1998
U.S.: In Northampton, Mass., 15-year-old Matthew Santoni is charged as an adult in the murder of Jeffrey LaMotte, 16, a high school classmate. Santoni stabbed La Motte to death to stop him from making homophobic remarks about him. * President Clinton signs an executive order that protects civilian lesbian and gay federal employees from job discrimination based on sexual orientation. * Composer Steven Sondheim says: 'It was never easy being a homosexual. Everyone knew the theater was full of homosexuals, but nobody admitted to being so … I think people tried to make passes at me, and I didn't know what they were doing.' * A small Monroe group called Wisconsin Christians United rent five billboards to post anti-gay messages they hope will 'reverse the tide of evil that's infiltrated our country.' * Australia: About 50 gays and supporters wearing rainbow sashes are refused communion at Melbourne's St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church by Archbishop George Pell. * Vietnam: The country's national assembly bans gay marriage.
1993
U.S.: The Senate confirms Roberta Achtenberg to be Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The New York Times headline reads: 'Lesbian Confirmed In Housing Position With Votes To Spare.' * The California State Assembly passes a law that requires condom manufacturers to disclose their products' failure rate. * Steven T. Plummer, the Episcopal bishop of the Navajos, is barred from religious duties and placed on a one-year leave of absence after being accused of sexual misconduct with a teenage boy. * Philadelphia Roman Catholic cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua testifies before the city council against a domestic-partnership proposal. * Russia: President Boris Yeltsin signs a decree repealing Article 121.1, the paragraph in Russia's penal code that makes consensual sex between adult males punishable by five years in prison. * Japan: Airman Apprentice Terrence M. Helvey pleads guilty to murdering his shipmate Allen Schindler, in a public bathroom outside of the U.S. Navy Base at Sasebo. He is sentenced to life in prison by a jury of eight Navy and Marine officers.
1988
U.S.: Mother Teresa and Mayor Art Agnos announce that the Missionaries of Charity will be opening a shelter for PWAs in San Francisco. * Sixteen-year-old PWA Ryan White, replying to the question, 'How does your Christian faith help you with the disease?': 'I've learned that God doesn't punish people. I've learned that God doesn't dislike homosexuals, like a lot of Christians think. AIDS isn't their fault, just like it isn't my fault. God loves homosexuals as much as he loves everybody else.' * Paula Nielson, the transsexual host of a religious TV show, tells the Portland Oregonia: 'I don't really like the term drag evangelist, but so far it's all I've come up with to call myself.' * Dominican Republic: British born-Tony Award-winning actor George Rose, 68, is tortured, robbed, and then clubbed to death by his 18-year-old lover and three accomplices.
1983
U.S.: Dakin Williams, brother of Tennessee Williams, files a legal objection to his brother's will. Tennessee left the bulk of his $11 million estate to set up a fund in his name for indigent writers. Dakin claims his brother wrote the will while his mind was impaired by drugs. * The International Ladies Garment Workers Union becomes the latest in a string of unions to adopt a pro-gay rights policy. * Early gay-rights advocate Dr. Hendrick M. Ruitenbeek, author and editor of more than 30 books, including Homosexuality and Modern Society, dies after a short illness at age 55.