October 17th

10-17-1967 The rock musical Hair debuts at off-Broadway Joseph Papp’s Public Theater. Book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni. Music by Galt MacDermot. Hair is a bisexual rock musical that changed the modern musical and helped turn public opinion against the Vietnam War. It was the first rock musical on Broadway, the first Broadway show to feature full nudity and the first to feature a same-sex kiss. At the center of Hair is a bisexual triangle between the character Berger, Sheila and Claude. But the central love relationship in the show is between Claude and Berger, the characters based on the relationship of Rado and Ragni. There is also a love relationship between Sheila and Jeannie. The Broadway production got two Tony nominations, and the cast album went to number one, receiving a Grammy. The musical had four number one hit singles. In 1979, Hair was made into a film. Since 1967, Hair has been performed continuously around the world.

10-17-2014 The U.S. Supreme Court allows gay marriage in Alaska to go into effect, increasing the number of U.S. states that permit gay marriage to 31. The nine justices rejected a last-minute request for the state, which wanted to block a ruling by a federal judge that struck down the state’s ban.

10-17-2014 U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick declares Arizona’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. He also refused to grant a stay.

10-17-2014 U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl rules that Wyoming’s gay marriage ban is unconstitutional.