​​​          August 15 - ​National
                    Henry Kujawa produces a super-hero fantasy for adults — homosexual, bi-sexual, or heterosexual                     — with the short graphic novel Stormboy #1: Steal Your Heart Away (Zodiac Comics, August 2002).

​​​          April 1 - ​National
                    Cavalcade of Boys! (Ten Minute Cartoons, Spring 2002), a gay romance comic, is launched by                     Tim Fish with Jay Laird. Seven further issues have been published.

​​​          March 17 - National
                    “Luster” Luster is a refreshingly funny and sexy look at unrequited love. Jackson, a cute, lanky, blue-                    haired poet who works in a record store, is at the center of Everett Lewis' twisted black LA comedy.                     He's got a crush on the sexy young blonde, Billy, who he met at an orgy the other night. But Billy's                     not into him, he's in love with Sonny, a musician into S&M. Even though Billy doesn't want Jackson,                     two other guys do: Derek, a clean-cut record store customer, and Sam, the supposedly straight                     record store owner. Into this mix is thrown Jed, Jackson's hunky cousin, which leads Jackson to                     seriously contemplate the technicalities of incest. Before he can do anything about it, though, Jed is                     seduced by Jackson's lesbian artist friend. What's a boy to do?

​​​          December 24 - ​Pennsylvania
                    Nizah Morris, a 47-year-old black trans woman, was possibly murdered in Philadelphia,                                         Pennsylvania.

​​​          May 1 - ​National
                    “A Desired Past” With this book, Leila J. Rupp accomplishes what few scholars have even                     attempted: she combines a vast array of scholarship on supposedly discrete episodes in American                     history into an entertaining and entirely readable story of same-sex desire across the country and the                     centuries.

​​​          October 27 - ​Minnesota
                    Esera Tuaolo, ex-NFL player from 1991-1999, comes out on the televisions show HBO Real Sports.

          January 1 – National
                    Augusten Burroughs publishes “Running with Scissors

​​​          January 1 - California
                    “California LGBT Tobacco Education Partnership” To counteract, through education and                     advocacy efforts, the negative impact tobacco use has had on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and                     Transgender (LGBT) community.

​​​          December 2 - National
                    “When Boys Fly”. Non-fiction account of three men as they find their place in the Circuit Party                     Scene.

Nizah Morris

​​​          May 2 - ​National
                    Homo-Hero’s Big Book of Fun and Adventure (Green Candy Press, May 2002) by Michael Troy,                     an adult activity book featuring the title super-hero, is released.

​​​          December 3 - ​Oregon
                    Gov. John Kitzhaber issued a formal apology for the forced sterilization of more than 2,300 people                         that included gays and lesbian between the 1920s and 1980s.

Jeremy Shockey

​​​          January 1 - New Mexico
                    “Way OUT West Film Fest”. CLOSET CINEMA is an Albuquerque based nonprofit organization                     dedicated to showcasing queer cinema in an attempt to highlight the richness of the gay, lesbian,                     bisexual, and transgender experience. They serve our diverse communities by producing the                     Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and other events.

​​​          January 1 - Washington D.C.
                   “The Seattle Women’s Chorus”. Our voices transform society through innovative and entertaining                    programs that build community, illuminate the experiences of LGBTQ people and their allies, expand                    inclusion, and inspire justice.

​​​          March 3 - California
                    Comedian and actress Rosie O’Donnell publicly comes out in a television interview. 

​​​          August 1 - ​Virginia
                    Virginians for Justice becomes Equality Virginia

​​​          January 1 - California
                    “Our Family Coalition” Our Family Coalition brings a unique and progressive voice of families to the                     LGBTQ movement. We cultivate community-based leadership among LGBTQ families and strong                     partnerships with our allies in California, to advance social justice and make our nation a more                     respectful and inclusive place for all.

​​​          June 28 - ​National
                    “The Cockettes”. Documentary about the gender-bending San Francisco performance group who                     became a pop culture phenomenon in the early 1970s.

