Feature: The top US LGBT stories of 2012

3 – Cynthia Nixon claimed that she could “choose” to be gay

Cynthia Nixon caused controversy by announcing in an interview that she believed “her homosexuality was a choice”.

In an interview with the New York Times, the Sex and the City actress appeared to defy the sentiments of Lady Gaga’s hit record, saying she doesn’t believe she was ‘born this way.’

She said: “I gave a speech recently, an empowerment speech to a gay audience, and it included the line ‘I’ve been straight and I’ve been gay, and gay is better.’ They tried to get me to change it, because they said it implies that homosexuality can be a choice. I understand that for many people it’s not, but for me it’s a choice.”

Ms Nixon later clarified her position, by saying that her bisexuality was not a choice, but her gay relationship was. 

2 – Three states legalised marriage equality, a fourth said no to a ban on same-sex unions

On a momentous night for LGBT equality, 6 November, the US west coast state of Washington followed Maine and Maryland in passing a referendum in support of marriage rights for gay couples, and Minnesota voted against outlawing equal marriage.

The Minnesotan group which led the campaign to vote “no” on the measure to ban equal marriage, has said it will now push to legalise same-sex marriages.

1 – Barack Obama was reelected as President

As well as being named Time Magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’, Barack Obama was reelected on 6 November as US President.

Making hate crime a federal offence, overturning Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (the ban on openly gay soldiers), abandoning federal approval of the Defence of Marriage Act, extending hospital visitation and care rights to gay spouses, and appointing a record number of gay officials, were all substantial achievements of the president’s first term in office.

In an unexpected move, New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, endorsed Barack Obama for the US presidential election, citing a need for strong leadership, and President Obama’s support for equal marriage.

Throughout the 2012 presidential race Republican challenger Mitt Romney repeatedly stated his opposition to equal marriage and civil unions and said same-sex marriage should be banned with an amendment to the US Constitution.