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Celebrities who have come out as LGBTQ+ in 2020.

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"Real Housewives of Orange County" star Braunwyn Windham-Burke came out as a lesbian in December.

In an interview with GLAAD, Windham-Burke announced the news publicly for the first time.

"I like women. I'm gay," she said in the interview. "I'm a member of the LGBTQ+ community. It has taken me 42 years to say that but I am so proud of where I am right now. I'm so happy where I am. To be able to be comfortable in my own skin after so long is just so nice."

The "Real Housewives" star added, "I'm just now starting to feel like I'm becoming the woman I'm supposed to be. I've always known it, but it took me, personally, 42 years to be comfortable in my own skin to say that."

Windham-Burke also revealed that she has a girlfriend, but she plans to remain married to her husband, Sean Burke, with whom she shares seven children.

Also in December, Elliot Page, the actor formerly known as Ellen Page, announced he is transgender.

Page, who is known for his Oscar-nominated performance in "Juno" and his part in Netflix 's "Umbrella Academy," announced in a tweet in December that he is transgender.

"Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot," he wrote. "I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life."

The actor continued, "The truth is, despite feeling profoundly happy right now and knowing how much privilege I carry, I am also scared. I'm scared of the invasiveness, the hate, the 'jokes' and of violence."

But he ended on a positive note.

"I love that I am trans," he wrote. "And I love that I am queer. And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows and the more I thrive. To all trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse, and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better."

Netflix's "Tiger King" star Carole Baskin came out as bisexual in an interview in October.

In an interview with Pink News, Baskin revealed she is bisexual and that she hid it for 30 years.

"I have always considered myself to be bisexual, even though I've never had a wife. I could just as easily have a wife as a husband, as far as the way I feel about us," Baskin told Pink News. "I just don't see us as being different genders or different colors or different anything."

Baskin became a celebrity overnight when the docuseries "Tiger King" premiered on Netflix earlier this year, chronicling the world of big cat rescues and zookeeper Joe Exotic.

In September, Niecy Nash introduced the world to her new wife, Jessica Betts.

Nash surprised her fans when she announced she married Jessica Betts a few months after divorcing her ex-husband, Jay Tucker. Nash and Betts met on social media five years ago and became friends. Nash told People that after her divorce, their relationship transformed into something else.

"I don't feel like my marriage is my coming out of anywhere, but rather a going into myself and being honest about who I love," the "Claws" actress told People. "And I'm not limiting myself on what that love is supposed to look like."

In August, Tinashe announced she is bisexual for the first time.

Back in 2011, Tinashe tweeted, "I like boys and I like girls." A few years later, she told HuffPost that she doesn't like labels.

"I feel, like, nowadays, people are a little bit more understanding of the fact that other people don't necessarily want to assign themselves one particular thing or another," Tinashe told the publication in 2016. "That's all a part of how we're growing and progressing as a society. I think it's exciting that we don't have to be so black and white, because the world isn't black and white."

In August 2020, however, the musician put a label on her sexuality for the first time, announcing she is bisexual.

"It's not that I don't like putting a label on it, but when you say you're bisexual, a lot of people think...they just have a lack of understanding about what it is," Tinashe told Gay Times in 2020. "And I tend to shy away from terms (I guess this is the theme of my life!) that make people want to categorize me or put me in a box...But I can still give you a general sense of yeah, I'm bisexual. I'm somewhere on the spectrum. You know?"

After parting ways with her "Riverdale" co-star, Lili Reinhart came out as bisexual in June.

Reinhart took to social media to show her support for the Black Lives Matter movement and announced she was bisexual.

"Although I've never announced it publicly before, I am a proud bisexual woman," she wrote on her Instagram story, just after breaking up with Cole Sprouse, according to E! News.

The actress told Flaunt magazine in August that she was initially hesitant to come out because she worried people would think she did it for attention.

"I knew full well that I was attracted to women from a young age," Reinhart told the publication. "I felt that since I've exclusively been in heteronormative relationships, it would be too easy for any outsider, especially the media, to vilify me and accuse me of faking it to get attention. That's not something I wanted to deal with. But to my close friends, and those in my life, my bisexuality has been no secret."

"Hairspray" actress Nikki Blonsky also came out as gay in June.

Blonsky took to TikTok to announce her coming out. The video she uploaded shows her lying on the grass, while Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out" plays in the background. The video ends with the actress dancing around in the grass.

She captioned the video, "Hi, it's Nikki Blonsky from the movie I'm Gay."

A few days later, she told The Hollywood Reporter, "The LGBTQIA community has embraced me since the moment I got 'Hairspray.' They welcomed me with open arms and I felt so a part of the community already. For me, it was a long time coming. I was wanting to date women and it just was a moment in my life where I was finally just really ready to be myself."

During Pride Month in June, YouTube star Tana Mongeau said she is pansexual.

To honor Pride Month, Mongeau took to Instagram to talk about her sexuality amid rumors that she was dating Noah Cyrus, according to Seventeen.

"I never thought I'd be brave enough to publicly share my sexuality in the way I do now," she wrote on Instagram. "I still struggle with it. I hate the boxes, I hate people telling me I'm straight or discrediting my relationship if I'm with a girl, but I'm proud to be not only a member but an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, and I'm proud to say I will live my life based on loving people, not for their gender but their soul. Some people call that pansexuality, everyone calls me bi, I personally don't find a need to label it all. Love and sexuality is [sic] genderless to me."

"Grey's Anatomy" actress Chyler Leigh announced she is part of the LGBTQ community during Pride Month.

When Leigh's character on "Supergirl" came out as a lesbian, it sparked a similar journey of self-discovery within the actress.

"When I was told that my character was to come out in season two, a flurry of thoughts and emotions flew through and around me because of the responsibility I personally felt to authentically represent Alex's journey," Leigh wrote in a post on Create Change, according to Out. "What I didn't realize was how the scene where she finally confessed her truth would leap off the pages of the script and genuinely become a variation of my own."

The actress went on to write, "From the director, the press, the media, the cast, and the fans, I'm still told that it was the most realistic coming out scene they'd ever witnessed. And to steal from Alex's words, that's because there's some truth to what she said about me."

Leigh, who is married to actor Nathan West, didn't choose a specific label in the post.

"Jurassic World" actor Justice Smith came out as queer amid the Black Lives Matter protests.

After peacefully protesting in New Orleans, Smith took to Instagram to talk about the importance of fighting for black queer people, coming out in the process.

"As a Black queer man myself, I was disappointed to see certain people eager to say Black Lives Matter, but hold their tongue when Trans/Queer was added," Smith wrote in the post from June. "I want to reiterate this sentiment. If your revolution does not include Black Queer voices, it is anti-Black."

Accompanying the message, the "Pokémon Detective Pikachu" actor also included pictures of his boyfriend, fellow actor Nicholas Ashe.

The voice actor behind Disney's "Moana," Auli'i Cravalho, came out as bisexual in April.

Cravalho posted a video of herself on TikTok, lip-syncing to Eminem's "Those Kinda Nights." In the video, you can see the voice actress say, "Seriously though, jokes aside, how you doin? You straight?/ She said, 'No, I'm bi.'"

Following the video, a Twitter user asked, "Do you like girls," and the actress wrote, "If I may escort you to my TikTok," according to E! News.

Viral internet sensation Rebecca Black revealed she is queer while on a podcast in April.

Most people remember Black from her viral music video "Friday" in 2011, but now she is rebranding as a social media star with new music. She made headlines this year when she went on the "Dating Straight" podcast back in April and revealed that she identifies as queer.

"To me, the word 'queer' feels really nice," she told the hosts, Page Six reported. "I've dated a lot of different types of people, and I just don't really know what the future holds. Some days I feel little more on the gay side than others."

This year, she followed the announcement up with an interview with Gay Times where she explained the relief she felt after coming out.

"I wouldn't call it tough, but I think for me the hardest part was probably that I was always trying to find the right time, and what I realized is that there's never really a right time, and I would never have thought that this would even happen now, but I am really happy that it is happening," the singer told Gay Times. "Everybody talks about that sense of relief and I had no idea what that would feel like, but they're right, and I'm so happy to be finally able to talk about it."

Jameela Jamil came out as queer in February after she received backlash over her new show.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Jamil would judge a voguing competition show. Voguing is a dance art form that is popular among the LGBTQ community. The announcement was met with outrage, with some people saying she had no ties to the dance or the community, so she shouldn't be allowed to judge.

Jamil responded with a statement in which she came out as queer.

"I was scared of the pain of being accused of performative bandwagon jumping, over something that caused me a lot of confusion, fear, and turmoil when I was a kid," she said, according to The Guardian. "I know that my being queer doesn't qualify me as ballroom. But I have privilege and power and a large following to bring to this show ... sometimes it takes those with more power to help a show get off the ground so we can elevate marginalized stars that deserve the limelight and give them a chance."

"The Flash's" Rick Cosnett announced he is gay in an Instagram video in February.

Known for his roles in "The Flash," "The Vampire Diaries," and "Quantico," Cosnett uploaded a short and sweet video to Instagram, making his big announcement.

"Hi everyone," he said in the video. "Dramatic pause. Um, I'm gay and I just wanted everyone to know because I've made a promise to myself to live my truth every day and sometimes that is a really hard thing to do when you have all these subconscious things that you don't even know about from childhood and society and from just life. There you go. I'm sure most of you probably knew anyway. And ... um yeah. That's actually all I wanted to say."

Beauty YouTuber Nikkie de Jager revealed she is transgender in January after she was blackmailed.

After 11 years on YouTube, de Jager built a large following and collaborated with a number of big-name celebrities. But earlier this year, the beauty blogger uploaded a video titled "I'm Coming Out."

"I'm saying this today to all of you for the entire world to see, but damn, it feels good to finally do it. It is time to let go and be truly free," she says in the video. "When I was younger, I was born in the wrong body, which means that I am transgender."

Later in the video, she says that people were trying to blackmail her and planned to reveal the news to the media.

"So to the people who tried to blackmail me and thought they could really mess up my life with that, this one's for you," she says.

Comedic actor DJ Qualls took to Twitter in January to tell his fans he is gay.

Best known for his comedic roles in 2000's "Road Trip" and 2002's "The New Guy," Qualls made headlines again in 2020 when he announced he is gay.

"It is 11:20 p.m.," he wrote in a Tweet. "I just came out on stage at a @jimjefferies show in San Diego. Yep, I'm gay. Been gay this whole time. Tired of worrying about what people would think of me. Tired of worrying about what it would do to my career."

