The Leather History Timeline

2015 and Later

by Tony DeBlase and others

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Timeline Table of Contents

Introduction

The origin of this edition of the timeline, the version control conventions adopted, and a call for contributions including corrections, updates, and additions.

5000 BCE to 1969

1970 to 1984

1985 to 1999

2000 to 2014

2015 and later

2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029

Other Versions of the LHT and Similar Timelines

Further Reading

Additional resources about the history and mythology of BDSM and Leather.

Ambrosio archives historical documents

The Leather Archives and Museum stopped updating the Leather History Timeline on their website in 2014. All entries after 2014 are additions by other contributors.

2015
Time	Event
2015	Patrick Smith --- Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2015 --- from Los Angeles, California wins the IML 2015 title. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2015	According to the LGBTQ History Timeline Reference - GLSEN: Cincinnati votes to ban reparative/conversion therapy of LGBTQ youth. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2015	According to the LGBTQ History Timeline Reference - GLSEN: MTV's critically acclaimed series True Life airs an episode covering the topic of living and being genderqueer, bringing to light for many viewers at home (beyond the introduction to the world outside of the gender binary) how to properly use the singular "they" and other neopronouns. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2015	According to the LGBTQ History Timeline Reference - GLSEN: Inspired by Black Lives Matter, students at the University of Missouri began the #ConcernedStudent1950 movement in response to racism, sexism, and other issues in the administration. The movement was led by queer-identified black students, such as student body president Payton Head. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2015	According to the LGBTQ History Timeline Reference - GLSEN: The US Department of Health and Human Services issues an official revision that shortens the deferral period for blood donation from men who have sex with men. In addition to shortening the deferral period from a life ban to 12 months, the new revision includes the statement that for the purposes of questioning, gender should be considered on a "self-identified and self-reported" basis. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2015	Release of the short film Diner Noir Istanbul. The screenplay is by Catherine Robbe-Grillet, the author of The Image.
2015	Release of the film adaptation of the loathsomely bad novel Fifty Shades of Gray. The filmmakers made a heroic effort to produce a mildly entertaining professional film despite the awful source material. The selection of songs in the soundtrack deserves special praise. See Also: Philomena Cunk and Barry Shitpeas on 50 Shades (YouTube VIDEO 1:48) contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2015, May	The Gallup's Values and Beliefs poll shows that a record high 60% of Americans support same-sex marriage. That is more than double the percentage in the 1996 poll. Cite: Poll Finds Support for Gay Marriage at All-Time High by Jack Linshi for Time Magazine on May 19, 2015 contrib. Ambrosio. Oct 7
2015, June 9	The United States Department of Defense adds sexual orientation to the Military Equal Opportunity policy. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2015, June 26	In ruling on the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court of the United States decides that the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution grants same-sex couples the right to marry. The decision requires all states to license marriages between same-sex couples and to recognize all marriages that were lawfully performed out of state. The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution states: No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. See Also: Press Release from the Human Rights Watch Obergefell v. Hodges Explained (VIDEO 5:55) 2015 Landmark Cases - Episode # 2 - Obergefell v. Hodges (VIDEO 7:35) contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.

Top || Introduction || 5000 BCE to 1969 || 1970-1984 || 1985-1999 ||
2000-2014 || 2015 and later || Other Versions of the LHT and Similar Timelines

2015
Time	Event
2016	David "Tigger" Bailey, Mr. New Jersey Leather 2016, from Howell, New Jersey wins the IML 2016. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2016	Release of the motion picture Pet (not to be confused with The Pet from 2007.) contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2016, Feb. 4	Release of the study Addicted to Pain: A Preliminary Model of Sexual Masochism as Addiction by Holly Kurt and Natti Ronel in the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. See Also: Is Masochism Addictive? contrib. Ambrosio. Oct. 5, 2016
2016, March	Goldstone Books, a charity bookstore in Swansea, Wales, received so many donationed copies of the book Fifty Shades of Grey that they built a substantial fort with the unsubstantial material. In a post on Facebook, the store's manager asked the public to stop donating that tome. Cite: Fifty Shades of Grey: the book you literally can't give away on theguardian.com Charity Bookstore Begs People To Stop Donating Copies Of Fifty Shades of Grey on boredpanda.com Goldstone Books on Facebook Image Source: Goldstone Books contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2016, March	In an interview with Chris Matthews of MSNBC, Donald Trump, the Republican Candidate for US President, said "there has to be some form of punishment" for women who have abortions. Later that day he released a statement clarifying his stand: If Congress were to pass legislation making abortion illegal and the federal courts upheld this legislation, or any state were permitted to ban abortion under state and federal law, the doctor or any other person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman. The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb. My position has not changed - like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2016, June 12	Omar Mir Seddique Mateen (November 16, 1986 - June 12, 2016) killed 49 people and wounded 53 more in a mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in the United States. Police shot and killed him. He had been born on November 16, 1986 in New York to Afghan-American parents. At the time of the shooting he lived in Port St. Lucie, Florida. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2016, June 24	US Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump tweets Thank you to the LGBT community! I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs. By more people he might have meant Moslems like Omar Mateen, the Pulse night club shooter. On July 21, 2016 He would say something similar in his speech at the Republican National Convention where he accepted his party's nomination. Only weeks ago, in Orlando, Florida, 49 wonderful Americans were savagely murdered by an Islamic terrorist. This time the terrorist targeted our LGBT community. As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBT citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2016, June 24	According to the Archives.gov web site: President Obama designated a new national monument at the historic site of the Stonewall Uprising in New York City to honor the broad LGBT equality movement. The new 'Stonewall National Monument' will protect the area where, on June 28, 1969, a community's uprising in response to a police raid sparked the modern LGBT civil rights movement in the United States. In addition to protecting more land and water than any President in history -- more than 265 million acres -- President Obama has sought to protect places that are diverse, culturally and historically significant, and that reflect the story of all Americans. Earlier this year, President Obama designated the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, a site that has been central to the fight for women's equality for over a century. By honoring the history and accomplishments of the movement for LGBT equality, today's designation will be a historic moment in this effort towards a more inclusive National Park System. See Also: Announcing the Stonewall National Monument (VIDEO 3:41) contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2016, July	Grindr crashes in Cleveland during Republican National Convention. See Also: Cleveland Was Bombarded with White Dudes on Grindr During the RNC by Candace Bryan for Vice.com on July 27, 2016. An analysis of the number of Grindr users within a five-mile radius around the Quicken Loans Arena shows there was a disproportionate increase in activity during the RNC. .... As of last Wednesday, a representative from Grindr tells Broadly, 'more than a thousand guys have used the app near the Quicken Loans Arena.' The total attendance of the RNC is estimated to have been roughly 20,000 people, so this data suggests about five percent of attendees used Grindr during the convention. Satrical Video: Tampa Bay Gay Prostitutes Gearing Up For Flood Of Closeted Republicans from The Onion (2:45) Simliar crash would be reputed to occur during the Milwaukee RNC in 2024 and the Charlie Kirk's memorial service in 2025. contrib. Ambrosio. Nov. 29, 2025
2016, October 30	Donald Trump waved a rainbow Pride flag baring the message "LGBT^s for Trump" at a political rally in Greeley, Colo. Because the text was written upside down (with what appeared to be a shapie), Mr. Trump held the flag upside down so the crowd could read the LGBT community's endorsement. Jason Miller, Trump campaign spokesman, said "Mr. Trump is campaigning to be President for ALL Americans and was proud to carry the 'LGBT for Trump' rainbow flag." Chris Barron, founder of LGBT for Trump, called him "the most pro-LGBT Pres candidate ever nominated by either party." That was despite of Trump's opposition to same sex marriage, his promise to sign the anti-LGBT First Amendment Defense Act, his statement that he was "with the state" on North Carolina anti-trans House Bill 2, and his choice of anti-LGBT Indiana Gov. Mike Pence for running mate. See Also: VIDEO: Donald Trump Waves LGBT Flag at Rally in Colorado (:29) READ: Donald Trump's Advocate Interview Where He Defends Gays, Mexicans 2000 contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.

