This details notable events in the Common Era West .
__NOTOC__
- - Nero becomes Emperor Of Rome . Nero married two men in legal ceremonies, with at least one spouse accorded the same honours as an empress. Gay relationships are accepted and institutionalized in this time period.
- - Justinian's Code outlaws homosexuality in Byzantium . However, the populations of Constantinople and other Byzantine cities are very much opposed to Justinian and Theodora on this issue, including the Christian Laity . The public resists attempts by both Justinian and Theodora to prosecute their rivals with the law.
- - In Early Medieval Visigothic Spain , there is great persecution of Scapegoats in an attempt to unite the Hispano - Roman majority with the Visigothic minority. These scapegoats include most notably Gays and Jews . Homosexuality is criminalized. However, outside of Spain, homosexuality remains completely legal, and even relatively accepted, in almost all of Europe.
- - An Eleventh Century Byzantine legal treatise makes it clear that gay unions are well-known and legal in early medieval Byzantine society.
- - In Scandinavia , Cult Transvestitism persisted for centuries. As well, only sons who inherited their fathers’ land could marry in early medieval Scandinavia. The others had to leave the land, and they joined warrior societies. Women, expected to remain strictly Chaste , and punished severely for violating this rule, were unavailable. Thus, in these warriors clubs, Pederasty was practiced as an institutionalized way of life, and a viable alternative to the untouchable women.
- - St. Peter Damian composed the ''Book of Gomorrah'', in which he luridly described several varieties of gay sex, and said that they were quite common, especially among priests. In this regard he was quite correct; nevertheless, he had no luck convincing his contemporaries that homosexuality was a grave problem that had to be stopped. While Pope Leo IX saw homosexuality as a "grave sin," he was nevertheless reluctant to come down as harshly as Peter Damian wanted him to.
- - Ivo Of Chartes attempts to convince Pope Urban II of the dangers of homosexuality. Ivo charged that Raoul/Ralph, Archbishop Of Tours , had the King Of France install John as Bishop Of Orleans . John was well-known as Ralph’s lover, and had even had relations with the king himself, which the king openly bragged about. Urban, however, did not see this as a major problem. John ruled effectively as bishop for almost fourty years and Ralph was well-known and well-respected, and continued to be so.
- - The Council Of London took measures to ensure that the public, quite tolerant of homosexuality at the time, knew that it was Sinful , marking a significant shift in church attitudes towards homosexuality, which previously had been more or less indifference, or very mild condemnation. Many Priests were Homosexuals , likely one of the causes of the change in attitude, as moral reformers such as Bernard Of Cluny called for change.
- - "Between 1250 and 1300 , Homosexual activity passed from being completely legal in most of Europe to incurring the Death Penalty in all but a few contemporary legal compilations." - John Boswell , ''Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality'' (1980)
, 1825-1895, the pioneer of the LGBT rights movement]]
- - Bavaria decriminalizes sexual acts between men
- - For the first time in its history Poland criminalizes homosexuality
- - The last known execution for homosexuality in Britain
- - In England , the penalty for conviction for sodomy is reduced from hanging to imprisonment
- - On August 29, 1867, Karl-Heinrich Ulrichs became the first self-proclaimed homosexual to speak out publicly for homosexual rights when he pleaded at the Congress of German Jurists in Munich for a resolution urging the repeal of anti-homosexual laws.
, 1868-1935, was a prominent German physician, Sexologist , and gay rights advocate.]]
- - The term "homosexuality" appears in print for the first time in a German pamphlet written by Karl-Maria Kertbeny (1824-1882).
- - Homosexuality is criminalized throughout Germany by Paragraph 175 of the Reich Criminal Code
- - The Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885, outlawing sexual relations between men (but not women), is given Royal Assent by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
- - the word ''bisexual'' is first used in its current sense in Charles Gilbert Chaddock's translation of Kraft-Ebing's '' Psychopathia Sexualis ''.
- - Oscar Wilde prosecuted under the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885 for "gross indecency" and sentenced to two years in prison.
, 1854-1900]]
- - Adolf Brand , the activist leader of the Gemeinschaft der Eigenen, working to overturn Paragraph 175 , publishes a piece "outing" the imperial chancellor of Germany, Prince Bernhard Von Bülow . The Prince sues Brand for libel and clears his name; Brand is sentenced to 18 months in prison.
