The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy targets homosexuals and bisexuals; they cannot openly identify as LGBTQIA+ whilst simultaneously serving in the Chinese military due to bans. Transgender people are banned from serving in the Chinese military.

Homosexuality was illegal, so there was no legal age of consent.

After the Communist Party led by Mao Zedong came to power in 1949, they "stamped out anything they deemed deviant or decadent." During the 1960's and 70's, which was during the Cultural Revolution, gay people were subjected to public humiliation and long prison terms.

Article 208 of the Penal Code (1949) prohibits "offensive public utterances" in writing, graphics, images, and other forms of expression. Before the civil war, it was reported that films with LGBT content were censored. In June 2022, it was reported that Syria's Directorate of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection confiscated around 600 rainbow kites as their designs were similar to the pride flag and therefore "indicating homosexuality". Various articles of Law No. 93 (1958) allow the Ministry to appoint or remove board members, disallow political participation, foreign funding, and allow the registration to be rescinded at will. Further, Article 35 allows any Board decision to be suspended “if it deems it to be against the law, the public order or morals”. This legal framework appears to pose severe barriers to the formal registration and the operation of an organisation working on sexual and gender diversity issues. During the civil war, some regions became more tolerant due to the division of the country. However, there were also some cases of even LGBTIQ+ people in support of the Assad regime threatening to expose LGBTIQ+ people opposed to the regime to the authorities.

Same-sex marriage or civil unions are not legal

Article 520 of the Penal Code (1949) criminalizes “unnatural sexual intercourse.” Potential imprisonment of up to 3 years. Not enforced by regime. In 2003 Syria, at the UN Commission on Human Rights, voted to postpone a draft UN resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. The vote was 24 to 17. The draft resolution was to bring the Commission to express its deep concern at the occurrence of human rights violations worldwide against people on the basis of their sexual orientation; Stress that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings and that the universal character of these rights and freedoms is indisputable; and call on all States to promote and protect the fundamental rights of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948.

Some secondary sources claim it is a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" situation. But, based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited, because North Korea heavily censors LGBT content. However there are sources that claim that during the compulsory 10 year military service homosexual acts between men are very common.

Censorship topics are all controlled by the government

In South Korea, same-sex marriage is neither prohibited nor legally recognized.

The age of consent in Israel is 16 for male-male, female-female, and male-female sex.

Unsure of date. Date shown represents ratification of the Taiwanese Constitution. The age of consent in Taiwan is 16 (sixteen).

Unsure of date which reflects the ratification of the current constitution of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Taiwanese criminal code treats sexual acts between same-sex partners in private as equal to heterosexual sex acts performed in private.

Spouses and single persons may adopt but the law does not recognise same-sex spouses and favours females as single adopters.

Article 24 of Japan’s constitution states that “Marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes” which is interpreted to define marriage as between two people of the opposite sex. Beginning in March of 2021, district courts and high courts across Japan have ruled that Japan restricting marriage to opposite-sex couples is unconstitutional. However, these court rulings do not have any actual effect on the law. More than 200 municipalities across Japan have introduced partnership systems which give same-sex couples the ability to register their relationships. However, the registration is not legally binding and it does not grant any of the rights of marriage.

The national age of consent is equal for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. Cities and prefectures may set higher ages of consent.

Japan has a Self Defense Force in place of a traditional military. There is no specific policy either banning or encouraging LGBT participation in the Self Defense Forces. Research by Sabine Fruhstuck has shown that many Japanese do not object to open LGBT service in the military provided it does not interfere with their performance.

The Law on Adoption passed on April 1, 1947 (including the amendments from 1965) allowed only "incomplete adoption" where the adopted child was not granted all the rights of a legitimate child. Adopters could be both individuals and spouses.

Article 331 from the 1947 Penal Code, defines an unequal age of consent with the age of consent for homosexual acts being 21 and punishable with jail (6 months to 3 years) and a fine.

The Police Act of 1945 contains Section 35(c) which criminalises people covering their faces or otherwise disguising themselves between sunset and sunrise “who are unable to give a satisfactory account of himself”. This law has been used arbitrarily to target transgender people in Myanmar for their gender expression. Additionally, LGBTIQ+ websites have been blocked in 2012. Since the 2021 coup, the government has been using the guise of anti terrorism laws to arrest LGBT activists and peaceful protesters.

In 1945, Alabama's Supreme Court decided in the case of Brown v. State that cunnilingus deserved the same penalty as fellatio. In 1973, The Alabama Supreme Court decided in the case of Horn v. State that the sodomy law was constitutional. The Court also decided that circumstantial evidence was enough for proof of penetration.