More: LGBTQ Out Insider Celebrities Entertainment

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17 celebrities who have come out as LGBTQ in 2020

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Subscribe to push notifications "Real Housewives of Orange County" star Braunwyn Windham-Burke came out as a lesbian in December. In an interview with GLAAD, Windham-Burke announced the news publicly for the first time. "I like women. I'm gay," she said in the interview. "I'm a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

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LGBTQ+ Celebrities who contributed to the community itself and/or the entertainment industry

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LGBTQ+ Celebrities who contributed to the community itself and/or the entertainment industry

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The LGBTQ+ community has been integral to the performing arts (and the tech behind said arts) for all of history, even though many members of the entertainment industry were at times reluctant to admit it. Back in the days of the Hays Code from the 1930s to the 1960s, movies depicting same-sex love interests were censored by studios. Even today, movies featuring gay sex or LGBTQ+ characters are typically rated more strictly than movies with straight characters.

Given the stigma around showing LGBTQ+ content on the silver screen, it makes sense that celebrities who identify as being LGBTQ+ haven't always been able to speak freely about their status. It wasn't too long ago that the entertainment industry took every conceivable measure to keep the sexual orientation of its foremost stars under wraps. Look no further than Old Hollywood actor Rock Hudson, whose homosexuality remained a tightly guarded secret during the height of his fame.

Thankfully, many of today's LGBTQ+ celebrities aren't overly pressured into keeping their status a secret. Likewise, both the entertainment industry and society have made strides since the heyday of Rock Hudson, at least in terms of how both those entities approach and accept one's sexual identity. This increased visibility of LGBTQ+ celebrities matters. Celebrities speaking openly about their identity and experiences can help destigmatize LGBTQ+ identities and boost the self-esteem of LGBTQ+ people by allowing them to see that there are successful people out there who are like them.

Stacker curated a list of 50 major celebrities in the LGBTQ+ community who have made significant contributions to the community itself and/or the entertainment industry. Although there is still quite a way for civilization to go when it comes to the inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals, it's increasingly apparent that a celebrity's sexual orientation need not be the career detriment it may have been in the past-in fact now, more than ever, celebrities are speaking up for LGBTQ+ communities and becoming celebrated advocates for them. Just look at Billy Eichner vying for more overtly gay characters in TV and film. Or Lil Nas X, who has become an LGBTQ+ icon after spending years closeted with no plans to publicly come out.

You may also like: Harvey Milk, Mayor Pete, and 30 other LGBTQ+ politicians who broke barriers

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50 celebrities you might not know are LGTBQ+

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The LGBTQ+ community has been integral to the performing arts (and the tech behind said arts) for all of history, even though many members of the entertainment industry were at times reluctant to admit it. Back in the days of the Hays Code from the 1930s to the 1960s, movies depicting same-sex love interests were censored by studios.

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Taiwan celebrities who publicly admitted themselves as LGBTQ+.

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Taiwan celebrities who publicly admitted themselves as LGBTQ+.

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6 LGBT hookups, break-ups and scandals that shocked Taiwan's showbiz scene

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The self-governed island led the regional conversation by introducing same-sex marriage in 2019, but its LGBTQ+ celebrities haven't all faced an easy ride

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ABBA is a Swedish Europop group that was active in the mainstream of disco and pop music during the early 70s. It began to develop in 1966, when Andersson and Ulvaeus were collaborating on some folk music projects. The group's name was initially an acronym of derived from the members' first letter of their names. They are one of the best-selling music groups of all time, estimated with at least 200 million records worldwide. In 2010, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Members:

1. Agnetha Faltskog - vocalist

2. Bjorn Ulvaeus - vocalist

3. Benny Anderson - guitarist, vocalist

4. Anni Frid Lyngstad - keyboardist, guitarist and vocalist

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The ABBA story began in Sweden, more than five decades ago. In June 1966, Björn Ulvaeus (born 1945) met Benny Andersson (born 1946) for the first time. Björn was a member of the Hootenanny Singers, a very popular folk music group, while Benny played keyboards in Sweden's biggest pop group of the 1960s, The Hep Stars.

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Mayday is a Taiwanese rock band that was formed in 1995 (formerly named as "So Band") during high school and came to be known as Mayday in 1997. Although their fame is limited primarily to the Asian music industry, Mayday is one of the world's best-selling bands and known as the "Chinese Beatles".

Members:

1. 怪獸 Monster (Wen Shang Yi) - leader, guitarist

2. 阿信 Ashin (Chen Shin Hung) - vocalist

3. 石頭 Stone (Shi Chin-hang)    - guitarist

4. 瑪莎 Masa (Tsai Shen-yen)     - bassist

5. 冠佑 Ming (Liu Guan-you) - drummer

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mayday: this band can sell out ten shows in one city - cnn

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Mayday: This band can sell out ten shows in one city

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Few rock bands can sell out 10 shows, in one month, in the same city. But for the month of May, Taiwan's Mayday consistently packed the Hong Kong Coliseum with 10,000 fans each night, all singing along.

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Canadian actor and producer

February 14, 2014: came out as gay at the HRCF's Time to Thrive Conference

January 2018: announced his marriage to Emma Portner (divorce in January 2021)

December 1, 2020: came out as transgender on his social media accounts

March 2021: the first openly transgender man to appear on the cover of Time magazine

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你是巨大的海洋 我是雨下在你身上

You’re a vast sea, and I was the drizzle falling into you

我失去了自己的形状 我看到远方 爱情的模样

I lost my shape as I vanished into you, but finally I started to dimly see what love really look like.

曾经孤单的徬徨 曾经相信曾经失望

I had once wandered lonely, I have had hopes and I had lost hopes

你穿过了重重的迷惘 那爱的慌张 终于要解放

Yet as you cleared up my confusion, my doubt about love was finally getting resolved

This verse is describing about the bitter sweet of having a secret love on someone. In the first line, the use of “sea” to describe the main character’s same sex lover, and the use of “rain/drizzle” to describe the main character(MC)  himself, is to show the feeling of contrast from the main character towards his lover, where “sea” brings the hidden meaning of far away and unreachable, while “rain/drizzle” means small, humble and obscure. The second line on the other hand, the phrase “I lost my shape” is to describe that the MC loses his confidence and courage, and the following phrase is just to add on to describe that the MC only dares to observe his lover from far away. Therefore, this two lines are describing that MC secretly fall in love with someone, but he is lack of courage to approach and confess his feelings to the person.

Followed by the third and forth line, it describes that this secret love finally comes to an end when the MC's lover make his moves to approach the MC. For the third line, it describes the ups (hopes) and downs (loneliness and losing hope) feeling of the MC when it comes to love. The forth line shows that the MC's lover took his leap towards the MC, thus giving MC the hope to confess his love towards his lover.

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On February 14, 2014, Page was presented as a female who came out as gay at the Human Rights Campaign's Time to Thrive Conference which promotes LGBT welfare.

"I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission. I suffered for years because I was scared to be out. My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I'm standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain."

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Elliot Page Joins HRCF's Time to Thrive Conference

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LGBTQ is an acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning.

Lesbian

Refers to the female homosexual, indicating a female who experiences romantic or sexual attraction with another female.

Gay

Primarily refers to the trait of being homosexual. This term is often used to describe the homosexual males.

Transgender

An umbrella term that is used to describe people whose has a gender identity that is incompatible with the sex that he/she were assigned at birth: male, female or intersex.

Questioning

Describes someone who is questioning about their sexual orientation or gender identity.

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The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

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LESBIAN

A woman whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to other women. Some lesbians may prefer to identify as gay or as gay women.

GAY

The adjective describes people whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex. Sometimes lesbian is the preferred term for women.

BISEXUAL

A person who can form enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or more than one gender. People may experience this attraction in differing ways and degrees over their lifetime. Bisexual people need not have had specific sexual experiences to be bisexual; they need not have had any sexual experience at all to identify as bisexual.

TRANSGENDER

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. People under the transgender umbrella may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms- including transgender or nonbinary. Some transgender people are prescribed hormones by their doctors to bring their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. Some undergo surgery as well. But not all transgender people can or will take those steps, and a transgender identity is not dependent upon physical appearance or medical procedures.

QUEER

An adjective used by some people whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual or straight. This umbrella term includes people who have nonbinary, gender-fluid, or gender nonconforming identities. Once considered a pejorative term, queer has been reclaimed by some LGBTQIA+ people to describe themselves; however, it is not a universally accepted term even within the LGBTQIA+ community.

QUESTIONING

Sometimes, when the Q is seen at the end of LGBT, it can also mean questioning. This term describes someone who is questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity.

INTERSEX

An adjective used to describe a person with one or more innate sex characteristics, including genitals, internal reproductive organs, and chromosomes, that fall outside of traditional conceptions of male or female bodies. Do not confuse having an intersex trait with being transgender. Intersex people are assigned a sex at birth - either male or female - and that decision by medical providers and parents may not match the gender identity of the child. Not all intersex folks identify as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

ASEXUAL

The adjective describes a person who does not experience sexual attraction. Sometimes shortened to "ace," it is an umbrella term that can also include people who are demisexual, meaning they do experience some sexual attraction; graysexual, meaning those who may not fit the strictest definition of the word asexual; and aromantic, meaning they experience little to no romantic attraction and/or has little to no desire to form romantic relationships.

NONBINARY

The adjective describes a person whose gender is not male or female and uses many different terms to describe themselves. Other terms include genderqueer , agender , bigender , genderfluid , and more. None of these terms mean exactly the same thing - but all speak to an experience of gender that is not simply male or female.

+ PLUS

The 'plus' is used to signify all of the gender identities and sexual orientations that letters and words cannot yet fully describe.

Find more LGBTQ+ information and resources by visiting our resource center or by giving us a call at 212.620.7310.

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LGBTQIA+ is an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more. These terms are used to describe a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

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According to Moser (2016), sexual orientation is used to define the sexual and/or romantic attraction a person has towards another person of opposite gender, same gender, both genders or more than one gender.

Homosexual

Used to describe the sexual attraction or behavior between the same gender.

Bisexual (Pansexual)

Used to describe those who is sexually attracted to both male and female.

Queer

Included a variety of gender and sexual identities other than straight or cisgender.

Asexuality

Refers to those who do not experience any sexual attraction.

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Sexuality is an important part of who we are as humans. Beyond the ability to reproduce, sexuality also defines how we see ourselves and how we physically relate to others. Sexual orientation is a term used to refer to a person's emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction to individuals of a particular gender (male or female).

Sexual orientation is usually divided into three categories:

Heterosexual: attracted to individuals of the opposite sex

Bisexual: attracted to members of either sex

Homosexual: attracted to individuals of one's own sex

Sexual orientation involves a person's feelings and sense of identity; it may or may not be evident in the person's appearance or behavior. People may have attractions to people of the same or opposite sex, but may elect not to act on these feelings. For example, a bisexual may choose to have a monogamous (one partner) relationship with one gender and, therefore, elect not to act on the attraction to the other gender.