- - Emma Goldman first begins speaking publicly in favor of gay rights
- - The word ''faggot'' is first used in print in reference to gays in a vocabulary of criminal slang published in Portland, Oregon: "All the fagots '' {Link without Title} '' (sissies) will be dressed in drag at the ball tonight".
- - The new Polish Criminal Code again decriminalizes homosexuality in the whole of Poland
- - The Nazi Party bans homosexual groups. Some homosexuals are sent to concentration camps. Nazi's burn the library of Magnus Hirschfeld 's Institute For Sexual Research , and destroy the Institute. Denmark decriminalizes homosexuality.
- - the first use of the Pink Triangle for gay men in Nazi concentration camps
- - Barney Frank , American politician is born March 31st
- - Sweden decriminalizes homosexuality
prisoner Erwin Schimitzek, interned in Auschwitz in 1941, died in 1942.]]
- - Upon the liberation of Concentration Camp s by Allied forces, those interned for homosexuality are not freed, but required to serve out the full term of their sentences under Paragraph 175
- - "COC" (Dutch acronym for "Center for Culture and Recreation"), the earliest Homophile organisation, is founded in the Netherlands. It is the oldest surviving LGBT organization.
- - "Forbundet af 1948" ("League of 1948"), a homophile group, is formed in Denmark.
published by the Mattachine Society ]]
- - Decriminalization in Czechoslovakia and Hungary
- - Illinois becomes first U.S. State to remove sodomy law from its criminal code.
- - Israel decriminalizes de-facto sodomy and sexual acts between men by judicial decision against the enforcement of the relevant section in the old British-mandate law from 1936 (which in fact was never enforced).
- - The National Planning Conference of Homophile Organizations is established. (It became ''NACHO'' (North American Conference of Homophile Organizations) in 1967).
- - Sexual Offences Act passed in England And Wales allowing sex between 2 men who are 21 or over. The book "Homosexual Behavior Among Males" by Wainwright Churchill breaks ground as a scientific study approaching homosexuality as a fact of life rather than as a sin, crime or disease. Oscar Wilde Bookshop, the world's first gay and lesbian bookstore, opens in New York City.
- - Paragraph 175 is eased in East Germany . Canada repeals all anti-sodomy laws and Bulgaria decriminalize adult homosexual relations.
- - Stonewall Riots - Paragraph 175 is eased in West Germany - Homosexual behavior legalized in Canada . FREE, first gay student group formed in the United States.
- - The Democratic National Convention becomes the first major political party in America to endorse a gay rights platform plank. Homosexuality decriminalized in Scotland . David McReynolds becomes the first openly GLBT individual to run for President Of The United States , appearing on the Socialist Party U S A ticket.
- - Moral Majority starts anti-gay crusade. Norway becomes the first country in the world to enact a law to prevent discrimination against homosexuals
- - Gay Games I. Homosexuality decriminalised in Northern Ireland . The Ten Percent Society becomes the first gay rights organization in North Dakota . Wisconsin becomes the first US state to ban anti-gay discrimination.
- - Massachusetts Representative Gerry Studds reveals he is a homosexual on the floor of the House, becoming the first openly Gay member of Congress.
- - Massachusetts voters reelect representative Gerry Studds, despite his admission the year before that he is gay. New South Wales decriminlizes Homosexual Acts Between concenting adults.
- - France prohibits discrimination based on lifestyle (moeurs) in employment and services. First memorial to gay Holocaust victims is dedicated
- - Homosexual Law Reform Act passed in New Zealand , legalizing sex between males over 16
- - ACT UP stages its first major demonstration, seventeen protesters are arrested. U.S. Congressman Barney Frank comes out as gay. Homomonument opened in Amsterdam, a memorial to persecuted gays and lesbians.
- - Sweden is first country to pass laws protecting gays and lesbians regarding social services, taxes, and inheritances. Section 28 passes in England And Wales ; Scotland brings in almost identical legislation under Clause 2A - Canadian MP Svend Robinson comes out as gay. Israel decriminalizes ( De Jure ) sodomy and sexual acts between men (the relevant section in the old British-mandate law from 1936 was never enforced).
- - Denmark is first country in the world to enact Civil Union laws for same-sex couples, with most of the same rights as marriage
|