The cost for gender affirming care in Germany is covered by public health insurance. Condition for hormone therapy is a letter of indication from a psychotherapist, voice therapy a letter of indication from a medical professional, epilation of hair (laser/needle) 6 months of psychotherapy of 12/24 sessions with 50/25 minutes each (10 hours in total), mastectomy 10 hours of psychotherapy, genital surgeries 10 hours of psychotherapy and one year of “daily life test”, breast augmentation 10 hours of psychotherapy, 2 years of hormone therapy, and a breast size of smaller than an A cup, facial and vocal feminization, tracheal shave and rib section are approved in an appraisal process with the medical service if “the appearance is not yet sufficiently adjusted” after one year. Restrictions and prominence post-war through the 1970s are unclear but believed to be legally unrestricted.

After World War II, the Nazi-era version of Section 175 remained in force in both East and West Germany. Punishments included imprisonment, however, the death penalty was no longer applied. East Germany would decriminalise homosexuality in 1968 followed by West Germany the next year.

Canadian, British, Polish, Dutch, and American troops liberated the Netherlands during WW2 on this day.

Canadian, British, Polish, Dutch, and American troops liberated the Netherlands during WW2 on this day.

On May 1st, 1945 the Fijian Penal Code of 1945 went into effect and outlawed homosexual sex. In Article 175 (a) it states that any person who has carnal knowledge (sexual intercourse) of any person against the order of nature is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years, with or without corporal punishment.

Following the "Anschluss," the attempt to establish consistent criminal legislation and incorporate National Socialist principles into Austrian law was unsuccessful, resulting in the retention of the 1852 Criminal Code. Thus, there was a difference in prosecution of homosexuals between Germany and Austria.

The 1932 law came into force in Poland again after World War II, but it included homosexual prostitution as a punishable offense. Homosexuality in Poland was fully decriminalized only in 1970.

Article 358 of the current Code of Military Justice states: "Any military member who commits dishonest acts with individuals of the same sex will be punished with a prison sentence of six months and one day to six years. Whatever the sentence imposed for this crime, it will always entail dismissal from service."

Until 2012, Oaxaca had defined a marriage as being between a man and a woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage. This was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Belgium was liberated in September of 1944. Belgian civil law reverted back to pre-war laws.

Homosexual activity has been legal in Sweden since 1944.

Up to 3 years in prison. Not enforced.

Article 521 of the 1943 Penal Code of Lebanon explicitly criminalises “men disguising themselves as women” with 6 years imprisonment, criminalising the gender expression of trans women and cross dressers. The Lebanese government has vowed to shut down LGBT organizations, while several films have been banned in the country for LGBT content. Although it is not explicitly illegal to promote homosexuality as many LGBT night clubs and bars exist in the country.

Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code prohibits sexual relations that “contradict the laws of nature”. While the law has been used to penalize homosexuality, it has been successfully challenged in court several times with defendants being acquitted and enforcement is rare. Several courts have also declined to prosecute. Currently, no national law has been passed to repeal Article 534, decriminalize homosexual activity, or clarify the position of the law.

The 1942 Civil Code of Campeche defined marriage as between a man and a woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage until 2016. Civil unions were provided in 2013.

Some symbolic civil unions are recognized in select regions though no full and meaningful recognition is given.

The Swiss Penal Code introduced in 1942 allowed same sex acts between adults (above 20 years old), but punished homosexual intercourse with people between 16 and 20 years old (while allowing heterosexual acts)

Under the Shah's rule, the last monarch of the Pahlavi dynasty, homosexuality was criminalised, though it was mostly tolerated even to the point of allowing news coverage of a mock same-sex wedding between two men.

The International Lesbian and Gay Association states that homosexuals are not allowed to serve in the Kenya Defence Forces, however, it's unclear if this is a written law and if so, when this law was passed.

According with the Brazilian Penal Code of 1940, the age of consent about sexual intercourse between two or more people is the same for heterosexual and homosexual couples, 14 years old for the participants.

The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality; removing the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.

Belgium was under German occupation during World War II and thus Paragraph 175 was in effect.

During the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II homosexuality was criminalized by Paragraph 175.

While no law specifically prohibits consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults, individuals engaging in public displays of consensual same-sex sexual conduct, such as kissing, were sometimes subject to prosecution under public indecency provisions in the 1940 Penal Code, which were rarely applied to opposite-sex couples. A local NGO reported authorities rarely took steps to investigate, prosecute, or punish officials who committed abuses against LGBTQI+ persons, whether in the security forces or elsewhere in the government. Identifying as LGBTQI+ remained a cultural taboo. LGBTQI+ individuals were subjected to harassment, stigmatization, and violence, including "corrective" rape. Some religious leaders, radio broadcasts, and political organizations played a key role in supporting discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals.

Homosexuality is legal in the DRC.

Lithuania was absorbed by the USSR in 1940. Criminalization of sodomy already existed under number 154-a by imprisonment of 3 to 5 years in the Soviet Criminal Code.

Same-sex sexual activity between males in Soviet Estonia was illegal and punishable under paragraph 118 of the penal code

In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery. Estonia would be incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940.

In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery. Latvia would be incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940.

Homosexuality has been legal in the Republic of the Congo since 1940.