Why Are Some People Homosexual or Bisexual?

Most scientists today agree that sexual orientation (including homosexuality and bisexuality) is the result of a combination of environmental, emotional, hormonal, and biological factors. In other words, there are many factors that contribute to a person's sexual orientation, and the factors may be different for different people.

However, homosexuality and bisexuality are not caused by the way a child was reared by his or her parents, or by having a sexual experience with someone of the same sex when the person was young. Also, being homosexual or bisexual does not mean the person is mentally ill or abnormal in some way, although there may be social problems that result from prejudicial attitudes or misinformation.

How Do People Know Their Sexual Orientation?

For many people, their sexual orientation becomes evident to them during adolescence or young adulthood, and in many cases without any sexual experience. For example, homosexuals become aware that their sexual thoughts and activities focus on people of the same sex. It is possible, however, to have fantasies or to be curious about people of the same sex without being homosexual or bisexual, or choosing to act on these impulses/attractions.

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Sexuality is an important part of who we are as humans. Beyond the ability to reproduce, sexuality also defines how we see ourselves and how we physically relate to others. Sexual orientation is a term used to refer to a person's emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction to individuals of a particular gender (male or female).

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Pride parade is an outdoor event that celebrates LGBTQ social and self-acceptance, achievements , legal right and pride. The event is also a demonstration for LGBT legal rights such as same-sex marriage. Most of the pride events occur annually and some of them take place around June which commemorate to the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City.

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Shang, Spring & Autumn, Warring States Period and Han Dynasty

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Shang, Spring & Autumn, Warring States Period and Han Dynasty

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Back then during Ancient China times, homosexuality is commonly found in the society. For the history of gay (男色), it started as early as from Shang dynasty, to Spring & Autumn period, Warring States period and Han Dynasty. During this period, gay often been found in the upper social class (the king/royal family). Therefore, stated in the book “The Intrigues of the Warring States”, a collection of political advice and stories from before the Han Dynasty, gay were known as Duan Xiu (断袖), Fen Tao (分桃), Long Yang (龙阳), and An Ling (安凌). There were 4 respective romance stories that came along with these 4 names, however the only similarity between the 4 stories are they all happened between a king/royal family and his male partner (not from royal family). Besides that, during the Shang dynasty, the concept of male empress were first introduced by Emperor Wen of Chen (陈文帝), due to him proposing to his male partner, Han Zi Gao (韩子高) to be his queen. However, this incident did not turn up due to various reasons such as strong objections from the ministers as well as the feudalism.

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Here is a look at LGBTQ milestones in the United States. LGBTQ is an acronym meaning lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning. The term sometimes is extended to LGBTQIA, to include intersex and asexual groups. Queer is an umbrella term for non-straight people; intersex refers to those whose sex is not clearly defined because of genetic, hormonal, or biological differences; and asexual describes those who don't experience sexual attraction.

Timeline:

1924 - The Society for Human Rights is founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago. It is the first documented gay rights organization.

1950 - The Mattachine Society is formed by activist Harry Hay and is one of the first sustained gay rights groups in the United States. The Society focuses on social acceptance and other support for homosexuals.

April 1952 - The American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual lists homosexuality as a sociopathic personality disturbance.

April 27, 1953 - President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order that bans homosexuals from working for the federal government, saying they are a security risk.

September 1955 - The first known lesbian rights organization in the United States forms in San Francisco. Daughters of Bilitis (DOB). They host private social functions, fearing police raids, threats of violence and discrimination in bars and clubs.

July 1961 - Illinois becomes the first state to decriminalize homosexuality by repealing their sodomy laws.

September 11, 1961 - The first US-televised documentary about homosexuality airs on a local station in California.

June 28, 1969 - Police raid the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Protests and demonstrations begin, and it later becomes known as the impetus for the gay civil rights movement in the United States.

June 28, 1970 - Community members in New York City march through the local streets to recognize the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots. This event is named Christopher Street Liberation Day and is now considered the first gay pride parade.

1973 - Lambda Legal becomes the first legal organization established to fight for the equal rights of gays and lesbians. Lambda also becomes their own first client after being denied non-profit status; the New York Supreme Court eventually rules that Lambda Legal can exist as a non-profit.

January 1, 1973 - Maryland becomes the first state to statutorily ban same-sex marriage.

March 26, 1973 - First meeting of "Parents and Friends of Gays," which goes national as Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) in 1982.

December 15, 1973 - By a vote of 5,854 to 3,810, the American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in the DSM-II Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

1974 - Kathy Kozachenko becomes the first openly LGBTQ American elected to any public office when she wins a seat on the Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council.

1974 - Elaine Noble is the first openly gay candidate elected to a state office when she is elected to the Massachusetts State legislature.

January 14, 1975 - The first federal gay rights bill is introduced to address discrimination based on sexual orientation. The bill later goes to the Judiciary Committee but is never brought for consideration.

March 1975 - Technical Sergeant Leonard P. Matlovich reveals his sexual orientation to his commanding officer and is forcibly discharged from the Air Force six months later. Matlovich is a Vietnam War veteran and was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. In 1980, the Court of Appeals rules that the dismissal was improper. Matlovich is awarded his back pay and a retroactive promotion.

1976 - After undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 1975, ophthalmologist and professional tennis player Renee Richards is banned from competing in the women's US Open because of a "women-born-women" rule. Richards challenges the decision and in 1977 and the New York Supreme Court rules in her favor. Richards competes in the 1977 US Open but is defeated in the first round by Virginia Wade.

October 14, 1979 - The first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights takes place. It draws an estimated 75,000 to 125,000 individuals marching for LGBTQ rights.

March 2, 1982 - Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.

1983 - Lambda Legal wins People v. West 12 Tenants Corp., the first HIV/AIDS discrimination lawsuit. Neighbors attempted to evict Dr. Joseph Sonnabend from the building because he was treating HIV-positive patients.

October 11, 1988 - The first National Coming Out Day is observed.

November 1995 - The Hate Crimes Sentencing Enhancement Act goes into effect as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The law allows a judge to impose harsher sentences if there is evidence showing that a victim was selected because of the "actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of any person."

September 21, 1996 - President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act, banning federal recognition of same-sex marriage and defining marriage as "a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife."

December 3, 1996 - Hawaii's Judge Chang rules that the state does not have a legal right to deprive same-sex couples of the right to marry, making Hawaii the first state to recognize that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to the same privileges as heterosexual married couples.

April 1997 - Comedian Ellen DeGeneres comes out as a lesbian on the cover of Time magazine, stating, "Yep, I'm Gay."

April 30, 1997 - DeGeneres' character, Ellen Morgan, on her self-titled TV series "Ellen," becomes the first leading character to come out on a prime-time network television show.

October 6-7, 1998 - Matthew Shepard is tied to a fence and beaten near Laramie, Wyoming. He is eventually found by a cyclist, who initially mistakes him for a scarecrow. He later dies due to his injuries sustained in the beating.

October 9, 1998 - Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney from Laramie, Wyoming, make their first court appearance after being arrested for the attempted murder of Shepard. Eventually, they each receive two life sentences for killing Shepard.

June 2003 - The US Supreme Court strikes down the "homosexual conduct" law, which decriminalizes same-sex sexual conduct, with their opinion in Lawrence v. Texas. The decision also reverses Bowers v. Hardwick, a 1986 US Supreme Court ruling that upheld Georgia's sodomy law.

May 17, 2004 - The first legal same-sex marriage in the United States takes place in Massachusetts.

September 6, 2005 - The California legislature becomes the first to pass a bill allowing marriage between same-sex couples. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoes the bill.

October 25, 2006 - The New Jersey Supreme Court rules that state lawmakers must provide the rights and benefits of marriage to gay and lesbian couples.

May 15, 2008 - The California Supreme Court rules in re: Marriage Cases that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples is unconstitutional.

November 4, 2008 - Voters approve Proposition 8 in California, which makes same-sex marriage illegal. The proposition is later found to be unconstitutional by a federal judge.

August 12, 2009 - Milk is posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

October 28, 2009 - Obama signs the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law.

September 20, 2011 - "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is repealed, ending a ban on gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

May 9, 2012 - In an ABC interview,Obama becomes the first sitting US president to publicly support the freedom for LGBTQ couples to marry.

September 4, 2012 - The Democratic Party becomes the first major US political party in history to publicly support same-sex marriage on a national platform at the Democratic National Convention.

November 6, 2012 - Tammy Baldwin becomes the first openly gay politician and the first Wisconsin woman to be elected to the US Senate.

June 26, 2013 - In United States v. Windsor, the US Supreme Court strikes down section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, ruling that legally married same-sex couples are entitled to federal benefits. The high court also dismisses a case involving California's proposition 8.

October 6, 2014 - The United States Supreme Court denies review in five different marriage cases, allowing lower court rulings to stand, and therefore allowing same-sex couples to marry in Utah, Oklahoma, Virginia, Indiana and Wisconsin. The decision opens the door for the right to marry in Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming.

May 17, 2016 - The Senate confirms Eric Fanning to be secretary of the Army, making him the first openly gay secretary of a US military branch. Fanning previously served as Defense Secretary Carter's chief of staff, and also served as undersecretary of the Air Force and deputy undersecretary of the Navy.

June 30, 2016 - Secretary of Defense Carter announces that the Pentagon is lifting the ban on transgender people serving openly in the US military.

November 9, 2016 - Kate Brown is sworn in as governor of Oregon, a day after she was officially elected to the office. Brown becomes the highest-ranking LGBTQ person elected to office in the United States. Brown took over the governorship in February 2016 (without an election), after Democrat John Kitzhaber resigned amidst a criminal investigation.

April 4, 2017 - The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals rules that the Civil Rights Act prohibits workplace discrimination against LGBTQ employees, after Kimberly Hively sues Ivy Tech Community College for violating Title VII of the act by denying her employment.

June 27, 2017 - District of Columbia residents can now choose a gender-neutral option of their driver's license. DC residents become the first people in the United States to be able to choose X as their gender marker instead of male or female on driver's licenses and identification cards. Similar policies exist in Canada, India, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand and Nepal.

June 30, 2017 - The US Department of Defense announces a six-month delay in allowing transgendered individuals to enlist in the United States military. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis writes that they "will use this additional time to evaluate more carefully the impact of such accessions on readiness and lethality." Approximately a month later, President Donald Trump announces via Twitter that the "United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US Military..."

November 7, 2017 - Virginia voters elect the state's first openly transgender candidate to the Virginia House of Delegates. Danica Roem unseats incumbent delegate Bob Marshall, who had been elected 13 times over 26 years. Roem becomes the first openly transgender candidate elected to a state legislature in American history.

February 26, 2018 - The Pentagon confirms that the first transgender person has signed a contract to join the US military.

