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2002 in LGBT Rights

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In 2002, there were 39 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 67 changes made and 105 in the following year. A total of 658 legal changes were made in the 2000s.

  • November 7
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    IVF treatment is available for lesbian couples too.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    IVF treatment is available for lesbian couples too.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    IVF treatment for Lesbian couples is possible.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    As in the UK, IVF treatment is available for lesbian couples too.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    IVF treatment is available for lesbian couples too.
  • September 10
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Legal under the case of Du Toit v Minister of Welfare and Population Development, later made official through the Consolidated Children's Act of 2010
  • September 4
    Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.
    Family Law adopted on July 25, 2002 recognized two categories of adoption: "incomplete adoption" and "full adoption". In the first case, adoptive parents could be both individuals and married partners (Articles 150-155). In the second case, adoptive parents are married partners only (Articles 156-160).
  • September 1
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    According to the laws of Mongolia
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    From 2001,Same sex acts and realtionships are legal in Mongolia
  • July 27
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    Before the adoption of the Anti-Discrimination law in 2009, several laws prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation: - broadcasting law (2002), article 21; - law on public information (2003), aticle 38; - labour law (2005), article 18; - law on higher education (2005), article 8. Also, the 2006 Constitution prohibits discrimination in general but it does not mention sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • July 11
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The revised Criminal Code equalised the age of consent to 17, after pressure from the EU.
  • June 24
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent between people with maximum 5 years of difference is 14. Sexual contact between coetaneous is never punishable.
  • June 8
    Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).
    Quebec legalized civil unions on June 8th, 2002. Those unions gave gay couples the same rights as straight ones without changing the definition of marriage.
  • June 6
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • April 17
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
  • March 1
    Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.
    Same-sex couples or even homosexuals are not allowed to adopt in Kenya. Chapter 141, Section 158 of Kenya's The Children Act states: "An adoption order shall not be made if the applicant or, in the case of joint applicants, both or any of them [...] is a homosexual."
  • February 28
    Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    There is no definition of marriage in Republika Srpska 1992 Constitution. Article 36: "Marriage and marriage & family relations are regulated by law" The Family Laws of 2002 and 2023 have the same definition of marriage in articles 4: "Marriage is a union of life between husband and wife regulated by law."
  • February 13
    Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Serving as openly homosexual was never illegal in the military penal code. This provision was strengthened with the anti-discrimination provision proposed in 2010
  • January 15
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    Law 14170 of January 15, 2002. Determines the imposition of penalties for companies who practice discriminatory act against a person because of their sexual orientation.
  • January 6
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent of 14 years is equal for everyone.
  • (date unknown)
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Equal since 2002
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    L’homosexualité en Transnistrie est légale depuis 2022
  • January 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    One of the many countries were lgbt people cannot donate.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
    It is still illegal for males.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Under the amendment to the Newfoundland and Labrador Adoption Act.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes no protections.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
  • Homosexual activity becomes varies by region.
    Sex between consenting adults (18 years of age by the Law on Child Protection, No. 23/2002) of the same sex or gender is not criminalized in the Indonesian Penal Code. There are three exceptions where homosexuality is marginalized in local ordinances: 1. District Ordinance on Social Order (No. 10/2007) in Banjar, South Kalimantan Province. It mentions “abnormal” homosexual and heterosexual acts (in addition to “normal” ones) in its definition of “prostitute.” No explanation is given for “normal” or “abnormal” acts. It also prohibits the formation of organizations “leading to immoral acts” that are “unacceptable to the culture of [local] society.” These are later explained by giving examples of lesbian and gay organizations “and the like.” 2. City Ordinance on the Development of a Value System in Social Life Based on the Teachings of Islam and Local Social Norms (No. 12/2009) in Tasikmalaya, West Java. It prohibits adultery and prostitution, both heterosexual and homosexual. 3. City Ordinance on the Prevention, Eradication and Prosecution of Social Ills (No. 9/2010) in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra. The section with de$nition of terms explicitly mentions “homosexual and lesbian” relationships and later prohibits such relationships and prohibits persons from “o#ering themselves for homosexual and lesbian relationships either with or without payment.” Alongside these local ordinances, Aceh province (a province with significant legislative autonomy from the rest of Indonesia) from October, 2015, criminalises homosexual sex between muslim men with a punishment of up to 100 lashes.
  • (date unknown)
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Any individual may petition for single parent or joint adoption. Second-parent adoption is permitted via case law referenced below.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    As male homosexuality is illegal, no protection is available to any members of the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
  • January 1
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Equal age of consent set at 14 since a Constitutional Court ruling in 2002.
  • (date unknown)
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Arkansas will amend after receipt of a court order verifying that they have undergone sex-reassignment surgery and that their names have been changed.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Arkansas in 2002 there was a state supreme court hearing about homosexual activities (sodomy), about a 1977 law that forbid the acts. It was overturned, and it is now currently legal. Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that homosexual acts are legal, and any imprisonment with the 1977 law would be released.
  • January
    Right to change legal gender becomes illegal.
    No legislation at present, but government has said it will legislate and there has been a landmark court prompting the government to seek legislation surrounding the issue. This legislation has yet to be carried out.
  • Serving openly in military becomes lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
    Taiwan allows gay and lesbian soldiers provided they maintain military discipline standards.
  • (date unknown)
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    The Fijian Marriage Act of 1968 was adjusted in 2002 to explicitly state that "marriage in this registry (or place) which is in law the voluntary union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others." Additionally, previous Fijian Prime Ministers have been opposed to same-sex marriage.
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    Men can receive 3 to 14 years of imprisonment under Criminal Code 1974. The legislation lists homosexuality under "Unnatural Offenses" and "Indecent Practices Between Males."

LGBT Organizations Founded in 2002