Timeline is a regular feature in each issue looking back to events and milestones that have helped us evolve into the community we are today.

March 8, 1991

State Rep. Eugene A. Migliaro Jr., one of Connecticut's most virulent opponents of gay, lesbian and AIDS issues in the Connecticut General Assembly, made the decision not to seek a tenth term. Instead, Migliaro elected to seek the mayor's office in his hometown of Wolcott. Migliaro, a Republican, gained widespread notoriety and outraged thousands of LGBT citizens in 1987 when he called homosexuals "lollipops". His comment brought him close to being censured by his colleagues in the State House.

Gay and lesbian activists were ecstatic when Migliaro announced that he would not be running for re-election. "I'm delighted," said Shawn Lang, a co-chair of the Connecticut Coalition for Lesbian & Gay Civil Rights. "I wish he would start his campaign right now."

Migliaro was still in office for the gay rights bill. He made no secret of the fact that he would vote against the bill. Community leaders were thrilled with his departure. Migliaro's empty seat in the General Assembly, activists believed, would result in more rational, intelligent discussions of future gay-related issues. "He was one of the most uninformed legislators [on gay issues], Steve Gavron, who was co-chair of the Lesbian & Gay Anti-Violence Project during the push for the previous year's hate crimes bill, said.

Migliaro alluded to the fact that homosexuality was similar to bestiality and necrophilia. In addition to insulting the gay community, Migliaro offended local police with a comment he made in 1989 which implied that police weren't as tough or effective as they should be.