First celebrated in 2009, International Transgender Day of Visibilityis dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness for the discrimination they face worldwide.  It was started by transgender activist Rachel Crandall, who wanted a day dedicate to celebrate the trans community and all the amazing people in it. 

Lesbian Visibility Week is dedicated to raising awareness of lesbian identities and topics and celebrating the lesbian community.  Originally celebrations were centered on Lesbian Visibility Day which is April 26, but since 2020 it has turned into a weeklong dedicated. Lesbian Visibility Week for 2024 will be April 22nd - April 28th.

Celebrated every April, the Day of Silence was created to spread awareness about the effects of bullying and harassment against LGBTQIA+ people. This event is typically celebrated in schools and individuals will take a day long vow of silence to represent the silencing of LGBTQIA+ students. The Day of Silence was first organized in April 1996 and has been celebrated since, typically on the second Friday in April. 

Starting in February 1994, Don't Ask Don't Tell was the official United States policy that prohibited any openly LGBTQIA+ individual from serving in the United States armed forces and any closest member from disclosing their orientation and speaking about any relationships. Those that did were discharged. The "don't ask" part of the policy was that investigations about someone's orientation could not be initiated without someone witnessing the behaviors.

On May 27, 2010 Don't Ask Don't Tell was repealed with a 234–194 vote. The policy officially ended on September 20, 2011. 

Obergefell v. Hodges is a landmark civil rights case where the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that it is a guaranteed fundamental right  for same-sex  couples to marry by the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. A 5-4 vote in the Supreme Court  legalized same sex marriage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia on June 26, 2015. Prior to Obergefell, same-sex marriage had already been in thirty-six states, the District of Columbia, and Guam. To celebrate the White House was lit up with rainbow lights on this day. 

The Stonewall Riots (also known as Stonewall uprising, Stonewall rebellion, or simply Stonewall) is a series of protests by the LGBTQIA+ community that occurred at the Stonewall Inn.  On Saturday June 28th undercover cops came into the Stonewall Inn and announced "Police! We're taking the place!" There were 205 people in the bar that night and the raid did not go according to plan. As patrons were arrested, a crowd of people began to gather and riot against the officers. The officers barricaded themselves inside the bar while some 400 people rioted. Rioters repeatedly broke through the barricade, and the bar was set on fire. Police reinforcements arrived just in time to extinguish the flames, and they eventually dispersed the crowd. Over the next several days, riots kept occurring because members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community were tired of how they were being mistreated. Even though the riots did not begin the LGBTQIA+ rights movement it did serve as a catalyst to start a new generation of political activism. Over the last several decades Stonewall has become a symbol of resistance to social and political discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community.  

On the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, several LGBTQIA+ activists organized marches, parades, and sit-ins throughout the country. Serving as a remembrance for the Stonewall Riots, Pride became a yearly celebration that occurs every June. 

Elaine Noble becomes the first openly gay person to be elected as a state legislator; she served in the Massachusetts Sate House of Representatives for two terms.

World AIDS Day is an international day dedicated to raising awareness about and de-stigmatizing AIDS. First recognized in 1988, it was created by members of the World Health Organization. Each year the campaign focuses on a different theme, bringing awareness to help with prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS. The theme for 2022 is Putting Ourselves to the Test: Achieving Equity to End HIV. This theme focuses on  discussing and providing equitable access to HIV testing, prevention, care, treatment, and research to try and end HIV and AIDS.

On December 20, 2013 a federal judge  struck down Utah's ban on same-sex marriage being unconstitutional. During the first six days following the ruling,  more than 900 marriage  liceneses were issued to LGBTQIA+ couples. This decision came after 3 Utah couples filed a lawsuit against the state of Utah (Kitchen v. Herbert, 2013).

Photo of local couple Ruth Hackford-Peer and Kim Hackford-Peer getting married on Dec. 20, 2013 following the news.