In 1871, there were 20 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were changes made and 1 in the following year. A total of 31 legal changes were made in the 1870s.
- May 15Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.Section 175 of the Criminal Code of the German Empire criminalized homosexual activity between men over the age of 18. The penalty was imprisonment or a loss of civil rights.
- (date unknown)
- January 1
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.
- (date unknown)Homosexual activity becomes legal.
- Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).Under Section 377 of Malaysia's Penal Code, ‘carnal knowledge against the order of nature’ is punishable by up to 20 years in prison with whipping. A subsection of the law also criminalises ‘gross indecency with another person’ with up to two years in prison. In addition, Muslim citizens of Malaysia can be sentenced to fines, caning and imprisonment for conducting same-sex sexual relations under some states which imposes sharia law. The maximum sentence that sharia courts can impose for these acts is up to three years prison, fines of up to RM 5,000 (1,204 USD) and caning of up to six strokes or all three.
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.Illegal with a minor under 12, ambiguous rulings observed 12-18, universally legal 18+.