Changes

* Rev. Elder Troy Perry founded the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in 1968 which served as a specific outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.<ref>http://www.mcccharleston.org/about/troyperry.htm</ref>

* Rev. Elder Troy Perry founded the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in 1968 which served as a specific outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.<ref>http://www.mcccharleston.org/about/troyperry.htm</ref>

*[[Stonewall Riots]] of 1969 marked a turning point within the Civil Rights Era of the United States.  New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn and for the first time the gay patrons fought back which started several days of rioting.<ref>[http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/exhibitions/sw25/case1.html "Stonewall 25: Cases 1-2"]. ''columbia.edu''.</ref> This bar had been operating illegally by bribing the police and was owned by the [[mafia]]. The riots occurred when the police finally came to shut down the illegal activities occurring at the site.

*[[Stonewall Riots]] of 1969 marked a turning point within the Civil Rights Era of the United States.  New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn and for the first time the homosexual patrons fought back which started several days of rioting.<ref>[http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/exhibitions/sw25/case1.html "Stonewall 25: Cases 1-2"]. ''columbia.edu''.</ref> This bar had been operating illegally by bribing the police and was owned by the [[mafia]]. The riots occurred when the police finally came to shut down the illegal activities occurring at the site.

* American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in 1973.<ref>http://archive.psych.org/edu/other_res/lib_archives/archives/197308.pdf</ref>

* American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in 1973.<ref>http://archive.psych.org/edu/other_res/lib_archives/archives/197308.pdf</ref>

* 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy as crafted by Gen. Colin Powell and approved by Pres. Clinton takes affect in 1993. This measure allows homosexuals to serve in the US military.  Sexual orientation will not prohibit anyone from serving though they must not engage in homosexual conduct or openly say they are gay.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE5D81F30F933A15754C0A965958260</ref>

* 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy as crafted by Gen. Colin Powell and approved by Pres. Clinton takes affect in 1993. This measure allows homosexuals to serve in the US military.  Sexual orientation will not prohibit anyone from serving though they must not engage in homosexual conduct or openly say they are gay.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE5D81F30F933A15754C0A965958260</ref>

* Gay marriage became legal in Massachusetts on May 17, 2004 when homosexual couples were granted the same right as heterosexual couples.  This right was preceded by years of legal wrangling in the state courts.<ref>http://www.hrc.org/issues/5489.htm</ref>

* Same-sex "marriage" became legal in Massachusetts on May 17, 2004 when homosexual couples were granted the same right as heterosexual couples.  This right was preceded by years of legal wrangling in the state courts.<ref>http://www.hrc.org/issues/5489.htm</ref>

== Legal Success ==

== Legal Success ==