November 6, 2018 - Democratic US Representative Jared Polis wins the Colorado governor's race, becoming the nation's first openly gay man to be elected governor.

June 30, 2019 - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signs a law banning the use of the so-called gay and trans panic legal defense strategy. The tactic asks a jury to find that a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for a defendant's violent reaction. New York follows California, Rhode Island, Illinois, Nevada and Connecticut as the sixth state to pass such a law.

February 10, 2020 - The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a ruling that the state of Idaho must provide gender confirmation surgery for Adree Edmo, an inmate in the custody of the Idaho Department of Correction. The ruling marks the first time a federal appeals court has ruled that a state must provide gender assignment surgery to an incarcerated person. According to the court opinion, "the gender confirmation surgery (GCS) was medically necessary for Edmo, and ordered the State to provide the surgery." In July 2020, Edmo receives her gender confirmation surgery and a May 2020 appeal by Attorney General of Idaho, Lawrence Wasden, is denied as moot by the US Supreme Court in October 2020.

August 26, 2020 - The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals rules in favor of former student, Gavin Grimm in a more than four-year fight over restroom policies for transgender students. The ruling states that policies segregating transgender students from their peers is unconstitutional and violate federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education. The decision relies in part on the Supreme Court's decision in June 2020, stating that discrimination against people based on their gender identity or sexual orientation violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2021, the Supreme Court chooses not to review the opinion by the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

February 2, 2021 - Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg becomes the first openly gay Cabinet member confirmed by the Senate.

March 24, 2021 - Dr. Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for health in the Department of Health and Human Services becomes the first out transgender federal official to be confirmed by the Senate.

June 21, 2021 - Carl Nassib, a defensive lineman with the Las Vegas Raiders, becomes the first active NFL player in league history to announce that he is gay.

June 30, 2021 - The State Department announces it will be updating its procedures to allow applicants to self-select their sex marker for passports and that it "will no longer require medical certification" if an applicant's self-selected sex marker doesn't match the sex listed on other official identity documents.

October 27, 2021 - The State Department announces that the US has issued the first US passport with an X gender marker. "As the Secretary announced in June, the Department is moving towards adding an X gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons applying for a U.S. passport or CRBA," State spokesperson Ned Price says in a statement.

October 19, 2022 - The Social Security Administration announces that people can now choose their sex marker in their Social Security records.

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LGBTQ Rights Milestones Fast Facts | CNN

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Here is a look at LGBTQ milestones in the United States. LGBTQ is an acronym meaning lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning. The term sometimes is extended to LGBTQIA, to include intersex and asexual groups.

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Established by Henry Gerber in Chicago.

Inspired by the German doctor, Magnus Hirschfeld and the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee.

The first recognised gay rights organisation in United States.

First began by publishing newsletters for homosexuals, known as Friendship and Freedom.

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Africa - Mauritius, South Africa, Uganda

Asia - East Timor, Hong Kong, India , Israel, Japan, South Korea, Nepal, Philippines, Taiwan , Vietnam

Europe - South Eastern Europe, Denmark, Finland, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Italy, Iceland, Ireland......

North America - Canada, Mexico, United State...

South America - Argentina, Brazil......

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Formed in Los Angeles by an activist Harry Hay.

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The American Psychiatric Associations diagnostic manual classified homosexuality as a sociopathic personality disturbance.

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Gilbert Baker designed the first version of rainbow flag on June 25th, 1978, for the San Fransisco's Gay Freedom Celebration.

Pink - Sexuality

Red - Life

Orange - Healing

Yellow - Sun

Green - Nature

Turquoise - Art

Indigo - Harmony

Violet - Soul

However, the pink and turquoise stripes were removed and indigo was replaced by blue due to the production issues, which resulted in the modern six-striped flag (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet).

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Read more unknown and curious design origin stories here.

The rainbow flag, which has become a universal symbol of hope for LGBTQ people around the world, first flew in San Francisco's United Nations Plaza for Gay Pride Day, on June 25, 1978.

It had eight colors -- two more than today's version -- and was designed by Gilbert Baker, an openly gay artist and activist. He had been commissioned to design a symbol for the LGBTQ community by his friend Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California.

Baker drew inspiration from the US national flag, which had celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, and an actual rainbow, which displays the colors of the light spectrum in roughly the same sequence as the flag. He assigned a meaning to each of the colors: hot pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for magic, blue for harmony and violet for spirit.

The first flag measured 30 by 60 feet and Baker, who was then 27 years old, had sewn it by hand. "When it went up and the wind finally took it out of my hands, it blew my mind," he told CNN in a 2015 interview. "I saw immediately how everyone around me owned that flag. I thought: It's better than I ever dreamed."

After that successful debut, Baker removed two colors from the design to make it easier to mass produced, dropping pink and turquoise and settling with the current six-hue configuration.

Baker died in 2017, aged 65. In the same 2015 CNN interview, he revealed the rationale behind the design of the flag. "We needed something to express our joy, our beauty, our power. And the rainbow did that," he said.

"We're an ancient, wonderful tribe of people. We picked something from nature. We picked something beautiful."

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pride flag: a history of the gilbert baker rainbow design  - cnn

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Read more unknown and curious design origin stories here. The rainbow flag, which has become a universal symbol of hope for LGBTQ people around the world, first flew in San Francisco's United Nations Plaza for Gay Pride Day, on June 25, 1978.

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President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an executive order that banned homosexuals from working for the federal government.

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April 27, 1953 in LGBTQ history...

On April 27, 1953, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower - elected in part to "Clean House" after years of Democratic reign - signed an executive order that banned homosexuals from working for the federal government. Crafted at the height of the Cold War, Executive Order 10450 declared that alongside communism, "sexual perversion" by government officials was a threat to national security.

The new order became the trigger for the Lavender Scare: a massive purge of the federal workforce and the mobilization of more than 1,000 federal agents to interrogate suspects, investigate their pasts and force the outed to resign. In the years that followed, thousands of government employees were investigated and fired for the "crime" of being gay.

By its end in the late 1960s, as many as 10,000 gay and lesbian employees had lost their jobs in the civil service. Countless others were interrogated and bullied.

In the 1960s, the rigor of homosexual persecution in government waned from its mid-1950s peak, but Eisenhower's executive order wasn't overturned until 1995, by Bill Clinton.

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FLASHBACK: President Dwight D. Eisenhower Issues Executive Order 10450 (April 27, 1953) - IN Magazine

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April 27, 1953 in LGBTQ history... On April 27, 1953, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower - elected in part to "Clean House" after years of Democratic reign - signed an executive order that banned homosexuals from working for the federal government.

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Formed in San Francisco.

First lesbian civil and political rights organisation in United States.

Providing support to women who were afraid to come out.

Endured for 14 years to becoming an educational resource for lesbians, gay and mental health researchers.

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Illinois becomes the first state to decriminalize homosexuality by repealing their sodomy laws.

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First televised documentary about homosexuality aired on a local station (KQED) in California.

Gained popularly and well-accepted by the public upon its initial airing.

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The Rejected is a made-for-television documentary film about homosexuality, the first of its kind to be broadcast on American television. It was first shown on KQED on September 11, 1961, and was later syndicated to National Educational Television (NET) stations across the United States, receiving positive critical reviews.

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The Rejected is a made-for-television documentary film about homosexuality, the first of its kind to be broadcast on American television. It was first shown on KQED on September 11, 1961, and was later syndicated to National Educational Television (NET) stations across the United States, receiving positive critical reviews.

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The "Los Angeles Advocate" had renamed and became "The Advocate".

Newsletters were published by the activist group Personal Rights in Defense and Education (PRIDE).

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June 28 - July 3, 1969 (Stonewall Riots)

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June 28 - July 3, 1969 (Stonewall Riots)

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A major turning point in the modern gay civil rights movement.

The tension from ongoing harassment galvanised the community to riot for 6 days.

The riots are widely considered to constitute one of the most important events leading to the gay liberation movement.

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Constant Raids at Gay Bars

The 1960s and preceding decades were not welcoming times for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. For instance, solicitation of same-sex relations was illegal in New York City.

For such reasons, LGBT individuals flocked to gay bars and clubs, places of refuge where they could express themselves openly and socialize without worry. However, the New York State Liquor Authority penalized and shut down establishments that served alcohol to known or suspected LGBT individuals, arguing that the mere gathering of homosexuals was "disorderly."

Thanks to activists' efforts, these regulations were overturned in 1966, and LGBT patrons could then be served alcohol. But engaging in gay behavior in public (holding hands, kissing or dancing with someone of the same sex) was still illegal, so police harassment of gay bars continued and many bars still operated without liquor licenses-in part because they were owned by the Mafia.

Gay Rights Before Stonewall

The first documented U.S. gay rights organization, The Society for Human Rights (SHR), was founded in 1924 by Henry Gerber, a German immigrant. Police raids forced them to disband in 1925, but not before they had published several issues of their newsletter, "Friendship and Freedom," the country's first gay-interest newsletter. America's first lesbian rights organization, The Daughters of Bilitis, was formed in San Francisco on September 21, 1955.

In 1966, three years before Stonewall, members of The Mattachine Society, an organization dedicated to gay rights, staged a "sip-in" where they openly declared their sexuality at taverns, daring staff to turn them away and suing establishments who did. When The Commission on Human Rights ruled that gay individuals had the right to be served in bars, police raids were temporarily reduced.

The Stonewall Inn

The crime syndicate saw profit in catering to shunned gay clientele, and by the mid-1960s, the Genovese crime family controlled most Greenwich Village gay bars. In 1966, they purchased Stonewall Inn (a "straight" bar and restaurant), cheaply renovated it, and reopened it the next year as a gay bar.

Stonewall Inn was registered as a type of private "bottle bar," which did not require a liquor license because patrons were supposed to bring their own liquor. Club attendees had to sign their names in a book upon entry to maintain the club's false exclusivity. The Genovese family bribed New York's Sixth Police Precinct to ignore the activities occurring within the club.

Without police interference, the crime family could cut costs how they saw fit: The club lacked a fire exit, running water behind the bar to wash glasses, clean toilets that didn't routinely overflow and palatable drinks that weren't watered down beyond recognition. What's more, the Mafia reportedly blackmailed the club's wealthier patrons who wanted to keep their sexuality a secret.

Nonetheless, Stonewall Inn quickly became an important Greenwich Village institution. It was large and relatively cheap to enter. It welcomed drag queens, who received a bitter reception at other gay bars and clubs. It was a nightly home for many runaways and homeless gay youths, who panhandled or shoplifted to afford the entry fee. And it was one of the few-if not the only-gay bar left that allowed dancing.

