David Pevsner co-wrote the theater production “Naked Boys Singing!”

         July 30 - National
                    The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issues a notification stating that the founders of                     New Ways Ministry, School Sister of Notre Dame Jeannine Gramick and Salvatorian Father                     Robert Nugent, “are permanently prohibited from any pastoral work involving homosexual                     persons.”

         September 14 - National
                    Jennifer Camper begins her comic strip “SUBGURLZ “ which is later collected (Cleis Press,                     August 1999).

         June 22 - National
                    “Speedway Junky”. A naive drifter runs away from his army father in hopes of making it on the                     car racing circuit. In Las Vegas, he meets a young scam artist, who develops a crush on him. He                     is then introduced to a whole gang led by a young hustler. The racer-to-be then gets a lesson in                     the wild side, getting involved in one situation after another. Patsy Kensit makes a cameo as                     another hustler and Daryl Hannah appears as the scam artist's surrogate mom.

          January 1 – Delaware
                    The State of Delaware in Superior Court prosecutes a Wilmington man who, over the course of two-                    and-a-half years, had regularly sent extremely anti-gay letters by mail to out Milton residents Corey                     and Douglas Marshall-Steele. The man pled guilty to simple harassment and was fined $200,                     received one year probation, and was warned by Judge T. Henley Graves to avoid any contact                     whatsoever with the Marshall-Steeles. Judge Graves told the 82-year-old, "I thought that as people                     get older they become more tolerant."

          January 1 – Vermont
                    “Pride Center of VT” Pride Center of Vermont (PCVT) is New England’s most comprehensive                     community center dedicated to advancing community and the health and safety of the Lesbian, Gay,                     Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Vermonters.

          January 1 – National
                    “National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs”. AVP empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual,                                       transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through                     organizing and education and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy.

         May 12 - National
                    “Splendor”. An average, calm mid-20s girl named Veronica restarts her dead dating life all of the                     sudden, but with two guys: a sensitive failed writer named Abel and an airheaded drummer                     named Zed. At first she despairs. Then she finds a way to date both without their finding out. Then                     she tells both about it. Then Abel and Zed meet each other, and, after much initial conflict, they                     wind up living together and evolve into a very odd yet happy threesome. However, as time goes                     by Veronica starts growing apart from them, while Abel and Zed become brother-like (and kid-                    like). So when a director starts courting a pregnant Veronica, strains ensue. Will Abel and Zed be                     able to grow up and save the day?

         November 1 - National
                    Michael Warner published “The Trouble with Normal” which is a critiques same sex marriage                     activism and other moves more generally by the gay rights movement toward equality in                     normalcy.

         November 1 - National
                    Apollo & Midnighter are revealed to be their world’s finest gay couple in The Authority                     #7 (Wildstorm/DC, November 1999), written by Warren Ellis. 

Hilary Swank

President Bill Clinton

Steen Fenrich

          January 1 – National
                    “Straightman”. After being dumped by their girlfriends, best friends Jack and David decide to move                     in together. David looks forward to their shared bachelor life, but their lives start to change when                     Jack works up the courage to come out of the closet.

         November 10 - National
                    Founded by Cyd Zeigler and Jim Buzinski, Outsports.com publishes the first webpage devoted                     to sports news and information for gay sports fans and athletes.

         July 1 - National
                    The 22nd General Synod of the United Church of Christ passes the resolutions “Prevention of                     Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth Suicide,” and “Affirming and Strengthening                     Marriage.” The latter affirms that the standard for sexual and relational behavior for members of                     the United Church of Christ is fidelity and integrity in marriage and other covenanted relationships,                     in singleness and in all relationships of life.

         August 15 - Georgia
                    Southern Baptist Convention a resolution is passed in response to President Clinton’s declaration                     of June 1999 as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. The resolution claims “the President’s                     proclamation calls upon citizens of every corner of our nation to violate historic religious beliefs                     and their own consciences, in order to embrace and extol that which the Bible condemns.” The                     Convention states that the proclamation “compels us to rebuke” President Clinton and “deplore                     his most public endorsement of that which is contrary to the Word of God.” Additionally, the                     resolution calls for the President to “rescind his appointment of an openly professed homosexual                     as U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg.”