Top || Introduction || 5000 BCE to 1969 || 1970-1984 || 1985-1999 ||
2000-2014 || 2015 and later || Other Versions of the LHT and Similar Timelines

2017
Time	Event
2017	Ralph Bruneau --- Mr. GNI (Gay Naturists International) Leather 2016 --- from Los Angeles, California wins the IML 2017 title. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2017	Release of the film Tom of Finland, a biopic about Touko Laaksonen, the erotic artist who became known to leathermen of the world as Tom of Finland. (Died 1992). contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2017	Release of the film Professor Marston & The Wonder Women, a biopic about Dr. William Moulton Marston, Dr. Elizabeth Marston, and Olive Byrne. William Marston wrote the Emotions of Normal People (1928), contributed to the development of the lie detector, and co-created Wonder Woman. Cast: Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall, Bella Heathcote, and Connie Britton The movie's page on Facebook According to ANNAPURNA on Youtube: Details the unconventional life of Dr. William Marston, the Harvard psychologist and inventor who helped invent the modern lie detector test and created Wonder Woman in 1941. Marston was in a polyamorous relationship with his wife Elizabeth, a psychologist and inventor in her own right, and Olive Byrne, a former student who became an academic. Cite: Youtube contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2017, January 9	US Secretary of State, John Kerry apologizes for the federal government's past discrimination toward employees and applicants based on sexual orientation (e.g., the Lavender Scare.) From a press statement dated January 9, 2017 on the State Department website: Throughout my career, including as Secretary of State, I have stood strongly in support of the LGBTI community, recognizing that respect for human rights must include respect for all individuals. LGBTI employees serve as proud members of the State Department and valued colleagues dedicated to the service of our country. For the past several years, the Department has pressed for the families of LGBTI officers to have the same protections overseas as families of other officers. In 2015, to further promote LGBTI rights throughout the world, I appointed the first ever Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons. In the past - as far back as the 1940s, but continuing for decades - the Department of State was among many public and private employers that discriminated against employees and job applicants on the basis of perceived sexual orientation, forcing some employees to resign or refusing to hire certain applicants in the first place. These actions were wrong then, just as they would be wrong today. On behalf of the Department, I apologize to those who were impacted by the practices of the past and reaffirm the Department's steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion for all our employees, including members of the LGBTI community. See Also: Secretary of State John Kerry Formally Apologizes for Past LGBT Discrimination in TIME Magazine. State Department Apologizes For Decades Of Anti-LGBT Discrimination on NPR Johnson, David K., The Lavender Scare (University of Chicago Press; First Edition, Enlarged, March 22, 2023. ISBN-10: 0226825728, ISBN-13: 978-0226825724 The Lavender Scare: The official website for a documentary about the Lavender Scare. LGBTQ Persecution in the United States - Lavender Scare DOCUMENTARY (YouTube Video) contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2017, July 26	US President Trump announced via tweet a ban on transgender people serving in the military. See Also: Donald Trump's past statements about LGBT rights contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.

Top || Introduction || 5000 BCE to 1969 || 1970-1984 || 1985-1999 ||
2000-2014 || 2015 and later || Other Versions of the LHT and Similar Timelines

2018
Time	Event
2018	James Lee --- Mr. Kentucky Leather 2017 --- from Lexington, Kentucky wins the IML 2018 title. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2018	Jack MacCullum, a Drummer North America (D.N.A.) titleholder purchases the rights to Drummer magazine and its associated events from Martijn Bakker. (Drummer had ceased publication in 1999.) Source: Race Bannon. 'Drummer' redux: famed leather magazine gets a reboot. The Bay Area Reporter. November 6, 2019. contrib. Ambrosio April 3, 2023.
2018, September 6	Master Ces (pronounced Chess) Williams of Houston passed away on the morning of September 6, 2018. I had spoken to her on occasion when she visited Austin or I visited Houston. I was always impressed with how much she cared. She was a lovely person who cared deeply for the Leather and BDSM communities. I admire her, and I regret not making the effort to know her better. See Also: Becoming Just Ces by Ces Williams Master Ces Williams talks about Women's Leatherfest International. In an interview for the Women's Leather History Project. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.

Top || Introduction || 5000 BCE to 1969 || 1970-1984 || 1985-1999 ||
2000-2014 || 2015 and later || Other Versions of the LHT and Similar Timelines

2019
Time	Event
2019	Jack Thompson --- Leatherman of Color 2019 --- from Baltimore, Maryland wins the IML 2019 title. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2019	Greenery Press closes its new books program in 2019 upon the retirement of editorial director Janet W. Hardy. It stops publishing new titles. Cite: From "Get to Know Us" section of Greenery's Website (now defunct.) contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2019, Jan. 22	The Supreme Court declines to hear cases challenging the Trump-Pence Administration's ban on transgender troops. The administration moves forward with its policy. contrib. Ambrosio. Oct. 5
2019, Oct.	Jack MacCullum resumes publication of Drummer after a twenty year hiatus. The new run of the magazine starts with issue 215. Source: Race Bannon. 'Drummer' redux: famed leather magazine gets a reboot. The Bay Area Reporter. November 6, 2019. contrib. Ambrosio. April 3, 2023.

