Milestones in the American Gay Rights Movement | American Experience | PBS

* 1988: The World Health Organization organizes the first World AIDS Day.* 1990: President George Bush signs the Ryan White Care Act, a federally funded program for people living with AIDS.* 1991: The red ribbon is adopted as a symbol of awareness and compassion for those living with HIV/AIDS.* 1996: The Department of Defense issues a directive prohibiting the U.S. Military from barring applicants based on their sexual orientation (Don't Ask, Don't Tell).* 1998: President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act into law, defining marriage as between one man and one woman.* 2003: Vermont becomes the first state to legalize civil unions between same-sex couples.* 2004: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that sodomy laws are unconstitutional (Lawrence v. Texas).* 2007: Massachusetts legalizes gay marriage, with other states following suit in subsequent years.* 2008: The Human Rights Campaign hosts the first American presidential forum focusing on LGBT issues.* 2009: California voters approve Proposition 8, making same-sex marriage illegal.* 2010: A federal judge rules that Prop 8 is unconstitutional.* 2011: The U.S. Senate votes to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.* 2015: New York State passes the Marriage Equality Act, legalizing gay marriage.* 2015: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states (Obergefell v. Hodges).