​​​          January 1 - National
                    “Equality Alabama” Equality Alabama is a statewide LGBTQ organization consisting of the Equality                     Alabama Foundation (a 501(c)(3) organization), Equality Alabama (a 501(c)(4) organization), and the                     Equality Alabama PAC (a state political action committee).

​​​          September 22 - ​New York
                    New York Giant Jeremy Shockey tells Howard Stern he does not want a gay teammate

​​​          October 27 - ​Oregon
                    The Oregonian announces it will publish same-sex commitment announcements.

​​​          January 1 - Washington D.C.
                    “National LGBT Chamber of Commerce”. The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)                     started in November 2002 when co-founders Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell realized that the                     impact of LGBT people on the American economy had gone largely unnoticed despite economic                     equality being an important component of the LGBT equality movement. The two co-founders sought                     to showcase that as in addition to being LGBT, many LGBT people were also business owners,                     employers, taxpayers, providers of healthcare and a vibrant, essential part of the small business                     engine that makes the U.S. economy run.

​​​          May 25 - ​National
                    “Under One Roof”. It's Sex and the City meets The Wedding Banquet for young San Franciscan                     Daniel Chang, living at home with his clueless, traditional mother.

​​​          August 6 - ​New York
                    Rodney Velasquez, a 26-year-old Latino gay man, was found murdered in the bathtub of his Bronx                     apartment.

David Halperina

​​​          July 23 - ​National
                    Robert Gant starts his role on “Queer as Folk”

​​​          December 27 - ​National
                    “No Night Is Too Long”. Young Tim Cornish's life has begun with great promise. Blessed with                     extraordinary good looks, Tim enjoyed much attention and cared little of broken hearts. At University                     he was a favored student in a prestigious creative writing course, but a chance meeting, a stolen kiss                     and a sudden flare of passion sets Tim on a journey of betrayal, heartbreak and murder. In a                     flashback, he tells his story of cruelty, love and a soul-destroying guilt that offers little chance for                     redemption.

          January 1 – National
                    The National Center for Lesbian Rights initiates the Homophobia in Sports Project to provide legal                     and advocacy support for athletes and coaches discriminated against on the basis of their sexual                     orientation or gender identity.

​​​          January 1 - South Carolina
                    “South Carolina Equality” Our mission is to secure equal civil and human rights for all lesbian, gay,                     bisexual and transgender South Carolinians and their families

​​​          May 1 - ​National
                    Michael and Justin, characters on the TV show Queer as Folk, team-up to create a super-hero comic                     with a gay lead, Rage (Showtime, May 2002). A specially-made RAGE comic is included with the                     DVD box set for that season later sold through the network’s website.

​​​          July 3 - ​National
                    Robert Goss publishes “Queering Christ: Beyond Jesus ACTED UP

Robert Grant

​​​          January 1 - Colorado
                    “Denver Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce” The Denver Gay and Lesbian Chamber of                     Commerce is a statewide, equal-opportunity chamber comprised of GLBT and GLBT-supportive                     business owners and professionals.

​​​          October 4 - ​California
                    Gwen Araujo, a trans woman, was murdered by at least three men who were charged with                     committing a hate crime. Two were convicted of murder, the third manslaughter; however, the jury                     rejected the hate crime enhancement.

​​​          July 12 - ​National
                    “The Last Year”. Paul is completing his last year of Bible College but is struggling with some desires                     that may get him thrown out of school.

​​​          January 1 - National
                    “Sylvia Rivera Law Project” The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) works to guarantee that all                     people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race,                     and without facing harassment, discrimination, or violence. SRLP is a collective organization founded                     on the understanding that gender self-determination is inextricably intertwined with racial, social and                     economic justice. Therefore, we seek to increase the political voice and visibility of low-income                     people and people of color who are transgender, intersex, or gender non-conforming. SRLP works to                     improve access to respectful and affirming social, health, and legal services for our communities. We                     believe that in order to create meaningful political participation and leadership, we must have access                     to basic means of survival and safety from violence.

