▸ 

1939 in LGBT Rights

View All Years

In 1939, there were 4 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 4 changes made and 8 in the following year. A total of 86 legal changes were made in the 1930s.

  • September 1
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (death penalty as punishment).
    LGBT people were persecuted by Nazi forces during the German occupation of the Second World War.
  • August 14
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes state-enforced.
    In 1939, the Law of Vagrants and Criminals was passed. Although it did not explicitly criminalise homosexuality or transgender identity, it was frequently used in practice to harass LGBTIQ+ people for expressing themselves as homosexuality was considered "dangerous". In 1972, there was a raid on a residence in Petare by the police where a party was held by LGBTIQ+ people. The detainees' names were published in the press and demands for greater respect began to be called for. However, it wasn't until 1997, when the law was ruled unconstitutional.
  • July 27
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    In 1939, the Northern Territory had amendments to its criminal code that removed the life imprisonment penalty for homosexuality. However, it remained illegal until 1984.
  • May 26
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    In 1939, the gross indecency law was expanded to include sexual acts between two females as well as between a male and a female.