Raids were still a fact of life, but usually corrupt cops would tip off Mafia-run bars before they occurred, allowing owners to stash the alcohol (sold without a liquor license) and hide other illegal activities. In fact, the NYPD had stormed Stonewall Inn just a few days before the riot-inducing raid.

The Stonewall Riots Begin

When police raided Stonewall Inn on the morning of June 28, it came as a surprise-the bar wasn't tipped off this time.

Armed with a warrant, police officers entered the club, roughed up patrons, and, finding bootlegged alcohol, arrested 13 people, including employees and people violating the state's gender-appropriate clothing statute (female officers would take suspected cross-dressing patrons into the bathroom to check their sex).

Fed up with constant police harassment and social discrimination, angry patrons and neighborhood residents hung around outside of the bar rather than disperse, becoming increasingly agitated as the events unfolded and people were aggressively manhandled. At one point, an officer hit a lesbian over the head as he forced her into the police van- she shouted to onlookers to act, inciting the crowd to begin throw pennies, bottles, cobble stones and other objects at the police.

Within minutes, a full-blown riot involving hundreds of people began. The police, a few prisoners and a Village Voice writer barricaded themselves in the bar, which the mob attempted to set on fire after breaching the barricade repeatedly.

The fire department and a riot squad were eventually able to douse the flames, rescue those inside Stonewall, and disperse the crowd. But the protests, sometimes involving thousands of people, continued in the area for five more days, flaring up at one point after the Village Voice published its account of the riots.

Stonewall's Legacy

Though the Stonewall uprising didn't start the gay rights movement, it was a galvanizing force for LGBT political activism, leading to numerous gay rights organizations, including the Gay Liberation Front, Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD (formerly Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), and PFLAG (formerly Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).

On the one-year anniversary of the riots on June 28, 1970, thousands of people marched in the streets of Manhattan from the Stonewall Inn to Central Park in what was then called "Christopher Street Liberation Day," America's first gay pride parade. The parade's official chant was: "Say it loud, gay is proud."

In 2016, then-President Barack Obama designated the site of the riots-Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and the surrounding streets and sidewalks-a national monument in recognition of the area's contribution to gay rights.

Photo Gallery

HISTORY Vault

Sources

A History of Gay Rights in America. CBS.
LGBTQ Activism: The Henry Gerber House, Chicago, IL. NPS.gov.

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1969 Stonewall Riots - Origins, Timeline & Leaders

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The Stonewall Riots, also called the Stonewall Uprising, took place on June 28, 1969, in New York City, after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a local gay club. The raid sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents as police hauled employees and patrons out of the bar, leading to six days of protests and violent clashes.

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June 28, 1970 (Christopher Street Liberation Day)

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June 28, 1970 (Christopher Street Liberation Day)

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The first gay pride parade occurred.

To recognize the one-year anniversary of Stonewall Riots.

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The first legal national organization that fights for equal rights in LGBT community was established.

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Lambda Legal, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work. Learn More

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We are a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV.

# data[].attributes.body
The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in the DSM-II Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

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The first gay American Indian liberation organisation was introduced in San Francisco by Randy Burns and Barbara May Cameron.

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EuroPride Stockholm Pride 2018 ABBA Dancing Queen

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Wei, Jin, Northern & Southern and Han Dynasty

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Wei, Jin, Northern & Southern and Han Dynasty

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During the Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern dynasty, gay culture started to infuse from the upper social class to lower classes. Male prostitution were introduced. However, for the following dynasties (Tang dynasty & Five dynasties), gay culture started to decline due to acceptance of cultural influences regarding sexuality from the Western and Central Asia. During these periods, the first negative word about gay homosexuality, Ji Jian (鸡奸) was introduced to connote the illicit homosexuality. Moreover, laws against male prostitution were being introduce as well during Tang dynasty.

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The American Psychiatric Association classified transgender people as having "gender identity disorder".

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The rainbow flag came to nationwide attention.

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Moving forward to Ming dynasty, gay marriage were introduced and practiced by the common people, especially in Fujian province. The gay marriage were known as Qi Xiong Di (契兄弟), where in this relationship, the older male will be called as Qi Xiong (契兄 - adoptive older brother) and played the more masculine role, while the younger male will be Qi Di (契弟 - adoptive younger brother), who plays the more feminine role. Their wedding ceremony were no difference with the normal male-female couple ones, and the Qi Di will later move into the Qi Xiong’s family. According to the history, the Qi Di will be treated well by Qi Xiong’s family, and both of the males can later marry another woman in order to procreate.

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In December 2020, he introduced himself and specified his pronouns as 'he' and revealed his new name, Elliot.

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2018第９屆高雄同志大遊行-LesPark彩虹同遊

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Other than that, lesbian marriage was also being introduced and practiced during the Ming dynasty in Guangdong province, where it was known as Jin Lan Qi (金兰契). In this marriage, the female couples will promise with each other to not marry a man, where this was called Zi Shu (自梳). Reasons that lead to this lesbian marriage is because most of the women in Guangdong province had achieved financial freedom, where they can earn a living for themselves and do not need to rely on a man to survive. Other than that, it was part of their action to go against the patriarchy system, to achieve freedom in marriage.

Other names for lesbian was known as Dui shi (对食) and Mo Jing (磨镜). For Dui Shi, it is an earlier form of lesbian marriage, which was commonly found happen in the imperial court, among the court ladies. Dui Shi was later improvised to the marriage between court lady and eunuch.

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President Bill Clinton signed a military policy directive that prohibited military personnel from discriminating and harassing the homosexuals.

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During Mao Zedong ‘s Cultural Revolution Era (1966-1976), Chinese people had received influence on the Western sexology. Therefore, they started to assume that homosexual is shameful and not welcome. As a result, gays were heavily harassed and discriminated by the society. Certain laws against homosexuality were also been introduced, which was know as Hooliganism law. These laws were applied to ban on private, adult, non-commercial and consensual homosexual conduct, or easy to say, MSM (men who have sex with men) action. This action had indeed persecuted the gays and deprived their freedom & rights for love. For lesbian on the other hand, WSW (women who have sex with women) action were not been convicted to the hooliganism law due to sex can only be defined when there is present of male.

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20th-century

In the 1950s and 60s, the American legal system was deeply discriminative towards homosexuals. Holding hands, kissing and any public intimacy between same-sex couples were strictly forbidden. Showing up at a gay bar would also constitute as a reason for arrest.

Those who are involved in the LGBTQ community might lose their job opportunities and being publicly disgraced. Some would be sent to mental institutes, some were forced to undergo unscientific and inhumane conversion therapies including electric shock, medication and even chemical castration.

In 1967, CBS News Network commissioned a survey to review the general public attitude towards homosexuality. Most of the Americans considered homosexuality is more harmful to society that adultery, abortion or prostitution.

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Economy Reform and Development Era (1970s) and afterwards

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Economy Reform and Development Era (1970s) and afterwards

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Later on, during Deng Xiaoping’s Economy Reform and Development Era (1970s), things started to become better. In 1980s, greater public discussions and research towards homosexuality were permitted. The society slowly gained more understanding and acceptance towards homosexual. Therefore, in year 1997, the Hooliganism law towards gays were revised and eliminated. In the year of 2001, homosexuality had been formally removed from the list of mental illnesses in Chinese Classification of Mental Disorder. Furthermore, for transgenders who had undergone surgery, they can apply for a change in their sex  at the Ministry of State Security starting from the year of 2002. On the marriage side, same sex marriage are still not allowed in China until today.

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President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act, banning the federal recognition of same-sex marriage.

Marriage was defined as "a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife".

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Hawaii became the first state to recognize that "gay and lesbian couples are reserved to the same privileges as heterosexual married couples".

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Stroke down the "homosexual conduct" law.

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9 Landmark Supreme Court Cases That Shaped LGBTQ Rights in America

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The path of LGBTQ rights in America has not been simple. As the battle was fought in the culture, it was also fought in the Supreme Court.

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Massachusetts became the first legally married same-sex couple.

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October 28, 2009 (Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Act)

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October 28, 2009 (Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Act)

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Signed into law by President Barack Obama.

To investigate and prosecute hate crimes.

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Cover by Daecolm

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Daecolm - Dancing Queen (Official Video)

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"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is repealed, ending a ban on gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

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The first sitting president to publicly support the freedom for LGBTQ marriage through an interview.

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September 4, 2012 (The Democratic Party)

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September 4, 2012 (The Democratic Party)

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The first major political party to publicly support LGBTQ marriage on a national platform at the Democratic National Convention.

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Stronger Together: Gay Marriage - 2012 Democratic National Convention Video

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The Supreme Court approved same-sex marriage in every states in US.

It is a landmark for marriage equality in United States.

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Time-Lapse of The White House on June 26th 2015

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📍 Location

53 Christopher Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City

Background

"the gay bar in the city".

Stonewall Inn was a popular gathering place for the LGBTQ community in New York City.

Police raids happened frequently to the extend of  having it once a month for each bar. People without identification cards or dressed in full drag would be arrested.

Bar management usually knew about raids beforehand due to police tip-offs.

Some illegal activities were done secretly such as allowing owners to stash the alcohol without a liquor license.

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Stonewall Uprising

Police raids on gay bars were conducted as usual, but on that particular night, the people decided to fight back.

Policemen showed in the midnight of Saturday, June 28th, 1969 without giving early tip-off to the Stonewall Inn management.

Therefore, the patrons were have to undergo checking and verifications by the police. However, some people who dressed in women refused to follow the female police officer for a sex verification, while the males refused to produce their identification.

The police arrested the workers for selling alcohol without a license, people who violated the state's gender-appropriate statute (cross-dressing) and roughed up many of the patrons.

The people that gathered outside the bar later gone berserk with the police's action of arresting the homosexuals. As a result, they started to attack the police.

The policemen tried to restrain the crowd by knocking down a few of them, but it had turned out inciting more of the bystanders to gather around.

The policemen were outnumbered by about 500-600 people in this riot.

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How the Stonewall Riots Sparked a Movement | History

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Stonewall: a riot that changed millions of lives

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Gay Liberation Front

Gay Activists Alliance

Gay Pride

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How the Stonewall Riots Forever Changed History

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Pride Month wouldn’t exist without this incredible movement.

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ABBA - Dancing Queen (Official Music Video)

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The reason why we decided to choose this song is because we hope that through this song, we can provide support and encouragement to the LGBT community to have confidence in themselves and to be who they truly are. This song, Dancing Queen projected a relaxing vibe that encourages the youngsters to throw away their fears and worries, to appreciate the current happy moment as well as to enjoy the music and start dancing. This song was intended to motivate the LGBT community to not hide or ashamed of themselves due to their sexuality differences with others, or to take people’s destructive criticism into heart, but on the other hand, try to be proud of themselves and to show their own uniqueness to the world. No matter who you are, what your gender or sexuality is, everyone has their freedom and rights to chase for happiness. Thus, just move your body around with the music, socialize freely with the people around and be happy, regardless of what others may think of you.

