Feb. 5, 2005 — IRIN Report "Iraq: Male homosexuality still a taboo" Issued
The Integrated Regional Information Networks, based in Kenya, states that "honor killings" by Iraqis against gay family members are common and given some legal protection. The article also states that the 2001 amendment to the criminal code stipulating the death penalty for homosexuality "has not been changed," despite Paul Bremer's clear order that the criminal code to go back to its 1980s edition.
Feb. 6, 1979 — First Gay Person Elected to Public Office in Italy
Angelo Pezzana is elected as a member of Parliament. He has written several books, including “Dentro e fuori - Una autobiografia omosessuale” (1996) about the gay liberation movement in Italy.
Feb. 7, 2012 — Court Ruled Prop 8 Unconstitutional
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel rules 2–1 that the ban on same-sex marriage in California is unconstitutional. "Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples," writes Judge Stephen Reinhardt in the decision.
Feb. 8, 1990 — U.S. Senate Passed Hate Crime Statistics Act
The bill requires that the federal government compile statistics on hate crimes against gays and lesbians. It is the first law to extend federal recognition to homosexuals.
Feb. 9, 2011 — Canadian House Passed Law Protecting Gender Expression Rights
A bill protecting the rights to freedom of gender expression and gender identity passes in the House of Commons, amending the Canada Human Rights Code. This bill is intended to protect gender-variant individuals from discrimination. Offenses against gender-variant individuals will be punished to the same extent as racially-motivated crimes.
Feb. 10, 1916 — Vardaman Appeared in Burlesque Show
The Logansport Journal-Tribune promises on February 6 that "Vardaman 'The Gay Deceiver' will deceive you as he has deceived thousands before you." Mansel Vardaman Boyle was a famous and successful female impersonator of the day.
Feb. 11, 1977 — First Save Our Children Press Conf.
Anita Bryant, founder of Save Our Children, gives her first press conference on behalf of the foundation. She claims she has proof that that homosexuals are "trying to recruit our children to homosexuality."
Feb. 12, 2004 — San Fran Mayor Ordered that Marriage Licenses Be Granted to Gay Couples
Gavin Newsom makes the order to the City and County of San Francisco despite the lack of legal recognition by the state of California or the United States. Del Martin and Phyllis Lyons are issued a marriage license on this day.
All of the information above has been reprinted with permission from Quist, an LGBT mobile history app that can be found on iOS and Android devices. Visit HYPERLINK "http://www.quistapp.com/"www.Quistapp.com for more information. The app was created by Sarah Prager and launched in July of 2013.
