1997 in LGBT rights

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This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 1997.

Events

Sodomy is decriminalized in the People's Republic of China.
Fiji becomes the second country in the world whose constitution explicitly protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation, although the Fijian government does not invalidate or repeal its sodomy laws.
U.S. state of Maine bans sexual orientation discrimination in the private sector. The ban is later repealed in a referendum.^[1]
U.S. state of New Hampshire bans sexual orientation discrimination in the private sector.^[2]

30 — Ellen DeGeneres's character Ellen Morgan comes out as gay in "The Puppy Episode", seen by 42 million viewers.^[3]

2 — District judge Eugene Nickerson in Abel v. United States of America, a challenge to "don't ask, don't tell", rules that the law in its entirety violates the First and Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.^[4]

In the United Kingdom, Home Office minister Mike O'Brien announced that same-sex partners were eligible for British residency, based on a 4 year relationship akin to marriage.
3 — An Ontario court rules that the Canadian province's Insurance Act must include same-sex partners in its definition of spouse.

25 — Homosexuality is decriminalized in Ecuador following a landmark decision handed down by the Constitutional Tribunal.

Annise Parker is elected as an at-large member of the Houston City Council alongside mayoral candidate Lee P. Brown.
2 — David Cantania becomes the first openly lesbian or gay person to be elected to the city council of Washington, D.C.
10 — The Constitution Review Committee in Florida votes 6–2 to reject adding sexual orientation as a criterion for protection in the state constitution.
16 — In New Zealand, the court of appeal rules unanimously not to grant same-sex couples the right to marry.
17 — In the U.S. state of New Jersey, same-sex couples are given the right to jointly adopt children.