by Jeff Katz

A look back at the defining covers and stories of IN Los Angeles.

March 3, 1998
The first issue of IN Los Angeles magazine hits Southland newstands.

April 7, 1998
George Michael is arrested in a Beverly Hills public bathroom for engaging in lewd behavior with an undercover male police officer—ending years of speculation over his sexuality.

Sept. 21, 1998
Will & Grace debuts on NBC.

Oct. 7, 1998
21-year-old University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard is brutally beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in Laramie, Wyo. His assailants, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney, picked him up at a bar, posing as gay men.

Sept. 22, 1999
California Gov. Gray Davis signs the Domestic Partnership Act into law, the first of its kind in the country enacted by a legislature.

March 26, 2000
Hilary Swank wins the Oscar (after picking up a host of other awards) for her portrayal of murdered transgendered youth Brandon Teena in Boys Don’t Cry.

April 26, 2000
Vermont Gov. Howard Dean signs into law a bill legalizing civil unions between same-sex partners, offering most of the benefits of marriage.

Dec. 12, 2000
With a 5-4 decision in Bush v. Gore, the U.S. Supreme Court orders an end to the recount of votes in Florida following the national election, giving the presidency to George W. Bush.

Dec. 3, 2000
The American version of the British hit Queer As Folk premieres on Showtime to high ratings and praise, and continues to be one of the networks major players for five seasons.

Sept. 11, 2001
Nineteen terrorists associated with al-Qaida hijack four commercial passenger jets over the United States, killing almost 3,000 people and destroying the World Trade Center towers.

Oct. 7, 2001
The United States launches air strikes on Afghanistan in an effort to remove the terrorist-friendly Taliban government, disable al-Qaida forces and capture Osama bin Laden.

March 14, 2002
Rosie O’Donnell’s crush on Tom Cruise apparently wasn’t too strong, as the talk show host comes out of the closet near the end of her show’s final season.

November 2002
The U.S. Army confirms that nine linguists have been dismissed in recent months because they are gay, including six who speak Arabic. Officials also confirm that the shortage of Arabic speakers is hampering anti-terrorism efforts.

June 10, 2003
The Ontario Court of Appeal affirms that it is a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to limit marriage to heterosexual couples, paving the way to marriage equality in the province.

June 26, 2003
In a 6-3 decision in Lawrence v. Kansas, the U.S. Supreme Court declares sodomy laws to be unconstitutional, invalidating the criminalization of homosexual activity in any of the 50 states.

Aug. 21, 2003
Gay couple Reichen Lehmkuhl and Chip Arndt win the reality show The Amazing Race, and raise eyebrows after producers list and refer to the two as “married.”

Jan. 18, 2004
The L Word premieres on Showtime with major star power support from Pam Grier, Jennifer Beals and Marlee Matlin.

Feb. 1, 2004
The term “wardrobe malfunction” enters the lexicon as Janet Jackson’s breast is exposed during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Feb. 12, 2004
New San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom orders the city clerk’s office to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Approximately 4,000 couples register. On Aug. 12 the state Supreme Court declares the marriages void.

May 17, 2004
Following a November 2003 court ruling, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney orders town clerks across the commonwealth to make marriage licenses available to same-sex couples.

May 17, 2005
With strong support from the LGBT community, Antonio Villaraigosa is elected the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since 1872.

July 19, 2005
With the ostensible charge of raping another boy, two teenage boys are hanged in Iran for being gay. Photos of the hangings spark international outrage.

Sept. 6, 2005
The California Assembly follows the state Senate in approving the country’s first marriage equality legislation not mandated by a court. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoes the bill on Sept. 29.

Dec. 21, 2005
Elton John marries his longtime partner, David Furnish, in England.

March 5, 2006
With major nominations for Brokeback Mountain, Capote and Transamerica, LGBT characters are front and center at the Academy Awards.

July 18, 2006
The Federal Marriage Amendment, aimed at amending the U.S. Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage, dies in the House of Representatives after failing to garner the necessary two-thirds majority.

Aug. 9, 2007
The Human Rights Campaign and Logo host a forum in Los Angeles for the Democratic presidential candidates to address LGBT issues.

Nov. 7, 2007
After an emotional debate in Congress and the LGBT community, the House of Representatives passes an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that includes sexual orientation but not gender identity. To date, the Senate has not taken up the bill.

Jan. 17, 2008
Former Vice President Al Gore endorses marriage equality on a Current TV web post.

Feb. 19, 2008
IN Los Angeles magazine celebrates its 10th anniversary.