          January 1 – National
                    “Gay & Lesbian Athletics Foundation”. Founded in 1999, the Gay & Lesbian Athletics Foundation                     is a 100% volunteer staffed nonprofit organization that is newly reapplying for 501(c)3 status. It is the                     first nonprofit organization to focus on the acceptance and visibility of LGBT athletes in the                     professional, amateur, and recreational athletics communities. The Foundation is a politically neutral                     organization free from party affiliation or bias.

         July 21 - National
                    “Story of Bad Boy”. 17-year-old Pauly is a closeted high school kid who wants it all. His dad                     wants him to make the track team, his mom wants him to do well in band, and Pauly just wants to                     get closer to the new student teacher doing the school play.

         September 9 - New York
                    Steen Fenrich was murdered, apparently by his stepfather, John D. Fenrich, in Queens, New                     York. His dismembered remains were found in March 2000, with the phrase "gay nigger number                     one" scrawled on his skull along with his social security number. His stepfather fled from police                     while being interviewed, then committed suicide.

         July 23 - National
                    “Trick”. The misadventures of two young gay men, trying to find a place to be alone, one night in                     Manhattan.

         August 4 - New Jersey
                    New Jersey Supreme Court says Boy Scouts' exclusion of gays violates state anti-discrimination                     law

         March 21 - California
                    Actress Hillary Swank receives an Academy Award for her portrayal of Brandon Teena in "Boys                     Don't Cry." Brandon was a female to male transsexual who was murdered in 1993.

         August 14 - National
                    Andy Mangels produces the first issue of OUT IN COMICS, a guide to LGBT comics creators and                     their works, which is also released at the San Diego Comicon International (August 1999). Three                     more annual editions are produced.

         August 22 - National
                    Mark Wunderlich is recognized by the Lambda Literary Award for “The Anchorage

United States LGBT History for 1999

         November 1 - Oregon
                    Scott Meisner, Eugene’s first openly gay council member, becomes president of the city council.                      The unanimous vote by other council members places him second in command behind the mayor.

         November 24 - National
                    “Flawless”. An ultraconservative police officer suffers a debilitating stroke and is assigned to a                     rehabilitative program that includes singing lessons, with the drag queen next door.

         March 25 - Delaware
                    The first Lobby Day for gay civil rights is held in Delaware.  Over 100 Delaware citizens go to                     Legislative Hall in Dover to lobby for H.B. 11, which would ban workplace discrimination based on                     sexual orientation.  Despite objections from the Delaware Christian Coalition, participants are                     permitted to use the Republican Committee Room for the reception.  The Delaware Christian                     Coalition also objects that apple pie, being an American symbol, would be served in the                     reception.  On the other hand, the effort receives very strong support from Gov. Carper, the                     Secretary of Labor, the Human Relations Commission, unions and clergy members.  Although the                     number of confirmed “yes” votes doubles after a day of lobbying, the bill fails to pass the House                     and dies:  15 yes, 8 not voting, 18 no. 

         May 21 - National
                    David Groff a poet and writer publishes “The Crisis of Desire: AIDS and the Fate of Gay                     Brotherhood”

         June 15 - National
                    “Lesbian Health” Women's health, as a field of study, is a developing discipline. Health theories                     in general have been based on studies of men. However, in recent years, more attention has                     shifted to women's health, realizing the disparities between men and women in relation to their                     health. During the last two decades, a similar shift has occurred for a group of women--lesbian                     women--to further identify and specify their health needs. Over the past decade, lesbians have                     organized to call for attention to the health issues of this community, resulting in several federally                     funded research initiatives. This book offers a comprehensive view of what is known about lesbian                     health needs and what questions need further investigation.

         April 6 - Washington D.C.
                    Judy Shepard speaks before a U.S. Senate panel to urge the passage of hate crimes legislation.

