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1973 in LGBT Rights

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In 1973, there were 5 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 23 changes made and 14 in the following year. A total of 168 legal changes were made in the 1970s.

  • December 21
    Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    Article 242 of the family law states explicitly that marriage is between a man and a woman who has cohabited for more than 3 years. The recent movement of "accidental passage" of same sex marriage has not taken effect or exercised.
  • April 12
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes varies by region.
    Gender identity only.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes varies by region.
    Gender identity only.
  • Equal age of consent becomes ambiguous.
    Age of marrying for men is 18 and age of marrying for women is 16. No explicit age of consent for sexual activity is set. Homosexuality is technically illegal but punishment is rarely enforced and lots of homosexual activities do occur.
  • January 29
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In 1973, homosexuality was decriminalized in Malta by the Prime Minister, Dom Mintoff.