Timeline of LGBT Rights

Number of LGBT-related laws changed over time

This year, there were 101 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 136 changes made. A total of 534 legal changes have been made so far in the 2020s.

  • November 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    New blood donation rules are now based on an updated risk assessment of various sexual behaviours and are equally applied to all people regardless of sexual orientation.
  • September 5
    Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions.
    Hong Kong’s highest court ruled on 5 September in favour of same-sex civil unions but did not grant them the right to marry. The Final Court of Appeal ruled that the government is "violating its obligation (...) to legally recognize same-sex couples", according to the ruling, which nevertheless rejects "unanimously the appeal" regarding the recognition of their marriage. This ruling was eagerly awaited by the LGBT+ community of the former British colony which, for a decade, has won important victories before the courts, including the annulment of discriminatory government policies on visas, taxes and housing subsidies.
  • August 14
    Censorship of LGBT Issues becomes fine as punishment.
    President of Kyrgyzstan signs law banning propaganda of non-traditional relationships among minors.
  • July 27
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    The Sinaloa deputies voted in favor of penalizing conversion practices.
  • July 24
    Same-sex adoption becomes single only.
    Single homosexuals are allowed to adopt, but banned for transgender people.
  • July 22
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    Parliament voted to ban conversion therapy
  • July 19
    Right to change legal gender becomes illegal.
    The upper house of Russia’s parliament unanimously approved a bill outlawing gender-affirming care and legal gender change. It also annuls marriages in which one person has “changed gender” and bars transgender people from becoming foster or adoptive parents.
  • July 1
    Censorship of LGBT Issues becomes state-enforced.
    Prohibits talks of LGBT topics in school up to grade 6.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).
    Starting July 1 2023, MSM who would like to donate blood face a 4-month deferral period.
  • June 29
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    Those who carry out conversion practices will be sentenced to 2 to 6 years in prison.
  • June 28
    Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    Same-sex marriage has been de jure legal in Nepal, though without supporting legislation, since 28 June 2023 in accordance with a ruling from the Supreme Court.
  • June 23
    Same-sex marriage becomes not legal.
    Malians approved amendments to the constitution in referendum. One of amendments defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman.
  • June 15
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, surgery not required.
    Law was changed under the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021 which comes into effect on 15 June 2023. This will allow gender self-identification and mean that you will not need to go through the Family Court to change your nominated sex/gender, and you will not require evidence of medical treatment to do so either.
  • June 9
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    The Icelandic parliament has passed a law banning so-called conversion therapy practices on the basis of sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity.
  • June 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    From 1 June, all donors will be subject to the same screening process regardless of their sexuality or gender.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    The law allowing same-sex couples to jointly adopt received royal assent and went into effect on 1 June 2023.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Under the Crimes (Sexual Offences) Amendment Bill any clauses that make consensual sexual acts between men illegal will be removed from the Crimes Act and will come into force on 1 June.
  • May 31
    Right to change legal gender becomes ambiguous.
    A bill to make gender change illegal was proposed, and it will probably pass.
  • May 29
    Same-sex marriage becomes not legal.
    The "Anti-Homosexuality Bill" signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni states that same-sex marriage is punishable by 10 years imprisonment. The same punishment is to be applied to those conducting same-sex marriage ceremonies.
  • Censorship of LGBT Issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    As of May 29, 2023, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill was passed. This makes it punishable by a fine or 5-years imprisonment to "promote homosexuality" or use electronic devices for the "purposes of homosexuality". Practically, this prevents accurate discussion of LGBT issues in Ugandan media.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (other penalty).
    President Yoweri Museveni signed an "Anti-Homosexuality" bill into law. This still punishes homosexuality with imprisonment up to life, but the bill allows "aggravated homosexuality" to be punished by death. The definition of "aggravated homosexuality" includes rape, sex with children, the elderly and people with disabilities. Homosexual activities performed by second time offenders or those with HIV is also considered aggravated, and punishable by death. In effect, the only homosexual activity that is not punishable by death would take place between consenting adults (under the age of 75) who do not have HIV or previous convictions of homosexuality. "Attempted Homosexuality" is also punished by law, meeting up to 10 years in prison, while "Attempted Aggravated Homosexuality" can be met with up to 14 years.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    The Civil Code defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. There is no recognition of same-sex couples. However, there is no constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. Attempt to out-law gay marriage in October of 2018 failed.
  • May 25
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    The practice, and advertisement, of conversion therapy was banned after 36 members of parliament (out of 50 total) voted to pass the new bill into law.