          January 1 – National
                    Mitchell L. Walker an activist that focused his psychology work on gay centered studies publishes his                     research “A New Jungian Theory of Male Homosexual Personhood:  Individuation as Gay

          January 1 – Rhode Island
                    “Provincetown International Film Festival”. The Provincetown Film Society (PFS), which began as                     the Provincetown International Film Festival in 1999, is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to                     showcasing new achievements in independent film and honoring the work of emerging as well as                     acclaimed directors, producers and actors. Our mission is articulated through three primary activities:                     the annual Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) now in its 17th successful year; our year-                    round theater operation, the Water’s Edge Cinema (WE); and our emerging Gabrielle A. Hanna                     Provincetown Institute for film and media artist residencies and conferences (PIF). A substantial                     contributor to the economic and creative vitality of America’s oldest art colony, PFS is dedicated to                     becoming a sustainable, year-round cultural organization that brings film education, genre-specific                     festivals and cultural partnerships to the outer Cape.

         February 19 - Alabama
                    Billy Jack Gaither, a 39-year-old gay man, was brutally beaten to death in Rockford, Alabama.                     His attackers, Steve Mullins and Charles Monroe Butler, were found guilty of murder and were                     both sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

          January 1 – Michigan
                    Michigan chapter of Intersex Society of North America forms in Lansing area.

         December 20 - Vermont
                    Vermont Supreme Court says state must allow same-sex couples to enjoy legal benefits accorded                     to heterosexuals. In Baker v. Vermont, the Vermont Supreme Court orders the state legislature to                     devise a law to give same-sex couples identical rights.

         July 6 - Washington D.C.
                    PFC Barry Winchell is brutally murdered by fellow soldiers who perceive him to be gay because                     of his relationship with Calpernia Addams, a transgender woman he met while serving in the                     Army. Just weeks after Winchell’s murder, a drill sergeant leads Winchell’s platoon in a chilling                     chant: “Faggot, faggot, down the street. Shoot him, shoot him, ‘til he retreats,” according to former                     soldier and platoon member Javier Torres. Defense Secretary William Cohen announces policy                     against harassment of gays a month later.

         May 7 - National
                    Jury awards $25 million to Amedure family in wrongful death suit against the "Jenny Jones" Show.                     Jenny Jones hosted an episode for "Secret Crushes". The backlash of the episode ended in                     murder.

         August 11 - National
                    “But I’m A Cheerleader”. Megan (Natasha Lyonne) considers herself a typical American girl. She                     excels in school and cheerleading, and she has a handsome football-playing boyfriend, even                     though she isn't that crazy about him. So she's stunned when her parents decide she's gay and                     send her to True Directions, a boot camp meant to alter her sexual orientation. While there,                     Megan meets a rebellious and unashamed teen lesbian, Graham (Clea DuVall). Though Megan                     still feels confused, she starts to have feelings for Graham.

         October 1 - National
                    Jim Provenzano publishes “PINS” about gay high school wrestlers.

          January 1 – Virginia
                    In Richmond, Virginia, The Richmond Gay Community Foundation, Inc. (RGCF) is formed and                     granted 501(c)3 nonprofit status.

         October 23 - National
                    Televangelist Jerry Falwell sits down with a group of gay and lesbian Christians, pledging to "look                     very carefully" at the tone of "what we write and what we say" about homosexuality. But Falwell,                     the founder of the Moral Majority in the 1970s, insists that he will not change his stance that living                     openly as a gay man or lesbian is contrary to the will of God. 

          January 1 – National
                    “Disidentifications” There is more to identity than identifying with one's culture or standing solidly                     against it. José Esteban Muñoz looks at how those outside the racial and sexual mainstream                     negotiate majority culture—not by aligning themselves with or against exclusionary works but rather                     by transforming these works for their own cultural purposes. Muñoz calls this process                                         “disidentification,” and through a study of its workings, he develops a new perspective on minority                     performance, survival, and activism. Disidentifications is also something of a performance in its own                     right, an attempt to fashion a queer world by working on, with, and against dominant ideology. By                     examining the process of identification in the work of filmmakers, performance artists,                                         ethnographers, Cuban choteo, forms of gay male mass culture (such as pornography), museums, art                     photography, camp and drag, and television, Muñoz persistently points to the intersecting and short-                    circuiting of identities and desires that result from misalignments with the cultural and ideological                     mainstream in contemporary urban America. Muñoz calls attention to the world-making properties                     found in performances by queers of color—in Carmelita Tropicana's “Camp/Choteo” style politics,                     Marga Gomez's performances of queer childhood, Vaginal Creme Davis's “Terrorist Drag,” Isaac                     Julien's critical melancholia, Jean-Michel Basquiat's disidentification with Andy Warhol and pop art,                     Felix Gonzalez-Torres's performances of “disidentity,” and the political performance of Pedro                     Zamora, a person with AIDS, within the otherwise artificial environment of the MTV serial The Real                     World.

