This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 2005. Events January 1 California law AB 205, which extends many rights and responsibilities of marriage to registered domestic partners, goes into effect. The new law expands domestic partnership statutes to include most marriage rights available under state law. California domestic partnerships are available to opposite-sex couples age 62 and older who meet certain Social Security qualifications and to all same-sex couples age 18 and older without further qualification. In Germany, stepchild adoption and some additional rights for same-sex civil unions go into effect. 21 – US state of Illinois bans discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the private sector. 25 – The Alameda County, California, Board of Supervisors votes 4–0 to prohibit discrimination in public-sector employment, services and facilities based on gender identity. February 1 – Canadian federal government introduces Bill C-38, the Civil Marriage Act, which would legalize same-sex marriage in all provinces and territories. 4 – In the U.S. state of New York, state Supreme Court judge Doris Ling-Cohan rules in favor of a lawsuit by five same-sex couples, stating that a ban on same-sex marriage violates the state's constitution. March 14 – San Francisco County Superior Court judge Richard Kramer rules that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. 15 – The Cincinnati, Ohio city council passes a gay rights ordinance after voters repealed the anti-gay Issue 3 in 2005. 31 – In the U.S. state of Maine, the state's Human Rights Act is amended to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation (which is defined to include gender identity) in the private sector. The act would be the subject of a referendum November 8, in which it would be endorsed by voters. April 5 – In the U.S. state of Kansas, voters approve an amendment to the state constitution banning same-sex marriages and civil unions. 20 – In the U.S. state of Connecticut, the state legislature approves a law to allow same-sex civil unions effective October 1. 21 In Spain, the Congress of Deputies passes legislation to legalize same-sex marriage. In its home state of Washington, the Microsoft corporation withdraws support for H.B. 1515, after pressure from local clergyman Ken Hutcherson. The bill would have made it illegal to fire an employee based on sexual orientation. Hutcherson threatened the company with a nationwide