1961-07-28 Illinois Revises Criminal Code

Governor Otto Kerner of Illinois signs into law a major revision of the state’s criminal code. Among its provisions was a repeal of the statute criminalizing sodomy. This made Illinois the first state to eliminate criminal penalties for consensual homosexual acts in private between adults.

1961-10-03 Motion Picture Production Code Changes

The Board of Directors of the Motion Picture Association of America modifies the Motion Picture Production Code so that the topic of homosexuality can be presented on screen, provide the subject is “treated with care, discretion and restraint.” The change allowed films such as Advise and Consent, The Children’s Hour, and The Best Man to receive production code approval.

1961-11-07 Jose Sarria Runs for San Francisco Board of Supervisors

In the election for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Jose Sarria, who worked as a waiter at the Black Cat, a well-known gay bar in San Francisco, and was a much beloved drag entertainer in the city, comes in 9th. Although not enough to get elected, he received over 5600 votes, and was the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in the United States.

1961-11-15 British film, Victim, denied Hollywood approval.

The British film, Victim, starring Dirk Bogarde, is denied a seal of approval from Hollywood’s Motion Picture Production Code Administration. The film, which openly advocated the repeal of laws criminalizing homosexual behavior between consenting adults, was denied approval because of its “overtly-expressed plea for social acceptance of the homosexual.”