1990: The start of the modern era

From here on, things start to happen fast. We’ll be hitting the highlights but bear in mind there’s a lot going on, both positive and negative, that we’ll be skipping.

In 1990, same-sex couples are denied licenses in Chicago. On the west coast, a bill is filed in California to allow same-sex couples to marry, the first of many states that will eventually consider such bills. And on the east coast, there’s a suit filed, Dean v. Washington, D.C.

Well, since “deadbeat dads” and even prisoners have the right to marry…

Ninia Baehr and
Genora Dancel

Also that year, Lambda Legal files suit in Hawaii, in a case called Baehr, on behalf of Ninia Baehr and her partner Genora Dancel, and two other couples.

In October of ‘91, the lower court in Hawaii rules against the couples. It’s appealed to the state supreme court.

Timeline key: progress (green), no progress (red), pending court cases (purple),
events that are neutral, not directly related, or with both positive and negative effects (black)