Top || Introduction || 5000 BCE to 1969 || 1970-1984 || 1985-1999 ||
2000-2014 || 2015 and later || Other Versions of the LHT and Similar Timelines

2020
Time	Event
2020	The annual IML contest is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2020	The Twentieth Anniversary of Black Rose contrib. Chris M. Dec 2022.
2020, Sept. 29	Eric Trump claims that LGBTQ people will "come out in full force" to support his father, Donald Trump in his bid for the U.S. presidency. According to scientific poll of LGBTQ voters conducted by GLAAD, 76% of LGBT votes support VP Joe Biden. contrib. Chris M. Dec 2022.
2020, Oct. 15	The Supreme Court turns down the appeal of Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk who had been sued for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. concur in that decision, saying the case did not cleanly present questions warranting the court's review, but they issue a four-page statement denouncing the harm they said the 2015 decision, Obergefell v. Hodges, had done to religious freedom. contrib. Chris M. Dec 2022.

Top || Introduction || 5000 BCE to 1969 || 1970-1984 || 1985-1999 ||
2000-2014 || 2015 and later || Other Versions of the LHT and Similar Timelines

2021
Time	Event
2021	For the second year in a row, the annual IML contest is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2021, Jan 8	In a cringe inducing television interview with Gayle King that embarased Leather Daddies and boys/bois nation-wide, Miya Ponsetto (a.k.a. "Soho Karen"), a 22-year-old woman who was filmed tackling a Black teenager after falsely accusing him of stealing her phone, appeared wearing a baseball cap that read "Daddy." Ponsetto wore the hat despite the advice of her lawyer who subsequently dropped Ponsetto as her client. In what was mostly likely an unrelated move, Urban Outfitters, the retailer of the Daddy hat, removed it from their inventory. contrib. Ambrosio. December 2022.
2021, Jan 25	President Biden reverses the ban on transgender troops serving in the military. contrib. Ambrosio. October 6, 2024.
2021, May 4	The International Deaf Leather (IDL) organization disolves after 30 years. Source: Press Release posted to the Leather Journal website on May 4, 2021. contrib. Ambrosio. April 5, 2023.
2021, May 26	Vendela Zane, aka Martina Zukoski Palecco, of South Scranton Pennsylvania passes away. She was Ms Baltimore Eagle 2000. She had competed for IMsL in Toronto in 2000. She had founded Women of Discipline in 2001. See Also: Vendela Zane - May 26, 2021 by Rik Newton Treadway for The Leather Journal on March 17, 2022 contrib. Ambrosio. Oct. 14, 2024.
2021, June	The colors of the Leather Pride Flag are planned to illuminate the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco> See Video: Leather, Latex & BDSM Flag on Salesforce Tower (1:26) contrib. Ambrosio. Oct. 14, 2024.

Top || Introduction || 5000 BCE to 1969 || 1970-1984 || 1985-1999 ||
2000-2014 || 2015 and later || Other Versions of the LHT and Similar Timelines

2022
Time	Event
2022	After being canceled for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, IML returns. Gael Leung Chong Wo --- Mr. Leather Belgium 2020/2021 --- of Ghent, Belgium wins the IML 2022 title. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2022, Feb.	Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton releases a formal nonbinding legal opinion that performing certain "sex-change" procedures on children, and prescribing puberty-blockers to them, is "child abuse" under Texas law. Later, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate parents who provide this health care to their transgender children. See Also: Press Release from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas: AG Paxton Declares So-Called Sex-Change Procedures on Children and Prescription of Puberty Blockers to be "Child Abuse" Under Texas Law contrib. Ambrosio. Feb. 5, 2023.
2022, March 9	Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs the "Parental Rights in Education" bill, which bans public school teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in classrooms, particularly from kindergarten through grade 3, or in ways deemed inappropriate for the student's age. Supporters argue it empowers parents to control when and how LGBTQ topics are introduced, while opponents, dubbing it the "Don't Say Gay" bill, warn it harms LGBTQ children by erasing their identities. Critics, including The Trevor Project, highlight the potential mental health risks for LGBTQ youth and oppose the law's parental notification requirements, which could force schools to disclose a student's LGBTQ status without their consent. See Also: Florida's governor signs controversial law opponents dubbed 'Don't Say Gay,' by Jaclyn Diaz on NPR.org EncarnaciÃ³n, Omar G. "Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Is Part of the State's Long, Shameful History." Time (New York City), May 12, 2022. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2022, June	Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office requests from the Texas Department of Public Safety a list of individuals who had changed their gender on their Texas driver's licenses and other department records during the past two years. contrib. Ambrosio. Dec. 2022.
2022, June 24	The United States Supreme Court rules in the Case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization and as a result effectively overturns Roe v. Wade allowing states to ban abortions. Many liberals became concerned that this was only the first in many reversals of the court's past progressive decisions including these two rulings in support of gay marriage: On June 26, 2013, in the Case United States v. Windsor, the court found Section 3 of the DOMA unconstitutional. On June 26, 2015, in the Case of Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court had invalidated DOMA and any enforcement it had. Justice Clarence Thomas writes a concurring opinion to Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization indicating his belief that the Supreme Court should reconsider past decisions protecting same-sex relationships, marriage equality, and access to contraceptives. His opinion reads in part: In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court's substantive due process precedents, including Griswold^[1], Lawrence^[2], and Obergefell. Because any substantive due process decision is 'demonstrably erroneous,' we have a duty to 'correct the error' established in those precedents. After overruling these demonstrably erroneous decisions, the question would remain whether other constitutional provisions guarantee the myriad rights that our substantive due process cases have generated. [W]e would need to decide important antecedent questions, including whether the privileges or immunities clause protects any rights that are not enumerated in the Constitution and, if so, how to identify those rights. (Some observers were critical that Thomas did not include Loving v. Virginia among the cases that the Supreme Court should revisit. That case established a right to interracial marriage in 1967. That right is not named explicitly in the constitution. Thomas is the only Justice who wrote an opinion that didn't cite that case.) [1] On June 7, 1965 in Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court had decided that right to privacy can be inferred from several amendments in the Bill of Rights, and this right prevents states from making the use of contraception by married couples illegal. [2] On June 26, 2003 in Lawrence v. Texas, the Supreme Court had decided that the Texas statute making it a crime for two persons of the same sex to engage in certain intimate sexual conduct (i.e., the Texas sodomy law) violates the Due Process Clause. See Also: Justice Thomas: SCOTUS 'should reconsider' contraception, same-sex marriage rulings Thomas didn't mention interracial marriage, and that's worth talking about on courthousenews.com Samuel L. Jackson Slams 'Uncle Clarence' Thomas for Hypocrisy on Interracial Marriage on indiewire.com Samuel Jackson's Tweet Here's Why Justice Thomas Didn't Mention Interracial Marriage When He Asked the Court to Rethink Several Cases After Overturning Roe v. Wade by Aaron Keller on lawandcrime.com Image Source: Facebook/Ginni Lamp Thomas contrib. Ambrosio. Dec. 11, 2022.
2022, Aug. 5	Former journalist Kari Lake won the Republican primary for governor of Arizona. Lake had attacked drag queens as "groomers" and dangerous for children despite having been a longtime friend with a drag queen, Barbara Seville. Saville had even performed at Lake's home for her birthday (with Lake's children present) and a baby shower at her house (where Lake introduced Saville to her young daughter.)
2022, November 19-20	On the eve of the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, a lone gunman killed five people and injured thenty-five in a mass shooting at Club Q, the only LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. The five people murdered were: Daniel Aston Raymond Green Vance Kelly Loving Ashley Paugh Derrick Rump U.S. Army veteran Richard M. Fierro, Thomas James, and an unidentified trans woman (or a drag performer) subdued the shooter who was later taken into custody by police. An attorney for the accused gunman says his client identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns. A neighbor of the accused states that they never mentioned it. contrib. Ambrosio. late 2022.
2022, December 8	In response to the US Supreme Court overturning Row v. Wade in June, the US House of Representatives passes the Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA) which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA.) (To clarify the difference between these acts: The Respect for Marriage Act defends marriage for same sex and interracial couples, while the Defense of Marriage Act does not defend or respect marriage --- at least not for everyone. The names are confusing.) contrib. Ambrosio. Dec. 11, 2022.
2022, December 13	President Joe Biden signs the Respect for Marriage Act into law. It requires that all states recognize same sex and interracial marriages. contrib. Ambrosio. Dec. 11, 2022.