         July 15 - National
                    Michael Scarce published “Smearing the Queer: Medical Bias in the Health Care of Gay Men

          January 1 – National
                    Hubert Kennedy an author and mathematician publishes “The Ideal Gay Man: The Story of Der                     Kreis”

         August 1 - National
                   
Paul Russell publishes his novel “The Coming Storm

          January 1 – Tennessee
                    “Nashville Black Pride” The mission of Nashville Black Pride© (NBP) is: to bring together African                     American and other Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT)/Same Gender Loving (SGL) People                     of Color in a social, non-threatening empowering setting to uplift, educate and present positive                     images that help to maintain a healthy, productive and visionary community.

         March 5 - National
                    “Cruel Intentions”. Two vicious step-siblings of an elite Manhattan prep school make a wager: to                     deflower the new headmaster's daughter before the start of term.

         June 13 - National
                    The Vatican orders a Maryland priest and nun to end their national ministry to gays and lesbians,                     in service since the 1970s, because it has “strayed from church teaching that homosexual activity                     is immoral.”

         December 14 - National
                    “Gypsy Boys”. Young gay men search for love amidst the San Francisco bar scene.

          January 1 – Kansas
                    “OUT HERE NOW: The Kansas City LGBT Film Festival”.

         June 17 - National
                    “24 Nights”. What do you call a 24-year-old gay man who still believes in Santa Claus? In this                     film, you call him Jonathan Parker. Jonathan met a Salvation Army Santa when he was four, and                     the experience had so profound an effect that he's never lost his unwavering faith in Saint Nick.

         May 24 - National
                    Christian de la Huerta an author publishes “Coming Out Spiritually

         August 1 - National
                    Monica Helms created the first trans flag used by the transgender community to identify                     themselves. It was first seen in Phoenix Arizona.

          January 19 – National
                    In an interview with The Advocate George Michael talks about his sexuality and that struggled with                     the thoughts of being bisexual but because he is more attracted to men he decided that he was gay.

         October 3 - California
                    California adopts a domestic partner law, allowing same-sex couples equal rights, responsibilities,                     benefits, and protections as married couples, making it the first state to legalize domestic                     partnerships for same-gender couples 

         April 1 - National
                    In this volume of photos, "Twins", Steven Underhill reveals his love of two young gods with                     radiant physiognomies - Bruce and Seth, the twins. Here Underhill reveals them in playful and                     intimate moments in pictures full of erotic energy photographed over a long period. A great work                     by a master of his craft that gives the viewer a wonderful image of an inseparable bond.

         August 27 - National
                    Daniel Mendelsohn memoir “The Elusive Embrace: Desire and the Riddle of Identity” is                     published, entwining themes of gay identity, family history, and Classical myth and literature.

          January 1 – Massachusetts
                    “Safe Homes” We support LGBTQ youth throughout Central Massachusetts with the goal of                     decreasing isolation and fostering general health and well-being. Our mission is to provide safe and                     supportive services for LGBTQ youth so that they feel nurtured and validated in all aspects of their                     identity. Whether you are looking for advice, information, or new friends, we hope you will consider                     checking us out.

          January 11 – National
                    “Chutney Popcorn”. Reena is a young Indian American lesbian who lives and works in New York.                     Her sister Sarita, who is happily married, discovers that she is infertile. Reena offers to be a                     surrogate mother for her sister's baby, hoping to improve her relationship with their mother, who                     disapproves of Reena's sexual orientation. Reena has second thoughts when her girlfriend Lisa feels                     left out.

         July 1 - California
                    Gay couple Gary Matson and Winfield Mowder were murdered by white supremacist brothers                     Matthew and Tyler Williams in Redding, California. Tyler Williams was sentenced to a minimum of                     33 years in prison, to be served after his completion of a 21-year sentence for firebombing                     synagogues and an abortion clinic. Benjamin Williams claimed that by killing the couple he                     was "obeying the laws of the Creator". He committed suicide in 2003 while awaiting trial. Their                     former pastor described the brothers as "zealous in their faith" but "far from kooks".