  • May 19
    Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes not legally recognized.
    Pakistan struck down its Transgender Act declaring it in-Islamic.
  • May 17
    Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes recognized.
    Under the new policy, non-binary Mexican citizens can choose to replace a gender category in their passports with an ‘X’ rather than choosing male or female.
  • May 16
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Taiwan's parliament passed an amendment allowing same-sex couples to jointly adopt children.
  • May 11
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM) but it has not been accepted as actual policy
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    New FDA Regulations for Blood Screening on a Federal Level; therefore, the state laws in PA shall not apply anymore. Deferral for MSM or WSM is no longer required.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation
  • May 2
    Conversion therapy becomes not banned.
    On this date, Neuchâtel banned conversion therapy. Neuchâtel is a canton of Switzerland, of which there are 26. In the other 25 member states of the Swiss Confederation, conversion therapy remains legal.
  • April 3
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, surgery not required.
    A new legislation lifted the former requirements for gender-affirming surgery and sterilization in order to legally change one’s gender. Recognition will be available for adults upon written application after a mandatory 30-day "period of reflection". Minors under the age of 18 are not allowed to change their gender status. The new law comes in effect on April 3rd 2023.
  • April 1
    Censorship of LGBT Issues becomes state-enforced.
    Tennessee introduced a bill banning "adult show performances" where minors could be present or be able to see. The wording of the bill describes "dressing as a gender different from the one assigned at birth" as part of a performance to be not suited for minors and thus banned in public spaces. This not only bans drag shows, but any performance from a trans person in public.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    On April 1 2023, the Transfusion Act (Transfusionsgesetz, TFG) was amended to fully remove restrictions on blood donations by MSMs. Accordingly, the amendment to the law is obliging the German Medical Association to subsequently adapt the blood donation guidelines within four months in agreement with the Paul Ehrlich Institute, Germany’s medical regulatory body.
  • March 16
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Legislation was passed to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (originally passed in 1976). All citizens of Michigan now receive "equal treatment under the law" regardless of sexuality or gender.
  • Serving openly in military becomes lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
    The Supreme Court of Justice annulled section 565 of the Military Justice Code, which previously banned same-sex sexual activity in armed forces. The court found that the law was incompatible with the Constitution and international agreements on human rights. However, transgender people were not explicitly mentioned in the ruling.
  • March 14
    Censorship of LGBT Issues becomes ambiguous.
    Mentioning gender identity or sexual orientation to students before grade 5 is banned, ambiguous is the best indicator considering it depends on the grade.
  • February 21
    Right to change legal gender becomes illegal.
    The current law does not provide for the possibility for the court to allow the change of the data regarding the gender, name and uniform civil number in the acts of civil status of an applicant who claims to be transgender,” the decision states. Since February 21st 2023 by the supreme court of Bulgaria. However, there are still protections but limited protections.
  • February 17
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, surgery not required.
    On July 21, 2022, the Andorran government voted a law stating that transgender people can change their gender without medical intervention. The law is expected to take effect in 2023, but no date has been announced yet.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    On July 21, 2022, the Andorran government passed a law granting marriage rights to same-sex couples in the country. The law is expected to take effect in 2023, but no date has been announced yet.
  • February 9
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    In 2023, The Parliament of Moldova passed Law No.2 (2023) which included sexual orientation and gender identity among grounds protected from "any kind of discrimination". Protections in employment are included as well.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    In 2023, The Parliament of Moldova passed Law No.2 (2023) which included sexual orientation and gender identity among grounds protected from "any kind of discrimination".
  • February 6
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, surgery not required.
    The Court of Final Appeal ruled in favour of the two men and found the surgical requirement unconstitutional.
  • February 1
    Same-sex adoption becomes single only.
    2 or more same-sex couples cannot adopt. A gay man who is not in a relationship can adopt.
  • February
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Sexual orientation was added as a protected category from discrimination in the constitution of the Netherlands after votes in Senate and House Of Representatives were successful. Previously the Equal Rights Act of 1993 protected sexual orientation and had been interpreted to protect gender identity, expression and sex characteristics as well.
  • February 1
    Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    The Constitutional Court of Suriname refused to recognize marriage of same-sex couple which was performed in Argentina. The court ruled that the ban on same-sex marriage does not violate the constitution or Suriname's obligations under the Interamerican Convention on Human Rights.
  • January 14
    Conversion therapy becomes ambiguous.
    The UK government is discussing a ban on conversion therapy. It has been discussed in parliament and the ban is said to be put into effect ‘shortly’ however a specific date has not yet been confirmed.