Besides than that, looking from a bigger picture, we hope that through this song, we can instill new values in the society that happiness is universal, and it does not limited to heterosexuals. Everyone on this planet Earth has the rights to chase for their happiness. Therefore, we hope to instill more understanding, tolerance, acceptance and respect in the society towards the LGBT community, and lesser of bully, discrimination, isolation, boycott, and deprivation of basic human rights towards them. We are all the same as a human, so instead of hatred, why not we love and embrace each other?

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五月天 Mayday【愛情的模樣 This is love】Official Music Video

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Album: 五月天第一張創作專輯Mayday's First Album

Released: July 7, 1999

Genre: pop, soft rock

Composer & Lyricist: Ashin

Music Arrangement: Mayday

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This song has long topped the gay anthem charts and remains one of the most ubiquitous gay anthems of our time.

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ABBA - Dancing Queen (Official Music Video)

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五月天 Mayday【愛情的模樣 This is love】Official Music Video

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"No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgender life - I'm on the right track, baby. I was born to survive. No matter black, white, or beige, chola or Orient made - right track, baby, I was born to be brave."
This song has been embraced as a gay anthem.

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Lady Gaga - Born This Way (Official Music Video)

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Song Genre: Rock/Mandapop

Instruments used:
a) Foundation: Drum, Bass Guitar
b) Rhythm Section: Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
c) Pads: Strings
d) Lead instrument: Vocal

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"because everyone has the spark to be a FIREWORK."
The music video actually refers to young people who are struggling with their identities. It is also dedicated to fight discrimination against LGBT youth.

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Katy Perry - Firework (Official Music Video)

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The song is basically about Smith's sexuality and grappling with the feeling that there's no place in religion for him because he's gay.

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Sam Smith - HIM (LIVE, The Thrill Of It All Tour 2018)

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Cover by Hebe Tien and MAYDAY

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MAYDAY五月天 [ 愛情的模樣 ] feat.田馥甄Hebe Official Live Video

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With Acoustic guitar

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Dancing Queen - ABBA (covered by Bailey Pelkman & Randy Rektor)

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Movieclip in " Mamma Mia"

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Mamma Mia! (2008) - Dancing Queen Scene (3/10) | Movieclips

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New Version by MAYDAY

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MAYDAY五月天 [ 愛情的模樣 This is Love ] Official Live Video

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Same Love - Macklemore, feat. Mary Lambert

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Same Love - Macklemore, feat. Mary Lambert

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It was adopted as an LGBTQ+ anthem that support civil right and legalise marriage equality. The song also came out of his own frustration with hip hop's positions on homosexuality.

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MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS - SAME LOVE feat. MARY LAMBERT (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

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In Choir

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With Piano

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ABBA - Dancing Queen (Hannah Grace cover)

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Its lyrics reflect the feelings of someone who’s hopeless and trapped in the situation of being in love, but not being accepted by society if they choose to show it publicly. The song speaks out for change, not just legally, but socially.

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"This Is Me" was written by a gay man, Benj Pasek, and his writing partner, Justin Paul."I am brave, I am bruised, I am who I'm meant to be, this is me," state the lyrics, an unapologetic declaration of identity that all queer people can relate to. "I'm not scared to be seen, I make no apologies, this is me."

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The Greatest Showman Cast - This Is Me (Official Lyric Video)

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The song’s content lends itself to a bisexual reading. The lyrics are decidedly intimate but also ambiguous. The song is also filled with imagery depicting closeness, touch and physical intimacy.

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The Neighbourhood - Sweater Weather (Official Video)

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This song does not start with the speciality of the LGBTQ or their love, but from the side of LGBTQ as a friend.

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刻在我心底的名字 Your Name Engraved Herein - Crowd Lu

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刻在我心底的名字 Your Name Engraved Herein - Crowd Lu

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This is the theme song from the LGBT movie from Taiwan. The lyrics is about we know that love will hurt sometimes but we still desperate to break it. We know that it will be painful , but we also choose to bear it bravely.

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盧廣仲 Crowd Lu 【刻在我心底的名字 Your Name Engraved Herein】 Official Music Video  （刻在你心底的名字電影主題曲）

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This is a theme song from the same name Taiwan LGBT movie. The lyrics portray the hazy feelings of the students in their youth.

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MAYDAY五月天 [ 盛夏光年Eternal Summer ] Official Music Video-劇情版

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This song was wrote in support of human rights and equality. In the music video, they decided to reproduce the real gay couple's marriage proposal to have a real street experiment

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炎亞綸 Aaron Yan -狂愛潮浪 Official Music Video

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It describes the emotions of gay. For instance, "the evening wind kissed the leaves of the lotus flowers and let me fall drunk by the pool". The lyrics, though seemingly obscure and feature vivid descriptions.

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五月天 Mayday【擁抱 Embrace】Official Music Video

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Taiwanese writer, host, film director and scriptwriter

November 2001: Acknowledged his sexual orientation while discussing about the LGBT rights in Taiwan.

November 26, 2012: Released a novel called "Kevin Tsai's love messages: The Unknown Lover" and talk about his personal life.

June 23, 2015: Came out as a gay on the China's show "U Can U Bibi".

August 1, 2016: Hosted "Love is King" charity concert to support same-sex marriage.

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Homosexuality across most of the Asian countries are still restricted. LGBTQ+ people are still facing persecution and discrimination that would sometimes lead to violence. In some of the countries, including a few of the ASEAN member states such as Malaysia, Singapore, China and Myanmar, same-sex relations and cross-dressing are illegal as well as punishable by law.

However, Taiwan is the first place in Asia to allow same-sex marriage on 27th May 2019. According to Jennings, he stated that Thailand and Cambodia are the most likely countries to follow Taiwan's LGBT rights footsteps. In brief, LGBTQ+ rights in Asia still have a long way to catch up.

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Proponents of legalizing same-sex marriage in Taiwan hope other governments in Asia will follow their lead. Taiwan's Justices of the Constitutional Court cited "freedom" and "people's right to equality" when it said Wednesday the law should allow same-sex marriage and told parliament to make sure of it. Taiwanese LGBT groups are wondering now who else in the region might follow when their homeland officially becomes Asia's first place to allow same-sex marriage.

"I believe the influence will be quite deep, and we'll see if activists in other countries can push their governments, give the governments more pressure," said Chien Chih-chieh, secretary general of the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights.

The short answer to who's next: Thailand and maybe Cambodia.

First let's look at the rest.

Authoritarian countries are unlikely to legalize same-sex marriage in full because they restrict civic activism that would give rise to an LGBT advocacy movement. Those advocates often press governments to allow same-sex marriage, if you look at the 20 countries worldwide that are OK with it now. Authoritarian states in Asia mean China, Laos, North Korea and probably Singapore. Some of those places are socially conservative anyway. Vietnam legalized same-sex marriage in 2015 but never followed up with enforcement.

Countries with strong monotheistic religions are also unlikely to approve same-sex marriage laws because churches oppose the idea. Indonesia and Malaysia, though democratic, live largely by the rules of Islam. The same religion anchors much of South Asia and the Middle East. About a quarter of South Koreans believe in Christianity of the sort that sticks close to the idea of one man, one woman per marriage. Despite earlier momentum in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte said that as the leader of a largely Catholic country he opposed the idea, according to the American advocacy group Human Rights Watch.

Then there's Japan. Japan lacks a "multicultural" component of its democracy, says Jens Damm, associate professor in the Graduate Institute of Taiwan Studies at Chang Jung University in Taiwan. Taiwan's LGBT movement took shape in the 1990s as politicians elevated the cause of multiple non-mainstream groups as a way of distinguishing the island from its political rival China.

But Thailand once stood a chance of beating Taiwan as the first place in Asia with a full-blown same-sex marriage law and someday it might take up the cause again.

Scholars and LGBT activists in the Southeast Asian country known for a thriving LGBT scene had drafted legislation five years ago and no organized opposition surfaced, the international law firm G.A.M. Alliance says on its website. A senior legislator said at the time much of the country's parliament, being mostly older people, was too conservative to pass the law. The bill eventually went on hold due to political instability, according to the website PinkNews. In theory it could resurface. As a possible precursor, Thailand passed the Gender Equality Act in 2015 to punish discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, the news website says.

Another likely spot is Thailand's neighbor Cambodia. The country in 2011 repealed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, and news reports say influential authorities including the late king Norodom Sihanouk have favored a follow-up law. Still, no one in the Cambodian government has made the bold move.

... Read More

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These Asian Countries Are The Most Likely To Follow In Taiwan's LGBT Rights Footsteps

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Proponents of legalizing same-sex marriage in Taiwan hope other governments in Asia will follow their lead. Taiwan's Justices of the Constitutional Court cited "freedom" and "people's right to equality" when it said Wednesday the law should allow same-sex marriage and told parliament to make sure of it.

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Album: Arrival

Released: August 15, 1975

Genre: disco, pop

Composers: Benny Anderson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Stig Anderson

Producers: Benny Anderson, Bjorn Ulvaeus

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Song Genre: Disoco/Europop

Instruments used:
a) Foundation: Drums, bass guitar
b) Rhythm section: Piano, Electric Guitar, Shaker
c) Pads: Strings, Synth, Background vocals
d) Lead instrument: Vocals

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Intro / Chorus - 14 bars
Interlude - 4 bars
Verse 1 - 8 bars
Verse 2 - 8 bars
Pre chorus - 2 bars
Chorus - 14 bars
Interlude - 4 bars
Verse 3 - 8 bars
Pre chorus - 2 bars
Chorus - 14 bars
Outro (Fade) - 16 bars

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Tsai has been in a stable relationship with his boyfriend, George for 20 years.

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In 2012, Tsai had released a novel called "Kevin Tsai's love messages: The Unknown Lover". He expressed that he was glad to know that Chinese society is trying to accept LGBT community into their circle, and he also mentioned that he would never regret about declaring his sexual orientation.

"We (Tsai and his boyfriend) are resisting the pressure. A life is bound to have pressures. I will always fence off whatever that comes into the way."

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二十岁的她，暗恋太久，难以忍受，终于决定勇敢一次，伸手去捕捉爱！当她用力掀开她恋情的第一页时，也同时掀开了一本再也合不上的书。残酷的命运既特别宠她，又爱嘲弄她。大方地赐给她一场又像恩赐、又像惩罚的初恋。这场初恋，使勇敢的女孩伤痕累累，在她自己舔着伤口，一心想要复原的时候，另一个世界送来了一个只爱吃水果、随便到不同人家去过夜的长腿男生，于是，这个男生就带着满身伤痕的勇敢女孩，展开了一场一拐一拐的、恋人专属的疗愈之旅。

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蔡康永爱情短信：未知的恋人

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蔡康永爱情短信：未知的恋人

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蔡康永爱情短信：未知的恋人，作者：蔡康永，在线阅读《蔡康永爱情短信：未知的恋人》 - 读书网|dushu.com

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14 years after Tsai's debut, he finally spoke up about being the only Taiwanese celebrity to officially come out and talk about his sexual orientation.

