February 23rd

02-23-2013 President Obama’s administration filed a brief to the Supreme Court that DOMA was unconstitutional. In its brief, the Justice Dept. said that DOMA “violates the fundamental constitutional guarantee of equal protection.”

02-23-15 The United States State Department names its first-ever envoy to advocate globally for the human rights of LGBT people. Randy Berry, an openly gay senior diplomat, has served as U.S. Consul General in Amsterdam since 2012. “Defending and promoting the human rights of LGBT persons is at the core of our commitment to advancing human rights globally – the heart and conscience of our diplomacy,” said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in announcing the groundbreaking appointment. The appointment is part of an Obama administration push to promote LGBT rights internationally and make them a foreign policy priority.

02-23-2014 Jason Collins becomes the first openly gay player to sign with a professional sports team. He signed with the Brooklyn Nets.

02-23-1999 Original broadcast date of Queer As Folk – UK TV series.