1880s in LGBT Rights

Number of LGBT-related laws changed over time
  • January 1
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    legal since 1890
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    No laws against homosexual relationships anywhere in Italy's Penal Code
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Before 1971, homosexuality was illegal and punished by prison
  • January 1
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Not in this region.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Tribal area.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Imprisonment of up to 7 years
  • September 16
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    As homosexuality is illegal, same sex union is by default illegal
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (other penalty).
    Inherited from Portuguese colonial era (amended in 1954). Articles 70 and 71(4°) provide for the imposition of security measures on people who habitually practice acts against nature. The security measures may include: a bond of good behavior, being put on probation for a certain period, or even internment in a workhouse or agricultural colony (from 6 months to 3 years).
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (other penalty).
    Penalty unknown
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Homosexuality was illegal under the 1886 Penal Code.
  • January 1
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
    None exist.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
    None exist in the current criminal code.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
    Date reflects creation of Burma
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes no protections.
    Date reflects creation of Burma
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    Date reflects British colonization of Burma (Myanmar). Homosexual relations are illegal in Myanmar and discrimination occurs regularly.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    Date reflects British colonization of Burma (Myanmar). In 2014 a same-sex couple featured in the media after holding an unofficial wedding ceremony. Homosexual relations remain illegal.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (up to life in prison as punishment).
    Section 377 prescribes life in prison; or 2 to 10 years in prison and fine. Date represents British colonization of Burma (Myanmar).
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Section 11 of The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 built on previous legislation. It was famously used against Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing.
  • January 1
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Homosexual activity is not legal in Sri Lanka.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Homosexuality is criminalized in Sri Lanka under Section 365 of the 1883 Penal Code inherited from British colonial rule. "Voluntary carnal intercourse against the order of nature" by both men and women is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Human Rights Watch and Equal Ground have found evidence of these laws continuing to be enforced by police as of 2020. Sri Lanka is an independent nation, as such, India's 2018 Supreme Court decision to decriminalize same-sex relationships and make a similar law unenforceable does not apply.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    The Roman-Dutch law of the Cape Colony, including the sodomy offence, was applied to Basutoland (as Lesotho was then known) by a proclamation of the British High Commissioner in 1884 (exact date unknown).
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Anal sodomy was decriminalized in 1881 when the provision was dropped from Japan's Penal Code. It was eliminated by supervision of Gustave Boissonade, a French legal scholar who served as an advisor to develop the legal system in Japan.
  • October 6
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    2 to less than 10 years in prison. Not enforced. Legal in Punjab.