Top || Introduction || 5000 BCE to 1969 || 1970-1984 || 1985-1999 ||
2000-2014 || 2015 and later || Other Versions of the LHT and Similar Timelines

2023
Time	Event
2023	On the 100-year anniversary of Sholem Asch's God of Vengeance being shut down on Broadway, Administrators at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Florida's Duval County canceled a student production of Indecent by Paula Vogel. The play examines how the cast and producer of an English language production of Sholem Asch's God of Vengeance were arrested on obscenity charges in 1923. Madeline Scotti, a student who had been cast in the production, attributed the decision to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law. The school district issued a statement that read 'Indecent' contains adult sexual dialog that is inappropriate for student cast members and student audiences The statement continues The decision has no relevance to any legislation but is rather a function of our responsibilities to ensure students engage in educational activities appropriate for their age. Cite: Cramer, Philissa "Florida school board cancels Paula Vogel's 'Indecent,' a 'queer Jewish love story' about a censored Yiddish play," Jewish Telegraphic Agency. January 9, 2023 Feldman, Ella "Florida High School Cancels 'Indecent,' a Play About Censorship on Broadway in 1923" Smithsonian Magazine. January 13, 2023. contrib. Ambrosio. Jan. 17, 2023
2023, Jan. 19	Brazilian drag queen, Eula Rochard, claims that serial liar and enbattled freshman Republican congressman George Santos performed as a drag queen in Rio de Janeiro under the name "Kitara Ravache" and even competed for the Miss Gay Rio De Janeiro drag beauty pagent. Santos denied the assertion at first. On Twitter he wrote The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag Queen or 'performed' as a drag Queen is categorically false. The media continues to make outrageous claims about my life while I am working to deliver results. But after the evidence continued to mount, he told reporters, I was young, and I had fun at a festival. Sue me for having a life. What many critics found offensive was not his drag performances but rather his association with politicians who demonized drag shows and drag queens as well as a perceived hypocrisy in his support of conservative social causes including Florida's "Parental Rights in Education" (i.e., "Don't Say Gay" law.) In a Facebook video he stated The Left is hellbent on creating a false narrative because they want to groom our kids. As a gay man, I unapologetically support this law! Joseph Murray (Santos' attorney) released a statement that claims George Santos represents the kind of progress that the Left is so threatened by—a gay, Latino, immigrant and Republican who won a Biden district in overwhelming fashion by showing everyday voters that there is a better option than the broken promises and failed policies of the Democratic Party. See Also: 'Openly Gay' Rep.-Elect George Santos Didn't Disclose Divorce With Woman Embattled U.S. Rep. George Santos was drag queen in Brazil pageants, associates say Rep. George Santos addresses "drag queen" photos and other accusations with reporters at airport REPORT: GEORGE SANTOS, SUPPORTER OF ANTI-LGBTQ+ LAWS, PARTICIPATED IN DRAG SHOWS AND WENT BY THE NAME "KITARA" IN BRAZIL Did George Santos lie about everything? contrib. Ambrosio. Feb. 19, 2023
2023, Jan	Former President Donald Trump releases a video in which he promises, if he is re-elected, to punish doctors who provide gender-affirming care to minors. See Also: Trump vows to 'stop' gender-affirming care for minors if re-elected president by Alex Seitz-Wald and Jo Yurcaba from NBC News on Jan. 31, 2023. Trump vows to punish doctors, hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors by Brooke Migdon in The Hill on February 1, 2023 contrib. Ambrosio. Dec. 11, 2022.
2023, Feb. 7	In response to President Biden's State of the Union address, former President Donald Trump releases a pre-recorded video criticizing Biden's anticipated remarks. Trump also pledges to prohibit any federal agency from promoting gender transition for individuals of any age, not just minors, despite major medical organizations supporting gender-affirming care for minors and adults. contrib. Ambrosio. Oct. 14, 2024
2023, June	In the case of Moore v. Harper, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Colorado web designer Lorie Smith, allowing her to refuse service to same-sex couples based on free speech protections. In a 6-3 decision, the court sided with Smith's claim that Colorado's public accommodations law violated her First Amendment rights by compelling her to create messages she opposes. Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, distinguished between discrimination based on identity and message, asserting that the Constitution protects freedom of expression. The dissenting justices, led by Sonia Sotomayor, argued this ruling permits harmful discrimination against LGBTQ individuals, raising concerns about future implications for anti-discrimination laws. See Also: Reporter discovers man named in 303 Creative case is not gay and did request a wedding website VIDEO (8:32) Man cited in LGBTQ Supreme Court case says he was never involved: Report VIDEO (6:51) contrib. Ambrosio. Oct 14, 2024
2023, Sep 26	A federal judge in Texas rules that Senate Bill 12, a law restricting some public drag performances, is unconstitutional, citing violations of the First Amendment. Judge David Hittner declared that the law's vague language could criminalize a wide range of protected activities, including cheerleading and live theater. The bill, which aimed to prevent children from seeing sexually explicit performances, did not explicitly mention drag shows, but its intent targeted such performances. The plaintiffs, including drag performers and LGBTQ+ groups, celebrated the decision as a win for free expression, while state officials plan to appeal. See Also: Texas' ban on certain drag shows is unconstitutional, federal judge says by Alejandro Serrano And William Melhado. SEPT. 26, 2023. UPDATED: SEPT. 27, 2023. The Texas Tribune. Federal judge declares Texas drag law unconstitutional By Matt Lavietes. Sept. 26, 2023, 4:48 PM CDT / Updated Sept. 27, 2023, 8:17 AM CDT. NBC News. Press Release from the ACLU of Texas: COURT ISSUES PERMANENT INJUNCTION DECLARING TEXAS' DRAG BAN UNCONSTITUTIONAL contrib. Ambrosio. May 19, 2024
2023, Dec 18	Pope Francis formally approves letting Catholic priests bless same-sex couples. See Also: Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples that must not resemble marriage By Nicole Winfield and David Crary. Associated Press. December 19, 2023 Vatican approves blessings for same-sex couples in landmark ruling By Philip Pullella. Reuters. December 18, 2023 contrib. Ambrosio. Feb. 19, 2023
2023, Dec. 29	Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie, who had once opposed same-sex marriage, says his views on the matter have changed. At a meeting with voters, Christie said I don't have any objection to it any longer. ... I've been convinced. And you know that's part of being a thinking breathing human being. .... You can hold certain opinions at one time and hold them genuinely ... but you know what I was wrong. ... It's still it was a process I had to go through to change the way I've been raised. See Also: Christie: I Was Wrong On Gay Marriage (YouTube Video 3:36) Chris Christie ties his shift on gay marriage to Vatican ruling on same-sex blessings By Joe Bukuras. Cahtolic News Agency. Dec 29, 2023 contrib. Ambrosio. Jan. 17, 2023

