1642day.year
Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve founds the Ville Marie de Montréal.
Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve founded Ville Marie (modern-day Montreal) in 1642, establishing a key French settlement in North America.
On May 17, 1642, French officer Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve, led a group of settlers to the island of Montreal and established Ville Marie at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa rivers. Sponsored by the Société Notre-Dame de Montréal, the mission aimed to convert Indigenous peoples and expand New France. Early colonists built fortifications and religious missions to defend against Iroquois raids. Over time, Ville Marie grew into a vital fur-trading post and gateway for further exploration. This foundation event laid the cultural and economic groundwork for Canada’s future metropolis, honoring Maisonneuve’s enduring vision.
1642
Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve
Ville Marie de Montréal
1954day.year
The United States Supreme Court hands down a unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, outlawing racial segregation in public schools.
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, consolidated five different lawsuits challenging school segregation across several states. On May 17, 1954, Chief Justice Earl Warren delivered the Court’s unanimous opinion declaring that 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.' This ruling overturned the 'separate but equal' doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and mandated the desegregation of public schools nationwide. The decision provided a legal foundation for the Civil Rights Movement and energized activists fighting racial discrimination. Although implementation met fierce resistance in many regions, Brown v. Board remains a cornerstone in American constitutional law and a symbol of progress toward equality.
1954
United States Supreme Court
Brown v. Board of Education
Topeka, Kansas
1990day.year
The General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) eliminates homosexuality from the list of psychiatric diseases.
The World Health Organization removes homosexuality from its list of psychiatric diseases, reshaping global attitudes toward LGBTQ+ rights.
On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization's General Assembly officially declassified homosexuality as a mental illness in the International Classification of Diseases. This milestone decision followed years of advocacy by LGBTQ+ activists and mental health professionals worldwide. The change helped dismantle institutionalized stigma and opened the way for reforms in healthcare, legal systems, and social services. Many countries began to reconsider discriminatory laws and practices against gay individuals. The WHO's move garnered widespread praise from human rights organizations and the medical community. It remains a landmark moment in the global struggle for equality.
1990
World Health Organization
homosexuality
2004day.year
The first legal same-sex marriages in the U.S. are performed in the state of Massachusetts.
Massachusetts becomes the first U.S. state to perform legal same-sex marriages, marking a milestone in LGBTQ+ rights.
On May 17, 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to perform legal same-sex marriages following a landmark Supreme Judicial Court ruling. The decision granted marriage rights to same-sex couples and ordered state officials to begin issuing marriage licenses. This historic event represented a turning point in the nation's struggle for LGBTQ+ equality and civil rights. Hundreds of couples lined up early in the morning to apply for marriage certificates, drawing significant public attention. Ceremonies took place across the state and were met with both celebration and debate. The milestone set the stage for the eventual nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015.
2004
same-sex marriages
Massachusetts