​​​          June 17 - ​National
                   
Richard Goldstein publishes “The Attack Queers: Liberal Society and the Gay Right

​​​          March 9 - National
                    “The Laramie Project”. The true story of an American town in the wake of the murder of Matthew                     Shepard.

​​​          May 10 - ​National
                    “The Business of Fancydancing”. Seymour Polatkin is a successful, gay Native American poet                     from Spokane who confronts his past when he returns to his childhood home on the reservation to                     attend the funeral of a dear friend.

​​​          May 20 - ​National
                    “Sex, Politics & Cocktails” nable to tie the knot with his prozac captivated girlfriend, Cuban                     Filmmaker Sebastian Cortez, finds himself 30-years old and never in love. On his quest to                     finding..."The One!", Sebastian turns to friend/tour guide Daria who introduces Sebastian to her                     sandbox of gay co-horts and the adventure of his life! From penis make overs, unlikely 3-ways to                     learning how to have the best climax, the unsophisticated but sexy Sebastian finds himself                     navigating through the uncharted waters of Hollywood, sexual politics and getting trapped between                     Mr. Big Time and...Toilet Man? Is this QUEER EYE FOR THE BI-GUY? Can a girl turn a straight                     man queer? Or is it just the endless margaritas talking? All these questions answered in this                     sardonic, hilarious and universal film about the pursuit of finding someone to permanently spoon                     with. A comedy for audiences of all persuasions regardless who is giving you that orgasm.

​​​          March 9 - National
                    Van Hansis has role in one of the earliest theatrical presentations of “The Laramie Project” that was                     written by Moisés Kaufman.

​​​          February 19 - ​National
                    Rev. Michael Bray, a pastor for the Army Of God, a convicted abortion clinic bomber and leading                     advocate of murdering abortion doctors, praises Saudi Arabia for beheading three gay men. “Let us                     give thanks,” Bray proclaims. “Let us welcome these tools of purification. Open the borders! Bring in                     some agents of cleansing.”

​​​          January 11 - ​National
                    “Arrested” In the author's trademark unique style, this volume presents a superb photographic                     selection of stunning and well-posed models, offering an array of atmospheric images full of violent                     sentimentality and beauty.

​​​          July 10 - ​National
                    “Mental Health Issues in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Communities” Over the last                     three decades, the visibility -- and public acceptance -- of self-identified lesbian women and gay men                     and bisexual and transgender individuals has increased dramatically, making it more important than                     ever to understand the dynamics of their relationships. This timely work, part of Volume 21 in the                     Review of Psychiatry series, offers compelling facts and insights in a concise yet comprehensive                     format, bringing together the latest research and clinical practice in this rapidly evolving field.                     Chapter 1 details normal adolescent development and the extra challenges imposed by the                     development of a sexual identity that is different from that of most of their peers, including the lack of                     lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender role models.

​​​          January 1 - National
                    “Transgender Law Center” Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led                     organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed                     to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and                     gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.

​​​          November 15 - ​National
                    David M. Halperina theorist and historian publishes “How to Do the History of Homosexuality

​​​          June 30 - Delaware
                    H.B. 99 dies when Senate Small Business Committee chair Sen. Robert Venables, with the behind-                    the-scenes support of President Pro Tempore Thomas Sharp, refuses to allow it out to the full                     Senate—despite the 78% of Delawareans mentioned above.

​​​          January 1 - ​Indiana
                    “Freedom Indiana” Freedom Indiana believes our state should promote religious liberty in a way that                     respects all Hoosiers. Freedom from discrimination is a core American and Hoosier value.

​​​          December 3 - ​Kansas
                    Jeffrey Medis, an openly gay man, is beaten outside the Replay Lounge, 946 Mass. Lawrence Police                     conclude that the beating was not anti-gay-motivated in spite of the fact that Medis was wearing                     makeup.  

​​​          June 6 - ​National
                    Hubert Kennedy an author and mathematician publishes “Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, Pioneer of the                     Modern Gay Movement”

​​​          June 13 - National
                    “The M.O. of M.I.”. Michael and Tom are a happy gay couple in Austin Texas until the sexy                     performance artist/hustler, Jonathon enters their lives. Jonathon is in hiding. He has a past with                     Michael and all is not as it seems.

