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1978 in LGBT Rights

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In 1978, there were 8 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 22 changes made and 11 in the following year. A total of 158 legal changes were made in the 1970s.

  • September 30
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Michigan Compiled Law 333.2831(c) allowed citizens to change the sex designation on birth certificates with an affidavit of a physician certifying that sex-reassignment surgery had been performed.
  • July 7
    Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    Homosexuality is illegal.
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    5 to 14 years in prison. Not enforced.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
    Homosexuality is illegal there.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    Homosexual activity is illegal in the Solomon Islands.
  • Equal age of consent becomes n/a.
    Homosexual activity is illegal in the Solomon Islands.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes not legal.
    Homosexual activity is illegal in the Solomon Islands.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Anal sex between two consenting males will be sentenced to 14 years in prison. Attempted anal sex will reult in seven years in prison. Acts of "gross indecendy" will receive five years in prison. (decriminalization pending

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1978