1860s in LGBT Rights

Number of LGBT-related laws changed over time
  • January 1
    Equal age of consent becomes unequal.
    The age of consent in Suriname is 16 for heterosexuals, and 18 for homosexuals.
  • July 1
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Indefinite Imprisonment as "Dangerous Sex Offender" - origin of law was included from confederation in 1867.
  • (date unknown)
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Gay sex in San Marino has been lawful since 1865.
  • January 1
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    7-14 years in prison. Not enforced. the president of Jamaica just said he has not problem with gays serving in government. Decriminalization pending.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    Female same-sex encounters are not explicitly outlawed. However, all individuals (male/female) are prohibited from buggery (anal sex) with another individual. Punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment with or without hard labor. (Clause 76 of source) All male-male sexual encounters are prohibited under law. Punishment of up to 7 years imprisonment with or without hard labor. (Clause 77 or source). Decriminalization pending.
  • January 1
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Indian Penal Code was enacted by the Imperial Legislative Council, the legislature during British direct rule in India. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code criminalized same-sex sexual acts and carried a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.
  • November 1
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (up to life in prison as punishment).
    The Offences Against the Person Act 1861 lowered the maximum penalty to life imprisonment. Subsequent laws, such as The Labouchere Amendment (Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885) redefined the offence and allowed for other punishments, for example Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years hard labour in 1895, and in 1952 Alan Turing was chemically castrated. Female homosexuality and sexual acts were not addressed in the law, and therefore, they technically would have been legal, though the law often applied the law towards women.
  • January 1
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Under colonial era statutes, homosexuality is illegal in Myanmar with up to 20 years in prison. Torture and vigilante executions are also common.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    Homosexuality is currently illegal.
  • (date unknown)
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Same sex marriage is not legal
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    Male homosexuality is technically punishable with life imprisonment but is rarely enforced.
  • October 6
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Homosexuality is illegal in Bangladesh, so same-sex relationships are illegal as well.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (up to life in prison as punishment).
    Section 377 of the penal code states that "unnatural intersources" with any men women or animal is punishable for up to life in prison.
  • May 12
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    The Penal Code of the Principality of Serbia (Kingdom of Serbia as of March 7, 1882) passed on March 29, 1860 criminalized sex between men. Paragraph 206: Unnatural fornication between persons of the male sex to be punished by imprisonment from six months to four years and loss of civil honor.
  • January 1
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    up to 3 years in prison.