2021 Firsts

If it’s a first for change, you’ll see it here... first.

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Los Angeles Times: A Year of Firsts

FILE - This May 25, 2021 file photo shows a U.S. Passport cover in Washington. The United States has issued its first passport with an “X” gender designation, a milestone in the recognition of the rights of people who don't identify as male or female. (AP Photo/Eileen Putman)

U.S. issues its first passport with ‘X’ as a gender designation

DENVER — The United States has issued its first passport with an “X” gender designation — a milestone in the recognition of the rights of people who don’t identify as male or female — and expects to be able to offer the option more broadly next year, the State Department said Wednesday.

2021 Firsts

Eagle Rock, CA - August 30: Registered Nurse Priscilla V., left, gives a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shot to Dean Iida, 17, a senior at Eagle Rock High School, as Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis, Interim Superintendent Megan K. Reilly, School Board members Kelly Gonez and Jackie Goldberg and special guests visit Los Angeles Unified School-based mobile vaccination clinics at Eagle Rock High School on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021 in Eagle Rock, CA. All employees in the Los Angeles Unified School District must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 15, an order that puts it at the forefront of school systems across the country that are mandating strict coronavirus safety measures for employees and students. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

L.A. school officials order sweeping student vaccine mandate, a first by a major district

All children 12 and older in Los Angeles public schools must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January to enter campus under an order approved Thursday by the Board of Education, the first such mandate among the nation’s largest school systems and a decision that triggered immediate pushback.

Rhonda Bolton is photographed at Huntington Beach City Hall on Tuesday, August 3, 2021.

Huntington Beach’s first Black councilwoman faces jeers with calm. No wonder the MAGA crowd hates her

Rhonda Bolton took the dais Tuesday as the first Black council member in Huntington Beach history.

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Nyjah Huston of the United States competes in the Street Skateboarding World Championships, a qualifying event for Tokyo Olympic Games, in Rome, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

New sports to watch during the Tokyo Olympics

How exactly will surfing, skateboarding, karate and other newly added sports be scored during the Tokyo Olympics?

Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker (3) sets up a play during the first half of a WNBA basketball game.

Candace Parker to be first woman on cover of ‘NBA 2K’ game

Candace Parker grew up playing video games, and now she’ll be the first female basketball player on the cover of one.

A women in a magenta body suit with long train at a ball

‘Pose’ star Mj Rodriguez just made Emmys history. She told us what it means to her

“Pose” went out with a bang Tuesday morning, earning a history-making Emmy nomination for star Mj Rodriguez — making her the first transgender performer to earn a nomination in a lead acting category.

Jon Rahm, of Spain, reacts to making his birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round.

Jon Rahm wins the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines to claim his first major title

Rahm claims his first major title, becomes the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Open, ascends to No. 1 in the world golf rankings, collects a $2.25-million check, celebrates his first Father’s Day with a trophy and cleanses his palate of the bad taste from being forced to withdraw at his last tournament with a six-stroke lead because of a positive COVID-19 test.

THE OSCARS® - The 93rd Oscars will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2021, at Union Station Los Angeles and the Dolby® Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and international locations via satellite. "The Oscars" will be televised live on ABC at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT and in more than 200 territories worldwide. (ABC/AMPAS) CHLOE ZHAO

Why Chloé Zhao’s historic best director Oscar win matters

At 39, Zhao became the first woman of color and the first woman of Asian descent to win the academy’s feature directing prize.

Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) has proposed a way to expedite the clearing of records of marijuana convictions.

Rob Bonta is confirmed as California attorney general — the first Filipino American to fill the role

Bonta, 49, will be the first Filipino American to serve as the state’s top cop when he takes the oath of office to head the Department of Justice at a ceremony as early as Friday.

