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1940 in LGBT Rights

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In 1940, there were 5 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 1 change made and 1 in the following year. A total of 68 legal changes were made in the 1940s.

  • December 7
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Age of consent = 14 years old
  • August 12
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.
  • May 28
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (death penalty as punishment).
    Belgium was under German occupation during World War II and thus Paragraph 175 was in effect.
  • May 15
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    During the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II homosexuality was criminalized by Paragraph 175.
  • January 30
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality is technically legal. However public display of homosexual affections can be persecuted due to some other obscure laws.