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1930 in LGBT Rights

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In 1930, there were 14 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 6 changes made and 3 in the following year. A total of 129 legal changes were made in the 1930s.

  • November 20
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In a 1930 law, Morelos defined a marriage as being between a man and a woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes varies by region.
    Some states had codes banning same-sex marriages while others either didn’t recognise them without a ban or provided for civil unions. Morelos passed the first code banning same-sex marriage in 1930. In 2010, Mexico City became the first part of Mexico to recognise same-sex marriage. Other states would follow suit until the end of 2022, when all states would recognise same-sex marriage in Mexico.
  • August 1
    Serving openly in military becomes don't ask, don't tell.
    No laws restricting or criminalizing lgbt serving.
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    Sections 162, 163, and 165 of the Kenyan Penal Code (Cap. 63) criminalize "unnatural offences" and "gross indecency between males," carrying penalties of up to 14 to 21 years in prison. While male same-sex acts are explicitly prohibited, female-to-female same-sex sexual activity is not explicitly criminalized under these statutory provisions.
  • January 1
    Same-sex adoption becomes single only.
    The Adoption of Children (Scotland) Act 1930 received Royal Assent and became effective on August 1, 1930. Officially allowing single parents to adopt nationwide.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Section 178(g) of the Zambian Penal Code (1930) criminalizes any act of "solicitation for immoral purposes in a public place". This provision was used as a legal basis to arrest and prosecute Paul Kasonkomona who, in 2013, appeared on a television show arguing that the rights of sexual minorities should be recognized so that the HIV epidemic could be dealt with effectively. He was arrested by the authorities after his statement and was acquitted two years later. Furthermore, in 2019, the Minister of Religious Affairs ordered the cancellation of a television program for allegedly "promoting homosexuality".
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Section 154 of the Penal Code of Tanzania (1930) punished “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” with imprisonment for up to 14 years. Section 155 made attempting to commit such acts punishable by 7 years in prison.