​​​          January 1 - ​New York
                    "Queers for Economic Justice" is founded to balance the economic status of LGBT families and                     community members that struggle to survive in the United States. At the heart of their organization                     was a critique of capitalism that centered the experience of poor queers, whose experiences have                     largely been erased and ignored by the mainstream gay rights and economic justice                                         movements. They created projects that radically challenge mainstream approaches to poverty, the                     shelter system, HIV/AIDS within LGBT families.

​​​          January 1 - ​Indiana
                    “GayIndyNOW” The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allied (GLBTA) communities of                     Indianapolis and surrounding areas are integral to the cultural and economic base of the city.

​​​          January 1 - ​Idaho
                    “Breaking Boundaries” Breaking Boundaries celebrates diversity and supports the underserved in                     Eastern Idaho through direct involvement and the sharing of funds with local organizations.

​​​          December 3 - National
                    “Merci Docteur Rey” A hot young phone sex addict and his narcissistic opera diva mom. A                     dangerously agitated hustler and a half-dozen dangerously agitated hustlers who look just like him. A                     tittering neurotic who thinks she's Vanessa Redgrave and Vanessa Redgrave herself. Pot brownies,                     puke jokes, a gay dad, a flying lesbian, Jerry Hall, a dead body and a fetish for Brian DePalma                     movies! Anchoring the mayhem is Elisabeth Beaumont, an American opera star visiting Paris to                     perform "Turandot" and dabble in some belated mothering of her 23 year-old son Thomas. Thomas                     doesn't need mothering; he needs some good hot manhandling. And, in the best DePalma tradition,                     the quest for sex leads to voyeurism and voyeurism, leads to murder. From there, it's just a short                     path to therapy. Unfortunately, the psychiatrist that Thomas visits is a little on the dead side herself,                     and a nutty patient has taken her place.

Reverend Sean Parker Dennison

​​​          November 7 - ​Nevada
                    Nevada voters give final approval to a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Voters first                     approved the ban in 2000, but state law requires a majority vote in two consecutive election years to                     amend the constitution."

​​​          May 9 - ​Delaware
                    Hickman-Brown Public Opinion Research releases the first-ever statewide professional poll on a                     gay-themed issue.  Commissioned by the Human Rights Campaign and the ACLU of Delaware, the                     poll finds 69% of Delawareans want H.B. 99 to become law, and 78% want it at least voted on in the                     full Senate rather than dying in committee.

Mike Piazza

​​​          August 1 - ​National
                    The online gay comic strip “Young Bottoms in Love,” primarily edited by Tim Fish, premieres                     (August 2002).

​​​          September 1 - ​National
                    Terry Ray a writer and actor had a role in “Gaydar

​​​          August 18 - ​New York
                    After meeting with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance against Defamation (GLAAD), The New York Times                     opens its Weddings & Celebrations page to same-sex couples. After GLAAD's “Announcing                     Equality” campaign begins, there is a 584-percent increase in the number of newspapers willing to                     print announcements for gay and lesbian couples.

​​​          January 1 - Utah
                    “Utah Stonewall Democrats” The Stonewall Democrats work for equal rights for Utah’s lesbian,                     gay, bisexual and transgender communities and their families.

​​​          September 1 - ​Pennsylvania
                    A Philadelphia court strikes down a 1998 city ordinance that recognized city employees’ “life                     partnerships,” claiming the ordinance “usurped” the power of the state to regulate marriage.

​​​          November 2 - ​Oklahoma
                    Victory Fund endorsed candidate Jim Roth becomes the first openly LGBTQ elected official in                     Oklahoma history, winning a seat on the Oklahoma County Commission.

