by Evelyn Bailey
April 1
1970 – The Advocate estimates that there are approximately 6,817,000 gays and lesbians living in the United States.
1985 – The first classes are held at the Harvey Milk School for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth, a New York city-funded institution. Harvey Milk is the first gay high school in America.
April 7
1966 – The first "Gay Community Center" is opened in the United States. It is located in the city of San Francisco.
April 8
1974 – The American Psychiatric Association remove its "sickness" definition of homosexuality.
April 11
1956 – Michael Callen is born. Singer, songwriter, AIDS activist and author, Michael is recognized as a co-inventor of safe(r) sex; a co-founder of the People With AIDS self-empowerment movement. Member of Flirtations.
April 14
1968 – The Boys in the Band opens in New York.
1985 – The first Gay Erotic Film Awards is held in Los Angeles.
April 23
1990 – The Hate Crimes Statistic Act is signed into law by President George Bush. It is the first U.S. bill to use the phrase "sexual orientation."
April 24
1993 – MCC Reverend Troy Perry joins 1,500 lesbian and gay couples in a mass marriage at the IRS building in Washington, D.C.
April 25
1979 – Jury selection begins in the trial of Dan White for the murder of S.F. Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.
1993 – The third March on Washington has an estimated attendance of more than one million people.
April 28
1977 – Florida Governor Reubin Askew asks Miami voters to rescind a recently passed gay rights ordinance saying, "I would not want a known homosexual teaching my children.
1981 – Marilyn Barnett files a palimony suit against tennis icon Billie Jean King. At the time, King denies that she is a lesbian, although she acknowledges the affair.
April 30
1997 – Ellen DeGeneres' character Ellen Morgan comes out on her television show during "The Puppy Episode." An estimated 42 million viewers watch.