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1971 in LGBT Rights

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In 1971, there were 32 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 2 changes made and 67 in the following year. A total of 235 legal changes were made in the 1970s.

  • October 1
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Legislative repeal, effective 1971.
  • August 16
    Equal age of consent becomes female equal, male unequal.
    In 1971, Austria decriminalised homosexuality but had an unequal age of consent with 18 for gay men but 14 for heterosexuals and lesbians.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes state-enforced.
    The decriminalisation of homosexuality came at a price in Austria. After decriminalisation, Austria implemented new laws restricting the advertisement of same-sex relations and the forming of LGBTIQ+ organisations under Section 220 of the Penal Code. Enforcement wasn't noted until 1988 and it wasn't until 1998 when the laws were repealed. Compensation was suggested in 2023 by the Austrian government.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In 1971, an amendment to the Penal Code decriminalised non-commercial same-sex sexual acts between adults, while at the same time introducing a new provision (Section 209), which set the age of consent for gay male sex at 18, 4 years higher than the lesbian and heterosexual age of consent, which was instead set at 14.
  • August 8
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Article 25 in Afghanistans Law on Marriage (1971) states: “The marriage certificate is a document of man and woman which proves the contract of marriage.”
  • August 1
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Same-sex marriages were officially banned after the passage of the Nullity of Marriage Act 1971, which explicity stated that a marriage was considered void if both parties were of the same sex. The act received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 1 July 1971 and came into force on 1 August 1971. The Nullity of Marriage Act was later replaced by the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, however, its effects remained exactly the same.
  • February 12
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Article 9(1) in The Law of Marriage Act defines marriage as a voluntary union of a man and a woman.
  • (date unknown)
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    In 1971, when decriminalising same-sex sexual activity, Finland added a clause banning the "incitement of homosexuality".
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    Czechia does not maintain a ban or any excessive restrictions on access to gender-affirming care.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Åland has been part of Finland since the 20th century. In 1971, Finland decriminalised gay sex in 1971, although it was not until the 1980's that homosexuality was declassified as an illness.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In all of Finland.
  • Equal age of consent becomes unequal.
    When decriminalising homosexuality, the age of consent for homosexual acts was raised.
  • January 1
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality as an act is legal in Costa Rica since 1971 penal code, in 2002 "sodomía escandalosa" an unclear minor crime was derogated. Also in 2013 some debris from these laws was finally absolutely erased.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Finland decriminalised gay sex in 1971, although it was not until the 1980s that homosexuality was declassified as an illness.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1971

  • Fenway Health FaviconFenway Health
    Massachusetts, United States
    Fenway Health advocates for and delivers innovative, equitable, accessible health care, supportive services, and transformative research and education. We center LGBTQIA+ people…