United States LGBT History for 2002

​​​          January 1 - National
                    “American College of Pediatricians” This is a hate group. The Mission of the American College of                     Pediatricians is to enable all children to reach their optimal physical and emotional health and well-                    being. To this end, we recognize the basic father-mother family unit, within the context of marriage,                     to be the optimal setting for childhood development, but pledge our support to all children, regardless                     of their circumstances.

​​​          October 12 - National
                    “Gaydar”. Randy has a huge crush on hunky co-worker Jack, but Ray can't figure out if Jack is gay -                     until Jack discovers a GAYDAR gun that could change everything.

​​​          January 1 - Utah
                    “Damn These Heels! LGBTQ Film Festival”. Utah Film Center inspires and engages diverse                     audiences to initiate conversation and community building through curated film exhibition,                                       educational programs, and artist support.

​​​          May 20 - ​New York
                    New York Mets pitcher Mike Piazza holds a press conference to announce he is straight.

​​​          January 1 - Oregon
                   “SOPride”. We are a diverse, all-inclusive group of people standing in solidarity to promote our                    mission of equality, peace and acceptance for all humans serving Ashland.

          January 1 – Utah
                    The Reverend Sean Parker Dennison is called to serve the South Valley UU congregation of Salt                     Lake City, UT, thus becoming the first out transgender person in the Unitarian Universalist ministry to                     be called to serve a congregation as a parish minister.

​​​          March 22 - National
                    “Sorority Boys”. Three rowdy college students are kicked out of their dorm and dress up in drag to                     live in the DOG house, where the girls deemed unattractive live.

          January 1 – New York
                    Sandon Berg and Michael Akers co-found the United Gay Network (UGN)

​​​          June 12 - ​Ohio
                    The Ohio Supreme Court rules a same-sex couple can adopt a last name they created for                     themselves, reversing a lower court’s decision.

​​​          October 11 - National
                    “The Rules of Attraction” The incredibly spoiled and overprivileged students of Camden College                     are a backdrop for an unusual love triangle between a drug dealer, a virgin and a bisexual                     classmate.

​​​          January 1 - ​Michigan
                    “Safe House Center” Safe House Center recognizes that domestic violence and sexual assault                     occurs by and against all genders and across all sexual orientations. We work to end the oppression                     of all people as well as value and celebrate the diversity of our community.

​​​          June 12 - ​Arizona
                    Philip Walsted, a gay man, was fatally beaten with a baseball bat. According to prosecutors, the neo-                    Nazi views of Walsted's assailant's, David Higdon, led to what was originally a robbery escalating to                     murder. Higdon was sentenced to life in prison, plus an additional sentence for robbery.

​​​          November 2 - ​Rhode Island
                    David Cicilline is elected the first openly gay mayor of Providence, Rhode Island.

​​​          August 3 - ​National
                    “Fixing Frank”. Gay journalist, Frank Johnston sets out to write an expose on Dr. Apsey, a therapist                     who claims to convert gays to straight. Enlisted by his psychotherapist boyfriend, Jonathan, Frank                     finds that Apsey may not necessarily be a quack, after all. The reason for Frank's seeing Apsey                     becomes blurred is it for the article or for personal reasons? As Frank falls under Apsey's spell, his                     relationship with Jonathan deteriorates, and a fierce psychological tug of war erupts between the two                     persuasive doctors over the heart of mind of Frank. Frank must make decisions that eventually                     explode the lives of all of them.

​​​          January 1 - Connecticut
                    “Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition (CTAC)” The mission of the Connecticut TransAdvocacy                     Coalition (CTAC) is to make Connecticut a safe and tolerant place for the trans and gender non-                    conforming individual through education and social advocacy.

​​​          January 1 - ​New York
                    “nglccNY – New York LGBT & Allied Business Network” The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of                     Commerce New York (NGLCCNY) provides its members with transformational networking and                     educational opportunities that increase the financial, intellectual, and social capital of the Lesbian,                     Gay, Bisexual and Transgender business community.

​​​          October 1 - ​National
                    Jim Verraros came out on the American Idol Live Tour. He was the first American Idol finalist to do                     so and he remained the series' only publicly gay finalist for over three years. Because of his                     exposure he was recognized by organizations because of his contribution to the LGBT community                     and living as a role model.

