1924 in LGBT Rights

In 1924, there were 7 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were changes made and 1 in the following year. A total of 18 legal changes were made in the 1920s.

  • October 1
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    Until 1942, the Australian Capital Territory fell under the same Crimes Act as New South Wales which punished buggery with 14 years in prison. However, the 1942 Act would not decriminalise homosexuality.
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    The Crimes Act 1900 outlawed "indecent assaults" between men, regardless of whether both parties were consenting. Men who engaged in "any act of indecency" with another man would be given a prison sentence of two years. There was no mention of gay women in the legislation. Buggery was also criminalised with 14 years imprisonment, amended from life imprisonment in 1924.
  • July 28
    Equal age of consent becomes unequal.
    Before the constitutional tribunal's 2012 ruling, the age of consent was unequal.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality was decriminalised in Peru in 1924 as the new penal code did not mention same-sex relations. The penal code adopted in 1991 did not mention if homosexuality was illegal. However there are several reports of local laws against loitering and indecent exposure being used disproportionately against LGBT people, especially trans women.
  • April 4
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    The Criminal Code of 1924 criminalised male homosexuality in Tasmania with 21 years in prison. Opposition to decriminalisation as well as the harshest punishment out of all Australian states led to the island being dubbed “Bigots’ Island” and the state ignored Australia’s call for federal decriminalisation in 1994 with even attempts to extend the penalty in 1996.
  • (date unknown)
    Equal age of consent becomes female equal, male n/a.
    Until 2016, male homosexuality was illegal in Seychelles.
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    Under a colonial law first introduced in 1924, same-sex relations between men were criminalised under Section 151 of the Penal Code. The law was rarely enforced.