1986-04-17Bayard Rustin testifies for a gay rights bill in NYC

Bayard Rustin, the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington and an internationally known peace activist, testifies before the General Welfare Committee of the New York City Council in favor of a bill that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. “No group is ultimately safe from prejudice, bigotry, and harassment so long as any group is subject to special negative treatment,” he told the legislators.

1986-10-01The Vatican Releases a Document on Homosexuality

The Vatican releases a document, “Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons,” prepared by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. It described the inclination to homosexual activity as “an objective disorder” and declared that engaging in homosexual acts strengthened a “sexual inclination which is essentially disordered.” The statement also called on gay and lesbian Christians to lead “a chaste life” and ordered bishops to withdraw support from any organizations that support or encourage homosexuality.