"I underwent a lot of pressure because of this. I guess I'm unlucky for being the only one who still works as an artiste even after revealing my sexual orientation. All I can do is to proof to those parents that we are not monsters and that it's not the end of the world."

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TAIPEI - Taiwanese talk show host Kevin Tsai has been out of the closet for 14 years, but at a recent emotional taping, he said that he has had a lonely journey and usually advises gay stars not to come out.

Tsai, 53, was the first male celebrity to come out in Taiwan, after writer Li Ao asked him about his marital status and sexual orientation point-blank on television in 2001. Tsai was in tears at a taping of the Chinese online talk show U Can U Bibi when he spoke of how he became a mentor to actors considering coming out, said China Times.

"A lot of stars aren't that familiar with me. They secretly go through friends to send me texts, saying they want to come out of the closet."

He said he was once consulted by a star who was hoping to come out 10 minutes later, and he knew the other party would go ahead or stop, depending on his reply.

He made a self-deprecating remark: "I was under a lot of pressure. Well, I'm unlucky enough to be the only man who's out and still alive."

But he began crying when he explained his dilemma. On the one hand, he wants more stars to come out so he will not be the only one, but on the other hand, he ends up advising them to stay in the closet.

He choked and stopped for half a minute before completing a sentence: "From the standpoint of my loneliness...I wish a lot of people would come out with me."

He said he did not wish to be "the only person alive" the media could show for every mention of Taiwanese stars who have come out, reported Apple Daily.

"We've got to show those parents you can come out of the closet and not die," he added. "Not everyone out of the closet will be pushed into a dark corner of society."

However, from a rational standpoint, he still stops the stars, advises them to calm down and asks them to talk to him again six months or one year later, because he is not sure they can bear what he has been through himself.

"The only thing I can do is prove to those worrying dads and mums that we're not monsters. We can live well here," he added.

In the United States, CNN anchorman Anderson Cooper and Apple chief executive Tim Cook are prominent people who have come out, Tsai noted. But he said he could not ask a Chinese star to come out, knowing all the pressure he would be under.

In Hong Kong, the late pop star Leslie Cheung came out as bisexual in 2001. Singers Denise Ho and Anthony Wong have also come out of the closet.

Explaining his tears at the taping, Tsai told Apple Daily on Tuesday: "I'm in the public gaze, in a lonely situation. All of a sudden, my feelings were mixed, and I cried. It was reasonable for me to cry for one minute."

Tsai, who has a boyfriend of 21 years, added that he is disappointed that till today, homosexuals still face denigration.

His friends in Taiwan spoke up for him though.

Dee Hsu, who hosts the talk show Mr Con & Ms Csi with him, said: "He's always been brave. I really want to hug him and tell him how great he is."

Sisy Chen, the host of the show on which Li's question forced Tsai out of the closet, said: "You're a person true to yourself."

TV host A-ya said: "You're a genius, not a monster."

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Teary Taiwan talk show host Kevin Tsai explains why he tells gay stars not to come out

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TAIPEI - Taiwanese talk show host Kevin Tsai has been out of the closet for 14 years, but at a recent emotional taping, he said that he has had a lonely journey and usually advises gay stars not to come out.. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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The ABCs of L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ (Published 2018)

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Words and abbreviations are changing with the need to address and respect people who do not feel represented.

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Malaysia is a muslim-majority country. Hence, same-sex relations and cross dressing are restricted in this place.

There is no legal protection for LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia. Homosexuality is illegal where laws criminalizing sodomy can result in imprisonment, corporal punishment, and fines.

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Malaysia's Federal Court on February 25 ruled that a state law banning consensual same-sex conduct was unconstitutional. While the ruling leaves intact a federal statute criminalizing same-sex relations, it does bring relief to those who have faced persecution from religious enforcement agencies enforcing such state laws.

The case arises from a 2018 raid on a private residence in Selangor, in which state religious enforcement officials arrested 11 men on charges of "attempting" gay sex, under section 28 of Selangor's Syariah (Sharia, or Islamic law) criminal enactment. In November 2019, a court convicted five of the men and sentenced them to fines, imprisonment, and six strokes of the cane each.

With support from human rights lawyers and organizations in Malaysia, one of the men appealed, arguing that the enactment of section 28 was ultra vires, or beyond the state's powers, because under Malaysia's constitution only the federal government may legislate some aspects of criminal law. The nine-judge panel agreed.

Malaysia's federal laws are no more friendly to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people than its state laws. They are in fact so far-reaching that most sexually active Malaysians of any orientation likely fall afoul of them. "Carnal knowledge against the order of nature," or any sexual act involving "the introduction of the penis into the anus or mouth of the other person," is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and mandatory whipping. Another law punishes any sexual act involving "introduction of any object or any part of the body, except the penis into the vagina or anus of the other person." The federal laws, however, are rarely enforced, and federal police tend not to share state religious officials' zeal for invading the privacy of Malaysian bedrooms.

Meanwhile, state religious officials persecute LGBT people, especially trans women. After one trans woman, Nur Sajat, failed to appear in court to answer to charges of "insulting Islam" for having attended a religious event dressed in clothing typically associated with women, Selangor's religious department announced it was deploying 122 officers to hunt her down. State Sharia laws also criminalize non-normative gender expression.

In the face of pervasive anti-LGBT discourse, law, and policy, Malaysian activists are taking steps to whittle away at institutionalized discrimination. The Federal Court ruling is one small but significant step forward.

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Malaysia's Highest Court Strikes Down State Gay Sex Ban

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Malaysia's Federal Court on February 25 ruled that a state law banning consensual same-sex conduct was unconstitutional. While the ruling leaves intact a federal statute criminalizing same-sex relations, it does bring relief to those who have faced persecution from religious enforcement agencies enforcing such state laws.

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Live version by Jam Hsiao

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20170826 《愛情的模樣》蕭敬騰 Jam Hsiao  LION獅子合唱團上海演唱會季節限定版

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In year 1998 before the official debut, this song was in the album” Embrace” which was an album about the Taiwan gay community. After a year, they released their first album, known as “Mayday’s First Album”. In this album, there were two songs that were related to LGBT topic which were “Embrace” and “This is Love”.

In the chorus, there was a line ”Our bodies may be similar in almost every detail. Still, we can love and be loved by each other” and “Your body is almost identical to mine yet the mysterious attraction feels even irresistible” has specifically defined that this song is related to the gay community (2 person of same-sex fall in love with each other).

Through the song, it brings out an important information “Love has no boundaries” .We can still loved and being loved to each other no matter we have the same body.

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This is the very first version of the song. In this version, the lyrics had mentioned the "lotus pond". In the early Taiwan’s LGBT culture, lotus can be refers to the gay community. This version had been banned.

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你是谁 叫我狂恋 教我勇敢的挑战全世界

Why is it you that make me crazy in love and give me the courage to challenge the world for you

在一样的身体里面 一样有爱与被爱的感觉

Our bodies may be similar in almost every detail. Still, we can love and be loved by each other

我爱谁 已无所谓 没有谁能将爱情划界限

Whichever I love, it no longer matters. Love has no boundaries

在一样的身体里面 谜样的魔力却是更强烈

Your body is almost identical to mine yet the mysterious attraction feels even more irresistible.

This chorus part had eventually revealed the characteristics of the song that was written for the homosexuals. This was shown in the phrase “identical bodies”, which it refers to same sex for both person. Even though having the same sex, but they have love (romantic) for each other, where it exceeds the boundaries of love and gender, as well as the society’s common perceptions that love should occur between the opposite genders. Thus, the MC gain his courage to fight against the society’s “rules” towards love just to protect his lover.

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星星在夜空中闪亮 星空下我不停流浪

Up in the night sky, the stars twinkled. Under the dark sky, I had been wandering aimlessly

此生我无知的奔忙 因为你眼光 都化成了光亮

The time I squandered on chasing my tail was all turned into bright light when you first laid your eyes on me

这世界全部的漂亮 不过你的可爱模样

All the beauty in this world is no competition for your loveliness

你让我举双手投降 跨出了城墙 长出了翅膀

You have made me gladly surrender clim over the walls and grow a pair of wings

In the first two lines, the MC describes how his lover changes his life. Before he met his lover, his life was boring and unhappy, however the presence of his lover in the MC’s life afterwards brings him happiness, companionship and the purpose of life that he was seeking for. The following third and forth line, described how attracted the MC towards his lover to the extend that he was willing to open up his heart to surrender to him, and to escape from the obstacles as well as the negative emotions he had been suppressing for a long time to chase for freedom and love.

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Malaysia Government Steps Up Attacks on LGBT People

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Malaysia Government Steps Up Attacks on LGBT People

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(Bangkok) - The Malaysian government should renounce a cabinet minister's proposal to increase criminal penalties against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, Human Rights Watch said today. The attempt to strengthen criminal penalties against LGBT Malaysians is the latest in a series of moves to cement the anti-LGBT, anti-human rights stance of Prime Minister Muhyididin Yassin's Perikitan Nasional government.

The proposed amendment to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (Act 355), submitted by Ahmad Marzuk Shaary, deputy minister for religious affairs in the Prime Minister's Department, would allow state Sharia (Syariah) courts to establish harsher sentences for same-sex conduct than the current maximum Sharia sentence permitted under federal law. Marzuk also proposed codifying as Sharia criminal offenses changing one's gender and producing or sharing social media content deemed obscene and indecent, including images of non-normative gender expression.

"Malaysia's state and federal statutes that criminalize LGBT people are already out of bounds with regard to international law, and the government seems to be sinking even deeper in its disregard for human rights," said Neela Ghoshal, associate LGBT rights director at Human Rights Watch. "Rather than enhancing penalties for actions that harm no one, the government should repeal such penalties."

Malaysia's state Sharia laws, which punish consensual same-sex relations as well as gender nonconformity, are among the many laws and policies in Malaysia that discriminate against LGBT people. Malaysia's federal penal code covers most criminal acts in the entire country. State Sharia laws, enforced by state Islamic Religious Departments and tried in Sharia courts, are only applicable to Muslims, who make up about 60 percent of Malaysia's population.

All 13 states and the federal territory criminalize same-sex relations and gender nonconformity. In addition, section 377 of the federal penal code punishes any form of anal or oral sex with up to 20 years in prison and mandatory caning.