​​​          June 4 - ​National
                    “The Matthew Shepard Story” Based on the true story of openly gay college student Matthew                     Shepard killed in an act of a hate crime by senseless violence and such cruelty that attracted global                     attention. Matthew's tragic death back in 1998 soon has changed the whole world forever.

​​​          August 1 - ​New York
                    Sylvia Rivera Law Project was founded to help guarantee that all people are free to self-determine                     their gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment,                     discrimination, or violence.

​​​          January 1 - Indiana
                    “Bloomington’s LGBTQ Film Festival”. The Bloomington PRIDE Film Festival explores the lives                     and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community through feature-length and short films, talkbacks, and                     programming that promote community-wide attitudes of awareness, acceptance, and appreciation of                     diversity.

​​​          October 4 - ​National
                    “The Trip”. When 19-year-old gay-rights activist Tommy and 24-year-old Alan first meet in 1973,                     they find themselves on the opposite sides of the political coin. Despite their many differences, they                     form a loving long-term relationship. In 1977, during Anita Bryant's crusade, an anti-gay book Alan                     wrote years before gets published without his consent. The book destroys Tommy's credibility as a                     well-known activist, resulting in Tommy and Alan's break-up. Seven years later, Alan is given a                     second chance, a reunion with Tommy and the opportunity to set things right.

President George W. Bush

Will Young

​​​          May 19 - ​Massachusetts
                    In May, the Reverend Laurie J. Auffant is called to serve Follen Church Society of Lexington,                     Massachusetts, thus becoming the first out transgender person in the Unitarian Universalist ministry

                    to be called to serve a congregation as a minister of religious education.

​​​          August 1 - ​National
                    “Issues 101”. A gay transfer student pledges to a predominantly straight fraternity where his                     "straight-with-issues" big brother has a steady girlfriend but privately relishes man-to-man sex.

 State equality and discrimination bills

Catalogued archive material by subject:

​​​          May 12 - ​National
                    Singer Will Young publicly came out as gay, pre-empting a tabloid newspaper from outing him. He                     also stated that he had never hidden it and was comfortable with his sexual orientation.

​​​          November 1 - ​National
                    Eighty-seven percent of Victory Fund’s 48 endorsed candidates win their races.

          January 1 – National
                    Eric Marcus publishes “Making Gay History: The Half-Century Fight for Lesbian & Gay Equal                     Rights

​​​          January 1 - California
                    “The San Francisco LGBT Center” The mission of the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual                     Transgender (LGBT) Community Center is to connect our diverse community to opportunities,                     resources and each other to achieve our vision of a stronger, healthier, and more equitable world for                     LGBT people and our allies. The Center is truly the heart, home and hands of the San Francisco                     LGBT community.

​​​          August 23 - ​National
                    “Unconditional Love”. After her husband unexpectedly leaves her, Grace Beasley (Kathy Bates)                     spontaneously travels to Great Britain to attend the funeral of Victor Fox, a singer she adored. There,                     she meets the lover of the dead pop star, played by Rupert Everett, and convinces him to return to                     Chicago with her to find the singer's killer. Guest appearance by Julie Andrews and Barry Manilow.

John Kitzhaber

​​​          February 22 - ​National
                    “P.S. Your Cat Is Dead”. Jimmy (Steve Guttenberg) and Kate (Cynthia Watros) are in the middle of                     a break-up and completely oblivious to the fact that they're being robbed, by a gay guy. Kate splits,                     leaving Jimmy alone in the house with the burglar (Lombardo Boyar). They confront one another,                     start talking, and suddenly Jimmy's wondering if he's really, you know, "sensitive".

​​​          June 21 - ​National
                    “Dahmer”. Biopic about notorious American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, taking place in both the past                     and the present.

​​​          March 1 - Illinois
                    David Cerda founds Hell In A Handbag Productions that focuses on translating current social issues                     into musical theater. It’s debut production was POSEIDON! An Upside-Down Musical.