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2000-2014 || 2015 and later || Other Versions of the LHT and Similar Timelines

2024
Time	Event
2024	Dominique Pelicot goes on trial in France for orchestrating of a decade-long series of rapes of his wife Giséle Pelicot. Dominique drugged her and invited strangers to assault her unconscious body in their home. Between 2011 and 2020, Dominique filmed these assaults and kept meticulous records of the crimes, involving more than 90 men. The case came to light after Dominique was caught surreptitiously attempting to take upskirt photos, leading police to uncover extensive evidence on his devices. Giséle Pelicot, who has no memory of the attacks, is now watching the footage in court as dozens of defendants stand trial for aggravated rape. Giséle chose to make the trial public to raise awareness and prevent other women from enduring similar horrors. The case has shocked the nation, with defendants claiming ignorance, but Giséle asserts they knew exactly what they were doing. The trial has catalyzed a shift in French attitudes towards rape, particularly regarding the concept of consent. It has highlighted the issue of drug-facilitated sexual assault (which has been underreported and under-prosecuted) as well as brought attention to the issue of male violence against women. The case has intensified calls for reform to French law. Some feminists are advocating for a stricter definition of rape that explicitly includes the absence of consent, even in cases where physical violence is not present. But some feminists argue that the current definition, which focuses on violence, coercion, or threats, is sufficient. They fear a broader definition could weaken existing legal protections for victims of sexual assault, particularly in cases involving coercion or abuse of power. They also argue it would be difficult to prove the absence of consent in court and shift the focus from the perpetrator's actions to the victim's behavior. See Also: Activists hope mass rape trial brings about change in French society VIDEO (12:47) FRANCE 24 English. Sep 11, 2024 FRANCE24's Sharon Gaffney speaks to Anne Cecile Mailfert, president of the Foundation des Femmes charity. She says that the trial is an opportunity to bring awareness to medical workers about sexual violence by chemical submission. 'Giséle Pelicot a symbol for the world in shifting shame onto perpetrators', expert says VIDEO (8:50) FRANCE 24 English. Sep 17, 2024 For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on gender violence and sexual assault, FRANCE 24's Mark Owen is joined by Dr Ummni Khan, Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University. Dr. Khan researches the socio-legal construction of deviant sexuality and addresses the self-serving myths that perpetrators use to justify their actions. She says that Gisele Pelicot has become a symbol for the world in shifting shame onto the perpetrators. French mass rape trial shocks the nation: Pelicot and the banality of evil VIDEO (12:09) from FRANCE 24 English on Oct 4, 2024. In a special edition, we take a look at several high-profile cases of rape and sexual violence which have made headlines in recent weeks including the Giséle Pelicot trial in France. For nearly 10 years, her husband, Dominique Pelicot, routinely drugged his wife and invited scores of strangers to join him in raping her, often filming the encounters. In waiving her right to remain anonymous, Giséle Pelicot has become a global feminist icon. France: Mass rape trial of Gisele Pelicot gains global attention VIDEO (11:50) DW News. Oct 15, 2024 Gisele Pelicot has become a symbol of courage after insisting that the proceedings be held in public and facing her abusers in court. She says she wanted to shift the shame and humiliation often felt by victims on to the perpetrators. Her bravery has inspired others to bring their own cases to court. How sex-abuse survivor Gisele Pelicot became a global heroine VIDEO (7:07) DW News. Oct 20, 2024 We know the details because the woman who survived the abuse, 72-year-old Gisele Pelicot, chose to make the trial and the horrific details open to the public, assuring the men accused of assaulting her can no longer hide behind anonymity. Defendants give shocking evidence at France's Pelicot mass rape trial VIDEO (6:43) FRANCE 24 English. Oct 16, 2024 In this edition of Entre Nous, we speak to FRANCE 24's Annette Young, the host of The 51%, for an update on France's Pelicot mass rape trial. We find out what have we learned from the different testimonies of the accused and why the hashtag #notallmen is creating controversy. Pelicot mass rape trial in France may spur changes to the law VIDEO (2:55) REUTERS Oct 23, 2024 France is considering changing its rape law to explicitly include consent after a mass rape trial that has challenged current legislation. Dominique Pelicot admitted to drugging his wife and orchestrating her assault, with 50 men on trial alongside him. Sensational mass trial shines a dark light on rape culture in France by Diane Jeantet for the Associated Press. Updated 10:42 AM CDT, October 23, 2024 The harrowing and unprecedented trial in France is exposing how pornography, chatrooms and men's disdain for or hazy understanding of consent is fueling rape culture. The horror isn't simply that Dominique Pelicot, in his own words, arranged for men to rape his wife, it's that he also had no difficulty finding dozens of them to take part. Giséle Pelicot takes stand in French mass rape trial VIDEO (3:18) BBC News. Oct 23, 2024 Ms Pelicot, 71, told the court in Avignon she wants women who have been raped to know that "it's not for us to have shame - it's for them". 'Rape culture is omnipresent in the courtroom,' as 50 men are facing trial for raping Gisele Pelicot VIDEO (5:42) Oct 23, 2024 Cynthia Illouz, founder of "The Women's Voices," speaks to FRANCE 24. The Pelicot case: Will it change French attitudes towards rape? VIDEO (12:52) FRANCE 24 English. Nov 22, 2024 In this special edition, Annette Young heads to Avignon as the Pelicot case enters its closing stages. For nearly a decade, Giséle Pelicot was regularly drugged by her husband and offered up to strangers for sex. Now seen as the most notorious rape trial ever to be held in this country, we meet the local women who offer their support to the 72-year-old grandmother by decorating Avignon's streets with slogans. Annette Young also talks to Catherine Porter from The New York Times who's been covering the trial about how this case is shifting societal attitudes. Plus we report on the growing pressure on French authorities to address the issue of drug-facilitated sexual assault. Violence against women: French laws struggle to keep up VIDEO (9:52) FRANCE 24 English. Nov 23, 2024 Thousands of people marched in France on Saturday, November 23, to condemn violence against women two days before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Sarah McGrath, board membre of The Women for Women France, was France 24's guest to talk about the organisations claims, and about the French justice system, in the light of the Pélicot trial. France to overhaul sex education in schools, with focus on consent and gender identity VIDEO (12:34) FRANCE 24 English. Jan 29, 2025 French schools will introduce mandatory sex education classes covering topics such as consent, gender identity and online pornography from September, despite opposition from conservative groups. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks to Kristen Barber, Associate Professor and Chair of Race, Ethnic and Gender Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She says that focusing on consent from a very young age is key to combating rampant sexual abuse and for advancing human rights. contrib. Ambrosio. Oct 6, 2024