Act 355, adopted in 1965 to safeguard Malaysia's essential secular character, limits the sentences that can be imposed by Sharia courts. Sharia courts could impose maximum sentences of one year in prison and a fine of up to RM 1,000 (US$250). The act was amended in 1984 to increase the maximum sentence that Sharia courts can impose to three years in prison, fines of up to RM 5,000 (US$1,240), and caning of up to six strokes.

Before 2018, according to Malaysian human rights activists, Malaysian courts had never actually imposed caning sentences, which are a form of torture under international law, for same-sex conduct. But in September 2018, Terengganu state carried out a caning sentence against two women accused of attempted same-sex relations. And in November 2019, the Selangor Sharia court sentenced five men to fines, imprisonment, and caning, while others who pled not guilty are awaiting trial.

The Selangor case spurred a constitutional challenge, pending before the Federal Court, in which the petitioner - one of the men awaiting trial - argues that the duplicative state and federal prohibitions on same-sex relations violate federal law. A second legal challenge, filed before Selangor's High Court but stayed by the court while the federal case is pending, contends that the criminalization of consensual same-sex relations violates constitutional rights, including the right to equality before the law.

State religious departments in Malaysia have a history of subjecting trans women to arbitrary arrest, assault, extortion, and violations of their privacy rights, Human Rights Watch said. An appeals court ruled in 2014 that laws against "cross-dressing" in Negeri Sembilan state were unconstitutional, but in 2015 that ruling was reversed on a technicality.

In July 2020, the religious affairs minister, Zulkifli Mohamad, published a Facebook post giving " full license" to Federal Territory Islamic Department (JAWI) officers to arrest transgender people and "counsel" or "educate" them so that they "return to the right path." Recent abuses against trans women include an October 2020 raid on a birthday party in Kedah, during which state religious officials arrested 30 trans women, and the January 2021 arrest of Nur Sajat, a cosmetics entrepreneur and social media personality, on charges of "insulting Islam" by dressing in clothing typically associated with women at a religious event.

"In Malaysia transgender people live in fear of being targeted and prosecuted just because of who we are," said transgender activist Nisha Ayub, a transgender activist. "Aren't we part of the society? Aren't we supposed to be protected by the laws just as others?"

Human Rights Watch has documented that successive governments in Malaysia have employed anti-LGBT rhetoric as a political tool, calling on LGBT people to "change" their gender identity or sexual orientation to "return to the right path" or risk retribution. Officials have attempted to silence alternative narratives that advance LGBT people's rights and acknowledge their humanity. For instance, in December, the Home Ministry banned a book entitled "Gay is OK! A Christian Perspective," and denounced homosexuality as "clearly forbidden and contrary to all religious teachings."

LGBT people in Malaysia told Human Rights Watch and the Malaysian trans rights group Justice for Sisters that hostile government rhetoric contributes to violence against LGBT people by members of the public.

Malaysia's national human rights institution, SUHAKAM, which has also documented violence and discrimination against trans people in Malaysia, condemned the proposal to amend Act 355. It said that the government should "adopt a more compassionate approach by respecting human rights for all."

On January 21, Prime Minister Muhyiddin, who in a previous role as deputy prime minister said that Malaysia " does not recognize LGBT rights," surprised Malaysian human rights activists by expressing support for laws that prohibit hate speech, including on grounds of sexual orientation, in prepared remarks at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forum. Activists highlighted the disconnect given that Muhyiddin's own government advocates persecution of LGBT people.

"It is the height of hypocrisy that on the one hand, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin urges ASEAN countries to enact laws against hate speech based on sexual orientation, and on the other hand his cabinet member calls for amending laws to further criminalize LGBT persons in Malaysia," said Chong Yee Shan of Diversity Malaysia. "The prime minister should walk the talk and take meaningful steps to address hate speech while ending criminalization of LGBT persons in Malaysia."

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© 2014 Javad Tizmaghz for Human Rights Watch

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Malaysia: Government Steps Up Attacks on LGBT People

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(Bangkok) - The Malaysian government should renounce a cabinet minister's proposal to increase criminal penalties against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, Human Rights Watch said today. The attempt to strengthen criminal penalties against LGBT Malaysians is the latest in a series of moves to cement the anti-LGBT, anti-human rights stance of Prime Minister Muhyididin Yassin's Perikitan Nasional government.

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Same-sex relations and cross-dressing are illegal due to the Muslims' laws.

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In recent years, same-sex relations, activity, and marriage have been legalised in a number of countries (nationwide or some parts) such as in Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and New Zealand, among others.

A rainbow flag, which is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) pride and LGBTQ social movements, would be waved at pride parades carried out in different parts of the world.

However, despite the increased visibility of the pride movement, LGBTQ+ people are still facing persecution and discrimination that would sometimes lead to violence. In some countries which include a few ASEAN member states, same-sex relations and cross-dressing are illegal and even punishable by law.

In some conservative Southeast Asian countries, homosexuality is still a taboo. Last year in Singapore, a bid to overturn a law that criminalises gay sex was dismissed by its High Court with the judge saying that the law was "important in reflecting public sentiment and beliefs" in Singapore.

Whereas in Indonesia, home to the largest Muslim population in the world, traditional religious mores tend to disapprove of homosexuality and cross-dressing. Although homosexuality is not punishable by Indonesia's national law, it is still frowned upon.

Moreover, at the local level, homosexual or transgender Muslims can be fined or punished under provincial laws against homosexuality and cross-dressing. For instance, Indonesia's province of Aceh has a shariah-based anti-homosexuality law that punishes anyone caught having gay sex with 100 lashes.
Malaysia's LGBT Issue
In Malaysia, where sodomy is a crime with laws strictly enforced, it was reported that the government is considering amending the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act - also known as Act 355 - to enable heavy penalties to be imposed on the LGBT community.

At the moment, LGBT people face three-year imprisonment, a fine of RM5,000 (US$1,236), and six strokes of the cane, under the Act.

"Seeing the situation in the country now involving the LGBT group, the government might consider amending Act 355," said Ahmad Marzuk Shaary, Deputy Minister in Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs). "By doing this, the government hopes it would prevent them from committing more offences," he added.

The minister's comment was met with criticism from rights activists and local public figures, especially that it came as Malaysian premier Muhyiddin Yassin called on ASEAN countries to consider enacting stronger laws against hate speech at the first ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting, days after.

"I wonder whether Muhyiddin is serious about his speech if he has done nothing to contain such speeches (as those by Marzuk), even if it is done by two of his strongest coalition partners," said Lim Lip Eng, a Member of Parliament of Malaysia for the Kepong constituency.

"As the Malay proverb goes, 'seperti ketam menyuruh anaknya berjalan betul' (like a crab teaching its child to walk straight), Muhyiddin has to walk the talk and must not only pay lip service to his international counterparts," he continued.

Salim Bashir, president of the Malaysian Bar also commented on the issue, saying that the LGBT community deserved to be treated equally and with respect, without the fear of being harassed or threatened.

"Meting out harsher punishments through legislative amendments is not a solution and this may result in heightened discrimination towards the LGBT community," explained Salim Bashir. "The Malaysian Bar urges the deputy minister to get his priorities in order, especially during these difficult times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic."

The Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) echoed Salim Bashir's sentiment, calling on the government to focus on the coronavirus outbreak instead, which the country has reported over 180,000 cases so far.

"What is the government trying to achieve by putting out sweeping statements and announcing actions against the LGBT community?" the PSM said in a statement. "Shouldn't they be focused on the COVID-19 pandemic instead?"
Nur Sajat
Although the LGBT issue has long been a heated debate in Malaysia, it is now back in the spotlight just as celebrity entrepreneur Nur Sajat Kamaruzzaman - whose gender has been a subject of debate for years - is being investigated by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) for allegedly insulting Islam or causing Islam to be insulted either by mocking or blaspheming the faith and its associated practices and rituals.

Nur Sajat stands accused of dressing as a female at a religious event, an act said to have brought contempt to Islam.

On 6 January, a video showing Nur Sajat in tears while being handcuffed went viral on social media. She claimed that she was assaulted by the state religious officers during the investigation process, causing bruises all over her body.

"Long story short, I was treated unfairly even though I gave testimony and cooperation to the JAIS. As a human being who has cooperated, I was instead remanded in a temporary detention centre in Kuala Kubu Bharu," she explained.

"I deserve to be given human rights to live like other humans too."

"I am deeply saddened and disappointed with this incident as it has affected my business and mental health," a caption on her Instagram post reads.

Nur Sajat continues to be hounded by authorities and some in the public over her gender identity.

Last year, Nur Sajat was in another controversy when she performed the "umrah" or minor pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia wearing female attire. Nur Sajat was heavily criticised on social media after photos and videos of her performing the pilgrimage went viral.
Related Articles: Indonesia Court Rejects Bid To Outlaw Extramarital Sex Facts About Sharia Law Around The World

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In recent years, same-sex relations, activity, and marriage have been legalised in a number of countries (nationwide or some parts) such as in Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and New Zealand, among others. A rainbow flag, which is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) pride and LGBTQ social movements, would be waved at pride parades carried out in different parts of the world.

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The Malaysia Censorship Board banned the movie 'Beauty and the Beast' over some gay moments.

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Disney's latest release Beauty And The Beast has been pulled from Malaysian cinema schedules after a "gay moment" was cut from the film.

The live-action version of the story which stars Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the beast had already had a scene edited out by Malaysia's Film Censorship Board because it showed that one of the characters was gay.

But the film, which was due to be released in the country on Thursday, has now disappeared from listings with no explanation.

Film Censorship Board chairman Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid told the Associated Press he did not know why the film had been postponed as it was approved by the board after a minor gay scene was axed.

He said scenes promoting homosexuality were forbidden and that the film had been given a P13 rating, which requires parental guidance for children under 13 years of age.

He said: "We have approved it but there is a minor cut involving a gay moment.

"It is only one short scene but it is inappropriate because many children will be watching this movie."

He said there was no appeal from Disney about the decision to cut the gay scene, while The Star English-language newspaper cited the Disney company as saying the movie was postponed for an "internal review".

Character LeFou, played by Josh Gad, is the sidekick to the story's villain Gaston and "is confused about his sexuality", according to director Bill Condon, who also described a brief scene as a "gay moment".

Russia last week approved the film but banned children under 16 from watching it.

Malaysia's censors in 2010 loosened decades of restrictions on sexual and religious content in movies, but new rules only allow depiction of gay characters if they show repentance or are portrayed in a negative light.

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Beauty And The Beast is BANNED in Malaysia - for a very outdated reason

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Disney's latest release Beauty And The Beast has been pulled from Malaysian cinema schedules after a "gay moment" was cut from the film. The live-action version of the story which stars Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the beast had already had a scene edited out by Malaysia's Film Censorship Board because it showed that one of the characters was gay.