Timeline of LGBT Rights

Number of LGBT-related laws changed over time

This year, there were 22 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 152 changes made. A total of 624 legal changes have been made so far in the 2020s.

  • November 1
    Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes recognized.
    The Self-Determination Act (Selbstbestimmungsgesetz) applies (see: right to change legal gender).
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, no restrictions.
    The Self-Determination Act (Selbstbestimmungsgesetz) allows transgender, non-binary, and intersex people to change their legal first names and gender entry once a year through self-identification. From the age of 14, minors may make the declaration themselves with the consent of their guardians; to protect the personal rights of young people, the family court can replace the parents' decision at the request of the minor in cases where the custodians do not consent, based on the best interests of the child. Children under 14 will need their parents or guardians to make a registry office application on their behalf. For the declaration to be effective, the registry office must be notified of the upcoming declaration at least 3 months and at most 6 months before the declaration is made. Outing or deadnaming one against their will in a way that caused them harm can be punished with a fine of up to €10,000. If the gender entry is changed from "male" to another and "a case of tension or defense" arises within two months after the change, the person will still be considered male for military conscription. People who went through the previous process can apply for monetary compensation.
  • July 1
    Gender-Affirming Care becomes banned for minors.
    Senate Bill 99 will now remove the ability to have gender affirming care for minors, as well as penalize the physician who does the procedure. Physicians who do the procedures, or proscribe hormones will be removed of their license.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (limited rights).
    On 9 November 2023, the Saeima passed legislation establishing same-sex civil unions, subject to approval by President Edgars Rinkevics by 9 January 2024. The law is scheduled to take effect on 1 July 2024. Same-sex couples are not able to inherit from their partners even if they are in a registered partnership.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes illegal.
    Gender Affirming Care will no longer be accessible in the state of Idaho unless seeking outside of Idaho. This law bans right to change gender, as well as birth markers on any legal documents.
  • May 17
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    On November 1, 2023, Windhoek High Court judges Nate Ndauendapo, Shafimana Ueitele and Claudia Claasen announced that they will reserve the judgement on May 17, 2024.
  • April 22
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The ban of homosexuality got strucked down by the Supreme Court, so the age of consent is now equal.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Dominica legalized homosexual sex on April 22nd, 2024. The ban on gay relations was overturned after a gay man brought up certain laws to a court, which criminalized homosexual sex, and said the laws violated his constitutional rights. The court then ruled that sections 14 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act were unconstitutional. Those sections had previously criminalized homosexual sex.
  • March 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    Since March 1st, 2024, there are no restrictions for MSMs donating blood.
  • February 29
    Censorship of LGBT Issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Since 2024, any form of LGBTQ+ self-identification is punishable by prison sentences.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. In 2024, this law was strengthened to criminalise any form of LGBTQ+ expression, and extended the potential prison sentence to 5-10 years.
  • February 28
    Censorship of LGBT Issues becomes state-enforced.
    On February 28, 2024, the Minister of Education indicated that "any usage of gender ideology has been thrown out of public schools", which means it is no longer possible to teach about LGBT topics in schools.
  • February 15
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    The marriage equality bill changed the 4443/2016 law, extending the prohibition of discrimination to social protection, social benefits, education and access to the availability and provision of goods and services protections (including housing), enshrining full legal coverage against discrimination.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Greece becomes the first orthodox country to legalize same-sex marriage. The country’s Parliament also extended equal parental rights to same-sex couples, including clearing the way for them to adopt children.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    On February 16th, 2024, the Hellenic Parliament voted with 173 votes (76 against and 46 abstentions), on legalizing same-sex marriage, becoming the first orthodox country to do so.
  • February 13
    Censorship of LGBT Issues becomes state-enforced.
    Kazakhstan's Culture and Information Ministry announced the blocking of the Selftanu.kz website, which centers on LGBT relations. The ministry cited safeguarding children's rights and respecting Kazakhstan's societal norms and traditions as reasons for the action.
  • February
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    The first couple was able to legally adopt in February of 2024 after years of work.
  • January 30
    Right to change legal gender becomes illegal.
    Florida passed a bill on January 30th that makes it illegal for one's sex on ID to be "different than the one assigned at birth". As such, any license that have been issued with a new gender marker are now considered fraud and can be taken away.
  • January 20
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    The conversion therapy ban passed by Parliament last year was officially signed into law by the President over the weekend.
  • January 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    Since January 1st 2024, all restrictions regarding MSMs have been lifted. They now have to follow the same criteria as everyone else.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Estonia's parliament approved a law to legalise same-sex marriage as well as joint adoption by same-sex couples. The law will take effect on January 1, 2024.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    Estonia's parliament approved a law to legalise same-sex marriage, making it the first post-Soviet country to do so. The law went into effect on January 1, 2024.