         August 13 - California
                    An ashcan edition of GAY FORCE QUARTERLY is released at the San Diego Comicon                     International (August 1999), but no actual issues appear.

          January 1 – Michigan
                    “Ruth Ellis Center” The mission of the Ruth Ellis Center is to “provide short and long-term                     residential safe space and support services for runaway, homeless, and at-risk lesbian, gay, bi-                    attractional, transgender, and questioning youth.”

         December 3 - National
                    “Happy Texas”. Two escaped convicts arrive in the town of Happy, Texas, where they are                     mistaken for a gay couple who is to host the town's Little Miss Fresh Squeezed beauty pageant.                     Enjoying the celebrity and using their skill as con-men, the two adopt their persona to take on the                     task. Of course, as the two are heterosexual, their interest in the involved ladies intensifies. Ally                     Walker is a banker, who is distrustful of men and has given up on love. Illeana Douglas plays the                     dowdy, badly dressed teacher.

         July 14 - California
                    The California State Legislature passes AB 537, which is then signed by Governor Gray Davis to                     protect gay and lesbian students from harassment.

         April 1 - National
                    “The Gay and Lesbian Self Esteem Book” A personal growth book examines feelings of shame                     left over from childhood; discusses how careers, relationships, and lifestyle choices are affected                     by self-doubts; suggests a variety of proven healing strategies; and offers exercises to improve                     the reader's self-esteem. Original. IP.

         October 22 - National
                    “Three to Tango”. A rich businessman's assumption that his new colleague is gay leads him to                     ask the man to keep an eye on his mistress. However, the man is not gay, and begins to fall for                     the woman himself.

         April 1 - National
                    “The Crime of the Century” Among the criminal celebrities of Prohibition-era Chicago, two well-                    educated Jewish boys from wealthy South Side families were notorious. Revealing secret                     testimony, this book separates fact from myth as it unravels the crime, the investigation, and the                     trial, in which they were defended by the era's famous attorney, Clarence Darrow.

         April 4 - Washington D.C.
                    Secretary Dan Glickman announced the formation of a second USDA Task Force on Sexual                     Orientation. It concluded, “If the Department fully implements its sexual orientation non-                    discrimination and diversity policy, USDA stands to gain greater openness, job satisfaction, and                     retention among its workforce; increased productivity and customer service; and the prevention of                     costly complaints. We have estimated the potential savings that could be realized by the                     Department through this course of action to approximately $23 million annually.”

          January 1 – New York
                    “Buffalo & WNY Pride” Buffalo & WNY Pride Week is a week’s worth of celebration, advocacy and                     community engagement! No other event in WNY touches such a varied and large demographic                     cross-section of residents and visitors, while bringing neighbors together to celebrate pride in our                     community.

         June 1 - National
                    Gavin Geoffrey Dillard publishes “A Day for a Lay: A Century of Gay Poetry

         July 17 - National
                    The editor of The Empty Closet convinces Dennis Tucker to turn his characters BIRD and BUN, a                     bird and a rabbit living in a domestic partnership, into a comic strip that first appears in that                     publication as “BIRDBUN THEATRE”

          January 1 – National
                    “Family Watch international” This is a hate group. Family Watch International (FWI) is a nonprofit                     international educational organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of                     the United Nations. Family Watch* is recognized as a tax-deductible nonprofit organization under                     section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code. Family Watch works to protect and promote the family as the                     fundamental unit of society at the international, national and local level through education, pro-family                     advocacy, and family-based humanitarian aid. To protect the family by working to preserve and                     promote traditional marriage, safeguard parental rights, defend human life, uphold religious liberty,                     and protect the health and innocence of children. Family Watch policy positions are based on                     scientific research, social science data, lessons from history, and what has been proven across                     cultures to produce the best outcomes for men, women, children and, thus, for society.

         July 22 - Washington D.C.
                    The Senate passes the Hate Crimes Prevention Act after it is incorporated as an amendment to                     the Commerce, Justice and State appropriations bill.

          January 1 – National
                    Cyd Zeigler and Jim Buzinski co-authored The “Outsports Revolution: Truth & Myth in the World                     of Gay Sports”

         February 5 - Indiana
                    The Board of Fellows at Notre Dame University, consisting of six bishops and six laypeople, votes                     unanimously to exclude homosexuality from its antidiscrimination policy.