2024, March 15	Austin, TX - In a case where Attorney General Ken Paxton is defending West Texas A&M University's President for rejecting an organization's request to host a college campus 'drag show' with child attendees, the Supreme Court of the United States denied an injunction to the organization. Due to SCOTUS's action today, President Wendler is free to maintain his denial of the 'drag show' scheduled to take place on March 22. Cite: Press Release from the office of the Texas Attoney General (SCOTUS Leaves West Texas A&M University's "Drag Show" Denial Intact) See Also: U.S. Supreme Court declines to intervene in lawsuit over West Texas A&M drag shows By William Melhado MARCH 15, 2024. The Texas Tribune Supreme Court again refuses to intervene in drag show controversy by Nina Totenberg, Elissa Harwood. March 15, 2024 6:18 PM ET. National Public Radio US Supreme Court will not compel West Texas A&M University to allow drag show By John Kruzel. March 15, 20244:42 PM CDT. Reuters contrib. Ambrosio. May 19, 2024
2024, July	Grindr crashes in Milwaukee during Republican National Convention. See Also: Grindr Dating App Crashes in Milwaukee During RNC: Everything We Know by Erin Keller for Newsweek on July 19, 2024/li> Did gay dating app Grindr crash during the RNC in Milwaukee? by Rachel Bernhard for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on July 18, 2024 Video: Becca Balint Points Out Grindr App Crashed At The RNC During Brutal Takedown Of GOP's LGBTQ Rhetoric from Forbes Breaking News on Dec 19, 2025. During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) called out Republicans' LGBTQ 'hypocrisy.' A simliar crash occured during the Cleveland RNC in 2016 and would be reputed to occur at Charlie Kirk's memorial service in 2025. contrib. Ambrosio. Nov. 29, 2025
2024, Aug.	Church leaders and conservative politicians criticize a performance during the Paris Olympics' opening ceremony for a perceived likeness to Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." The scene features drag artists and Barbara Butch, a French disc jockey and lesbian activist. Thomas Jolly, the artistic director, insists that the scene is not a reference the Last Supper. Instead is it references a pagan celebration featuring Dionysus, the Greek god of fertility, wine and revelry. See Also: Olympics opening ceremony 'Last Supper' parody sparks anger among Catholics, conservatives By Leonardo da Vinci - Unknown source, Public Domain, Link to image on Wikimedia contrib. Ambrosio. Oct 6, 2024
2024, Aug.	At several events in August, Donald Trump falsely claims Olympic women's welterweight boxing gold medalist Imane Khelif of Algeria had been born male and "transitioned" to female. See Also: Trump campaign's anti-trans ads are 'very disgusting': Trans activist Video (4:19) from ABC News on Oct 22, 2024. Author and activist Raquel Willis reacts to the recent political ads as well as the issue of transgender athletes competing in sports. Video: Fact check: Banning transgender athletes from women's sports â€“ fair or unfair? by Ines Eisele for DW News on August 5, 2024. (8:42). The participation of transgender athletes in women's competitions has been a hotly debated topic for years. Trump and the new IOC presidency have given it new impetus. A look at the facts. contrib. Ambrosio. Oct 11, 2024
2024, August 20	The Texas Department of Public Safety issues a new policy preventing transgendered people from updating the gender listed on their driver's licenses and birth certificates except to fix a clerical error. DPS no longer accepts court orders as a basis to change a person's sex on their drivers license. See Also: Transgender Texans blocked from changing their sex on their driver's license by Pooja Salhotra for the Texs Tribune on Aug. 21, 2024 Not a Speed Bump, But a Road Block: Texas Department of Public Safety Bars Texans from Updating Sex Designation on Driver's Licenses by Rachel Levy for Jenner Law Group, P.C. on Aug 28, 2024 Denied Identity \| Texas blocks trans people from changing sex on their driver's license by Cheryl Mercedes for KHOU on October 24, 2024 contrib. Ambrosio. Oct 6, 2024
2024, Sept.	At a Mom's For Liberty event, former president Donald Trump claims that children were returning home from school after having had transition-related surgical procedures. Trump says Your kid goes to school and comes home a few days later with an operation. The school decides what's going to happen with your child. He repeats the claim the following week. Can you imagine you're a parent and your son leaves the house and you say, 'Jimmy, I love you so much, go have a good day in school,' and your son comes back with a brutal operation? There is no instance of any US schools sending children into gender-affirming surgeries or performing gender-affirming surgeries on site without their parents knowing. Trump's campaign cannot provide any examples. Dr. Laura Taylor, medical director of the gender-affirming care program at the University of Southern California states Any gender-affirming medical care or surgical care would legally require the consent of (both) parents/legal guardians and assent of an adolescent under 18. contrib. Ambrosio. Oct 11, 2024
2024, October 1	Assumption University Students Kidnap and Attack an Innocent Man in a "Catch a Predator" Inspired Stunt. A group of 25 or more students at Assumption University in Worcester, Massachusetts lure a 22-year-old man to campus using a Tinder dating profile and confronts him, claiming he seeks an underage girl. When he tries to leave, they hold him back (effectively kiddnapping him). After he breaks free the mobs chase him, punch him in the back of the head, and kicked his car. Kevin Carroll slams the man's head in the car door. Police say the episode is inspired by a "To Catch a Predator" trend on social media and that the students recorded the encounter for attention. Investigators find no evidence that the man, a U.S. active duty service member, attempted to meet a minor, and officials stress that he is innocent of the accusations. In fact, the woman's Tinder profile correctly identifies the woman, Kelsy Brainard, as being 18 years old. A video recording of the incident shows her literally laughing on the floor as the man flees the mob. See Also: Charges dropped against Massachusetts college students over alleged 'catch a predator' plot by Saleen Martin for USA Today on April 10, 2025. Students Charged in 'To Catch a Predator' Social Media Scheme New York Times on Jan 7, 2025 Assumption University Students Face Kidnapping Charges and Other Serious Charges in TikTok-Inspired "To Catch a Predator" Schemeon dharlawllp.com Videos: Man kidnapped and beaten by Assumption University students, police say from NBC10 Boston on Jan 2, 2025 (2:55) Assumption University students charged in fake predator plot from WCVB Channel 5 Boston on Jan 2, 2025, (1:47) Assumption University students charged in social media-inspired plot from NBC10 Boston on Jan 16, 2025. (2:42) College students charged in TikTok-inspired 'catch a predator' plot appear in court from Associated Press on Jan 21, 2025. (4:06) College Students Busted for Staging 'Catch a Predator' Sting from the Law & Crime Network on Jan 22, 2025. (17:55) College Students Nabbed for Staging ’Catch a Predator' Sting Make Bombshell Request from Law&Crime Network on April 1, 2025. (23:57) Five college students at Assumption University in Massachusetts want a judge to throw out the kidnapping and conspiracy charges against them. Prosecutors allege that the students lured a man to campus, then confronted him and accused him of trying to meet up with an underage girl to have sex. Big Ruling in College Student ’Catch a Predator' Sting from the Law&Crime Network on Apr 10, 2025. (19:19) A Massachusetts judge issued a crucial ruling in the cases against five Assumption University students who allegedly lured a man to campus on a dating app, then accused him of being a sexual predator.---> The "To Catch A Predator" Tik Tok Problem: Why Is This A Trend? by Alexasrewm (40:03) New Video Surfaces Of "To Catch A Predator" Stunt Gone Wrong: Assumption University 5 by Alexasrewm (13:55) contrib. Ambrosio. November 28, 2025