Gwen Araujo

Matt Epling

​​​          November 13 - ​National
                    Vatican spokesman Dr. Joaquin Navarro-Valls blames clergy sexual abuse on gay priests.                     DignityUSA urges the bishops to "Stop Blaming Gay Priests" at the November U.S. Catholic Bishops                     Conference.

          January 1 – Michigan
                    Matt Epling, 17, died by suicide.

          January 1 – New York
                    Jai Rodriguez created his own musical cabaret show, titled Monday Night Twisted Cabaret, which                     ran at New York gay club xl.

​​​          January 1 - ​Colorado
                    Pete Chvany, Luigi Ferrer, James Green, Loraine Hutchins and Monica McLemore present at the                     Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Health Summit, held in Boulder Colo. This                     is the first time bisexual people, transgender people, and intersex people are recognized as co-equal                     partners on national level rather than gay and lesbian “allies” or tokens. Robyn Ochs delivers first bi-                    focused keynote during National Association of Lesbian and Gay Addiction Professionals.

​​​          March 20 - National
                    David Groff a poet and writer publishes “An American Family

​​​          January 1 - Oregon
                   “Confluence Willamette Valley LGBT Chorus”. aspires to provide a peaceful statement of                    unification of gays, lesbians, heterosexuals, bisexuals, and transgender individuals in our                                       communities. Confluence Chorus is dedicated to building bridges and honoring diversity through                    affirming the lives of LGBT and straight people in its music and community activities.

Andrea Zimbardi

          January 1 – Florida
                    University of Florida starting catcher Andrea Zimbardi settles a suit against the school charging that                     she was dismissed from the team because she is a lesbian. The suit restores one year of eligibility                     and requires university coaches to undergo training on LGB issues in sports.

​​​          January 1 - ​Maryland
                    “Hearts & Ears”. The mission of Hearts & Ears, Inc. is to advance the empowerment of Gay,                     Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning individuals who utilize mental health                     services through support, advocacy, raising awareness and educational opportunities.

          January 1 – Washington D.C.
                    J. D. Cerna starts writing for the LGBT newspaper “Washington Blade”

​​​          January 15 - ​National
                    The first issue of Genus Male, an annual anthology of anthropomorphic gay comics is published (Sin                     Factory/Radio Comix, 2002), and three issues have followed.

          January 1 – Michigan
                    Lansing Community College becomes the first community college in Michigan to offer domestic                     partner benefits to employees.

​​​          January 1 - Washington State
                    “Diverse Harmony. A Gay/Straight Alliance Youth Chorus” Diverse Harmony is the nation’s first                     queer-straight* alliance youth chorus. Based in Seattle, Washington, our 58-member chorus                     presents music that opens the hearts and minds of communities and provides a safe environment for                     youth of diverse backgrounds to share their love of music and be accepted for who they are.

Philip Walsted

​​​          January 1 - Tennessee
                    “Out & About Nashville” Out & About Nashville, Inc. debuted in the fall of 2002 as a monthly                     newspaper designed to fill a growing need in the Nashville LGBT community.

​​​          January 1 - Florida
                    “Pride Community Center of North Central Florida” Pride Community Center of North Central                     Florida belongs to the community.

​​​          June 1 - ​California
                    The California Legislative LGBT Caucus was founded; it is an American political organization                     composed of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of the California State                     Legislature. This group is contrasted to other LGBT Equality Caucuses in that the California caucus                     consists entirely of LGBT legislators while other LGBT Equality Caucuses consist of all orientations.                     Both, however, promote the promulgation of LGBT-affirming laws within the legislature.

​​​          May 13 - ​National
                    Harvey Fierstein publishes “The Sissy Duckling” a children's picture a 40 pages long book and                     intended for children ages 5–8. It follows the story of Elmer, a duckling who is mocked for being a                     "sissy" but who ultimately proves his bravery. It was made into an HBO children's special in 1999                     three years before the book was released, with Fierstein as the voice of Elmer the Duckling. The                     special was nominated for the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Individual Episode.