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1983 in LGBT Rights

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In 1983, there were 66 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 15 changes made and 3 in the following year. A total of 182 legal changes were made in the 1980s.

  • July 9
    Equal age of consent becomes n/a.
    Homosexual activity is illegal in Mauritania.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (death penalty as punishment).
    Male homosexuality is punishable by stoning; female homosexuality is punishable by fines or imprisonments
  • July 8
    Serving openly in military becomes illegal.
    As homosexuality is illegal, serving in the military by LGBTQ+ individuals are also illegal
  • June 26
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    US Supreme Court ruling issued in Lawrence v. Texas struck down all sodomy laws on the basis of privacy and liberty. The decision overturned any laws remaining in all US states which prohibited acts of sodomy.
  • June 20
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    In 1983, in response to the HIV epidemic, the Directorate General of Health banned MSMs from donating blood indefinitely. This ban was reiterated in 2009.
  • January 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (1-year deferral).
    Federally.
  • (date unknown)
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • January 1
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    under the Sex Discrimination Amendment Act.
  • (date unknown)
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • January 1
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    According to American Pink
  • (date unknown)
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    State law prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of "homosexuality" and "transgender status". The relevant law is Part 3A and Part 4C of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. Federal law prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of "sexual orientation", "gender identity" and "intersex status". The relevant law is section 14 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applied to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man after 1976.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • January
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • (date unknown)
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • January 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Banned due to national FDA Guidelines.
  • (date unknown)
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    According to the Red Cross, if any man has had any sexual relations with another man, they WILL NOT qualify for a blood donation. Though the FDA deferral impacts all MSMs who have had sex with a man since 1977, the policy did not go into effect until 1983. The policy applied retroactively to 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Ban on blood donations from MSMs applies to any man who has had sex, even once, with another man on or after January 1, 1977.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    This is decided at the federal level by the FDA, which has given an indefinite ban.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Though the deferral impacts all MSMs who have had sex with a man since 1977, the policy did not go into effect until 1983. The policy applied retroactively to 1977.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Though the deferral impacts all MSMs who have had sex with a man since 1977, the policy did not go into effect until 1983. The policy applied retroactively to 1977.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1983

  • Resource Center FaviconResource Center
    Texas, United States
    Resource Center is a trusted leader that empowers the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities and all people affected by HIV through improving health and…
  • Resource Center of Dallas FaviconResource Center of Dallas
    Texas, United States
    Resource Center is a trusted leader that empowers the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities and all people affected by HIV through improving health and…