Top || Introduction || 5000 BCE to 1969 || 1970-1984 || 1985-1999 ||
2000-2014 || 2015 and later || Other Versions of the LHT and Similar Timelines

2025
Time	Event
2025	A new report claims Iran is actively promoting itself as a hub for transgender surgery to attract medical tourism and foreign currency, leveraging low costs and a legal framework that has existed since a 1980s fatwa. However, this is part of a complex and controversial situation where the state simultaneously suppresses homosexuality and pressures its own LGBTQ+ citizens into gender-affirming surgeries as the only way to gain legal recognition and avoid severe persecution Cite: Iran Lures Transgender Foreigners for Surgery but Forces Operations on Locals contrib. Ambrosio. November 28, 2025
2025, Jan. 20	President Donald Trump signs Executive Order 14168 (i.e., "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government") On the first day of his second term. It directs federal agencies to define "sex" based on biological characteristics "at conception." It reads in part 'Sex' shall refer to an individual's immutable biological classification as either male or female. 'Sex' is not a synonym for and does not include the concept of 'gender identity.' The order includes specific definitions for "female" and "male". It also mandates replacing "gender" with "sex" in official documents, requires identification documents to reflect sex as defined by the order and removes "X" gender markers, aims to end federal funding of "gender ideology," and requires sex-separated spaces to be designated by the biological sex defined in the order. Medical and scientific experts criticize the order's definitions, noting that sex differentiation is complex and not solely determined at conception. The order also faces legal challenges, with some provisions temporarily suspended by court orders. Legal experts state that an executive order cannot change federal law or Supreme Court rulings and that the order attempts to address the Bostock v. Clayton County decision by directing the Attorney General to "correct the misapplication "of the ruling. See Also: The Executive Order: Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government on whitehouse.gov on January 20, 2025 When is a person's sex determined? Trump has no conception, experts say. by Corky Siemaszko for nbcnews.com on January 27, 2025. All fertilized eggs or embryos are filled with both male Y and female X chromosomes, and the gender doesnâ€™t reveal itself until weeks later, they [medical experts] said. And even then, itâ€™s sometimes hard to tell whether itâ€™s a girl, a boy, or a baby with the sexual characteristics of both. Trump's definition of 'male,' 'female' criticized by medical and legal experts by Kiara Alfonseca for abcnews.go.com on January 23, 2025. "This one is shockingly out of step with what we know from science," Kellan E. Baker, executive director of the Institute for Health Research & Policy at health services network Whitman-Walker, told ABC News in an interview. Baker noted that we're accustomed to thinking of sex "as a fairly simple, binary, immutable thing," but said science tells us it's not that simple. Impact of the Executive Order Redefining Sex on Transgender, Nonbinary, and Intersex People a brief from the Willaims Institute at the UCLA School of Law in January 2025. Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Trump Administration on the Holland & Knight web site. March 4, 2025 contrib. Ambrosio. December 12, 2025
2025, Feb. 5	President Trump signs an executive order titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" (Executive Order 14201), which aims to ban transgender girls and women from participating in female sports teams in educational institutions that receive federal funding. contrib. Ambrosio. December 27, 2025
2025, June 19	It's being hailed as a significant step towards ending the global HIV epidemic. The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved an injectable drug that prevents HIV infection. Known by the generic name lenacapavir, the drug was almost 100 per cent effective at preventing HIV transmission in large-scale trials. Developed by the pharmaceutical company Gilead, it is administered via two injections every year. Video: Injectable HIV drug approved in the US - when will it be available in other countries? from DW News [12:12] contrib. Ambrosio. November 28, 2025
2025, July 17	The Trump administration ends 988 Lifeline's 'press 3' option for LGBTQ teens. A day after the third anniversary of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, it will stop providing specialized counseling service for LGBTQ+ youth. Lawmakers and mental health advocates are concerned that this will hurt access to mental health care for youth who are already more vulnerable to suicide than their peers. But other resources still exist: The Rainbow Youth Project: (317) 643-4888 The Trevor Project: Call1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678 or visit TheTrevorProject.org Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 See Also: Press Release: SAMHSA Statement on 988 Press 3 Option on samhsa.gov Trump administration ends 988 Lifeline's 'press 3' option for LGBTQ teens on NPR.org Trump administration shuts down LGBTQ youth suicide hotline on nbcnews.com contrib. Ambrosio. August 16, 2025
2025, July	Pride events held in Germany and Hungary despite opposition from governments and hostile groups. Videos: Far-right sparks fear at Pride events in Germany from DW (5:02). Jul 7, 2025. Police maintained a strong presence at the Pride march in Eberswalde to ensure safety. While the event remained peaceful, members of the AfD party were present, chanting right-wing slogans. President BANS pride parade, RECORD CROWD shows up anyway from the David Pakman Show on July 5, 2025. (5:20) Despite Viktor Orbán's Pride ban in Hungary, a massive crowd floods Budapest in defiant protest, turning fear into resistance. Germany's LGBT+ community worried at rise in hate crimes from FRANCE 24 English on Nov 19, 2025. (5:08) contrib. Ambrosio. August 16, 2025
2025, Sept.	Unverified reports claim that gay dating application Grindr crashed during the Charlie Kirk's memorial service in Pheonix, AZ. While there are reports of trouble using Grindr in Phoenix/Glendale at the time of the memorial, there is no solid evidence that Grindr actually crashed because of the event. The app denied any issue, and independent trackers aren't definitive proof. See Also: Grindr addresses rumors of an outage linked to Charlie Kirk's memorial service by Moises Mendez II for Out Magazine on September 24, 2025 Charlie Kirk's Memorial Crashes Grindr by Erin McCormack for Out Front Magazine on September 24, 2025 Simliar crash were reputed to have occured during the Cleveland RNC in 2016 and the Milwaukee RNC in 2024. contrib. Ambrosio. Nov. 29, 2025