In this image from NASA, NASA's experimental Mars helicopter Ingenuity hovers above the surface of Mars Monday, April 19, 2021. The little 4-pound helicopter rose from the dusty red surface into the thin Martian air Monday, achieving the first powered, controlled flight on another planet. (NASA via AP)

Ingenuity, NASA’s little Mars helicopter that could, takes flight — a first on another planet

“Altimeter data confirms that Ingenuity has performed its first flight, the first flight of a powered aircraft on another planet,” said the helicopter’s chief pilot back on Earth, Havard Grip, his voice breaking as his teammates erupted in cheers.

Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, puts on the champion's green jacket after winning the Masters golf tournament.

Hideki Matsuyama’s historic Masters win carries different weight in Japan

Matsuyama became the first Japanese golfer to earn low-amateur honors at the Masters, finishing in a tie for 27th overall with the previous year’s Masters champion, Phil Mickelson. A decade later, on Sunday, he became the first Japanese golfer to be crowned Masters champion.

Baylor players and coaches celebrate after the championship game against Gonzaga in the men's Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 5, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Baylor won 86-70. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

NCAA championship: Baylor wins first national title, spoils Gonzaga’s perfection

Gonzaga carved through every challenge in the NCAA tournament with slippery ease until needing Jalen Suggs to spawn an army of driveway copycats with his epic shot to beat UCLA.

Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., speaks during the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on her nomination to be Interior Secretary, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Jim Watson/Pool via AP

California tribes welcome Haaland as first Native American Cabinet member

Rep. Deb Haaland became the first Native American confirmed to serve in the president’s Cabinet — a historic moment celebrated by American Indians throughout the country.

Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, talks with members of the press as he and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, left, tour "Hook Hall Helps" a COVID-19 relief effort that organizes and distributes prepared meals and care kits to local hospitality workers whose jobs have been impacted by pandemic-related shutdowns and restrictions, during a visit to the organization in Washington, on Monday, March 8, 2021. (Erin Scott/Pool via AP)

‘Second gentleman,’ first in his role, hits the road with Kamala Harris

A few weeks after his wife, Kamala Harris, was elected vice president, lawyer Doug Emhoff decided to embark on his own career change: He became a law school professor.

Billy Eichner leads first big-studio rom-com about gay men: ‘Only took 100 years!’

Actor and comedian Billy Eichner has been tapped to co-write, executive produce and star in Universal Pictures’ “Bros,” a love story about “two gay men maybe, possibly, probably stumbling towards love. Maybe. They’re both very busy,” according to a description released Friday by the studio giant.

Frances McDormand and Director/Writer Chloe Zhao on the set of NOMADLAND. Photo by Joshua James Richards. © 2020 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved

Chloé Zhao is now the second woman ever to win a Golden Globe for directing

Zhao, the first woman of Asian descent and only the second woman ever to win the directing prize at the Globes, accepted the award with a nod to the individuals who shared their personal stories with the filmmakers.

Whales flock to Dana Point, which was just named the first U.S. Whale Heritage Site 2.

Dana Point 1st U.S Whale Heritage spot

Dana Point was named the first Whale Heritage Site in the U.S.

First Black American in charge of the Pentagon by a nearly unanimous vote of 93 to 2

The Senate confirmed retired Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, shown during his Senate confirmation hearing, to be Defense secretary.

Alex Padilla sworn in as California’s first Latino U.S. senator

Alex Padilla of California was sworn in as California’s first Latino U.S. senator by Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he replaced.

Washington , DC - January 20: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and husband Doug Emhoff walk the last few feet as they arrive at the White House after the 59th presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Kamala Harris as first female vice president

After a tumultuous election and a shocking siege of the Capitol by his predecessor’s supporters, Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States, taking the helm of a nation confronted by profound challenges. At his side was Kamala Harris, who made history as the first female vice president.

Sarah Thomas to make history as first woman to officiate Super Bowl

NFL official Sarah Thomas is shown before a game between Cleveland and Washington on Sept. 27. She has been selected as down judge for Super Bowl LV, which will make her the first woman to officiate in the NFL’s championship game.

Rachel Levine would be first out transgender Senate-confirmed federal official

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine is poised to become the first out transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate for a federal post.

2021 Firsts

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