          January 1 – National
                    “National Transgender Advocacy Coalition” The National Transgender Advocacy Coalition                     (NTAC) is a lobbying and advocacy organization in the United States dedicated to protecting the civil                     rights of transgender and gender variant people. Its reports and spokespersons are widely cited in                     the media on transgender issues. NTAC was founded in 1999, by a group of experienced                                       transgender lobbyists, who discovered after lobbying the United States Congress in May 1999 that                     other organizations that were ostensibly supportive of rights for transgender people had been                     lobbying against the interests of the transgender community. This was documented in a report,                     circulated within the transgender community, called the 'transflakes' report.

         August 16 - National
                    Lutheran Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA, the major legislative body, officially votes for the                     first time on the issue of gay clergy. In a vote of 820 to 159, “sexually-active” gays and lesbians                     are prohibited from ordination.

         March 24 - California
                    106th Congress - The Hate Crimes Prevention Act is reintroduced in the House and the Senate.

Gary Matson & Winfield Mowder

          January 1 – Rhode Island
                    Bills are introduced in the state assemblies of Rhode Island for the first time and in Maryland for the                     second time to legalize same-sex marriage, but both fail.

Secretary Dan Glickman

         October 27 - Texas
                    Christine Littleton, who has completed gender-reassignment surgery, is ruled to be legally male                     and not the legal widow of her husband

         November 17 - National
                    “Just One Time”. When the fiancée of a fireman reluctantly agrees to participate in a ménage                     trois with another woman, she does so on the condition that he reciprocate the favor with another                     man, which ultimately puts their impending marriage in jeopardy.

         October 15 - Georgia
                    Sissy "Charles" Bolden was found shot to death in Savannah, Georgia. Police arrested Charles E.                     Wilkins, Jr., in July 2003; he admitted the killing, and was charged in two other homicides,                     according to the Savannah Police Department.

         November 19 - National
                    The movie “All about my mother” is released.

          January 1 – National
                    Heartthrobs #1 (Vertigo/DC, January 1999) contains the gay-themed romance story “Genes                                 and a T-Shirt” written by Robert Rodi

Howard McGillin

         December 29 - National
                    “Annie on My Mind” is restored to library shelves.

         August 1 - National
                    Howard McGillin holds the record for the most performances by an actor in the title role of the                     musical The Phantom of the Opera

         November 1 - National
                    Samuel Delaney writes Bread & Wine: An Erotic Tale of New York, an auto-biographical graphic                     novel about the beginnings of a gay relationship.

          January 1 – North Dakota
                    “North Dakota Human Rights Coalition” The North Dakota Human Rights Coalition works to effect                     change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights. The North Dakota Human Rights                     Coalition (NDHRC) is a broad-based coalition of individuals and organizations with an interest in the                     furtherance of human rights in North Dakota.

          January 1 – California
                    The Children’s Services Division – knowing that Tracy Henson and Dee Ferguson are lesbians ---                     certifies them as foster parents.

          January 1 – Idaho
                    “Interfaith Alliance of Idaho” The Interfaith Alliance of Idaho remains committed to promoting the                     positive and healing role of religion in public life by encouraging civic participation, facilitating                     community activism, and challenging religious political extremism.

Billy Jack Gaither

PFC Barry Winchell

​United States Army

          January 21 – National
                    “Cradle Will Rock”. A true story of politics and art in the 1930s U.S., focusing on a leftist musical                     drama and attempts to stop its production.

         September 1 - Oregon
                    Opposition proposes a ban on trans-inclusive health care coverage in Oregon Health Plan. Basic                     Rights works with three Republican legislators to successfully kill this bill in committee.

         June 6 - National
                    “After Stonewall”. Filmmaker John Scagliotti chronicles the gay rights movement from the 1969                     Stonewall riots to the present.

         January 1 - Oregon
                    Basic Rights launches the Fair Workplace Project to increase the number of employers who                     pledge to adopt nondiscrimination policies in the workplace.


                    A group of volunteer lawyers begins to meet with Basic Rights Oregon to develop legal strategies                     to achieve relationship rights and marriage based on the Tanner decision. They become the Basic                     Rights Oregon legal group.