2025, Oct 3	FBI Director Kash Patel on Wednesday fired an agent in training for displaying a gay pride flag on his desk while appointed to a field office in California last year, according to three people familiar with the matter. Video: 'Absolute madness': Fmr. FBI official reacts to firing of agent over gay pride flag from MSNBC [11:25] contrib. Ambrosio. November 28, 2025
2025, Oct	10 defendants go on trial in Paris for allegedly cyber-harassing Brigitte Macron, the French first lady, by circulating claims that she was born male. Video: The 'transvestigation' of Brigitte Macron: How false transgender claims went viral from FRANCE 24 on October 27, 2025. [11:25] contrib. Ambrosio. November 29, 2025
2025, Oct	Texas Governor Greg Abbott issues state directive to remove political messaging on roadways. A press release from Abbott reads Texans expect their taxpayer dollars to be used wisely, not advance political agendas on Texas roadways. To avoid losing transportation and other state and federal funding, the City of Austin is complying by removing a PRIDE Crosswalk located at 4th and Colorado streets in downtown Austin and a "Black Artist Matter" mural on 11th Street. See Also: Governor Abbott Directs TxDOT To Strictly Enforce Roadway Safety Guidelines: press release from the Office of the Texas Governor on October 8, 2025 Texas cities grapple with order to remove rainbow crosswalks as state deadline approaches by Ayden Runnels for the Texas Tribune on Nov. 3, 2025. City of Austin ordered to remove roadway art by Kendall Meachum for the Daily Texan on October 21, 2025 Video:Church TEES Up Texas PRIDE Crosswalk Conflict! from The Logical Leftist channel on Oct 27, 2025. (8:06) In this eye-opening video, we tackle the heated debate over pride symbols in public spaces, spotlighting the Oak Lawn United Methodist Church's courageous stand against Texas Governor Greg Abbott's order to remove the Pride Crosswalk. Senior Pastor Rachel Griffin-Allison passionately articulates the church's mission to create a sanctuary of hope for the LGBTQ+ community by painting their steps in rainbow colors, symbolizing safety, dignity, and belonging for all. contrib. Ambrosio. November, 2025
2025, Nov. 14	17 transgender members of the Air Force have sued the federal government after they lost their early retirement pension and benefits. The Air Force denied early retirement to all transgender service members with between 15 and 18 years of military service after the Pentagon said transgender individuals were medically unfit to serve, something civil rights activists say is untrue and constitutes illegal discrimination. Video: Transgender members of the Air Force sue government over losing retirement pay (4:27) from NBC News. contrib. Ambrosio. Deceber 27, 2025
2025, Nov. 6	A federal appeals court rules that an Ohio school district's policy requiring students to use transgender classmates' preferred pronouns violates the First Amendment. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals finds that the school district failed to show that not using preferred pronouns would substantially disrupt school activities, which is the standard for restricting student speech. The court sides with Parents Defending Education in the case, concluding that students cannot be punished for using "biological pronouns" that conflict with a student's preferred pronouns. See Also: A District's Rule Against Misgendering Students Is Likely Constitutional by Mark Walsh for EducationWeek on July 30, 2024 Free Speech or Misgendering? Sixth Circuit Strikes Down School Pronoun Policy by Ahmad Chehab, Robert T. Zielinski, Ashley N. Higginson, Miller Canfield at Miller Canfield Resources for The National Law Review on November 7, 2025. The Court emphasized that while schools may act to prevent harassment or bullying, 'they may not skew this debate by forcing one side to change the way it conveys its message or by compelling it to express a different view.' The district had introduced no evidence that the use of what the court referred to as 'biological pronouns' would materially disrupt school functions or meet the legal definition of harassment. Video: Court rules Ohio school district's pronoun policy violates First Amendment rights (5:27) from News 5 WCYB contrib. Ambrosio. November 29, 2025
2025, Nov. 10	The Supreme Court denies former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis's appeal, refusing to reconsider its landmark 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The denial effectively ends her decade-long legal battle over the issue. The rejection, issued without comment on November 10, 2025, means that the lower court's ruling stands, leaving Ms. Davis personally liable for over $360,000 in damages and legal fees owed to the gay couple she refused to issue a marriage license to in 2015. See Also: Supreme Court Denies Request to Revisit Same-Sex Marriage Decision in The New York Times Nov 10, 2025 Video: Supreme Court DENIES Kim Davis Appeal To REVISIT Gay Marriage (5:17) Video: Supreme Court reviewing challenge to overturn same-sex marriage on MSNBC (6:21) contrib. Ambrosio. November 29, 2025
2025, Dec	A University of Oklahoma psychology student submits an assignment about gender roles that mostly quotes the Bible and frames belief in multiple genders as "demonic." The graduate teaching assistant grading the essay gives the student a zero because the essay ignores the assignment's prompt and uses personal religious ideology instead of academic evidence. The teaching assistant uses she/they pronouns and identifies as transgender. The student claims this is religious discrimination and files a complaint. The university reviews the case, removes the zero from her grade so it does not hurt her final mark, and removes the graduate teaching assistant from instructional duties. contrib. Ambrosio. December 27, 2025

Top || Introduction || 5000 BCE to 1969 || 1970-1984 || 1985-1999 ||
2000-2014 || 2015 and later || Other Versions of the LHT and Similar Timelines

End of the Leather History Timeline

Further Reading on Leather and BDSM History

The Leather History Timeline by Tony DeBlase and others
The Leather History Timeline for Texas
Marginalia on the Old Guard, Leather Traditions, and BDSM History by Ambrosio
EvilMonk.org's History section contains additional resources including various articles about the "Old Guard," the Black Rose, Greenery Press, Wonder Woman, the DSM, and much more.