In 1982, there were 26 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 14 changes made and 41 in the following year. A total of 257 legal changes were made in the 1980s.
- December 20LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
- LGBT discrimination becomes varies by region.In 1982, New South Wales added homosexuality as a protected characteristic from discrimination. Other states and territories would pass laws protecting LGBTIQ+ people from discrimination at varying times. The Workplace Relations Act of 1996 provided federal protections from discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation, but federal law wouldn’t include all areas or gender identity until 2013.
- LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes varies by region.In 1982, New South Wales added homosexuality as a protected characteristic from employment discrimination. Other states and territories would pass laws protecting LGBTIQ+ people from employment discrimination at varying times. The Workplace Relations Act of 1996 provided federal protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, but some states also provided it to gender identity. Federal law would include gender identity in 2013.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
- December 9Homosexual activity becomes legal.15 years after the rest of the UK legalized sexual acts between two men who were 21 or older, the legalisation was extended to Northern Ireland with the "Homosexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 1982". The act prohibited sex in places where a third party was likely to be present.
- September 23
- August 4Equal age of consent becomes equal.In 1982, the age of consent became 15 for both heterosexual and homosexual couples in French Guiana.
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.In 1982, the age of consent became 15 for both heterosexual and homosexual couples in New Caledonia.
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.Under French law, the age of consent is equalised at 15 for both same- and opposite-sex acts since 1982.
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.In 1982, the age of consent became 15 for both heterosexual and homosexual couples in Guadeloupe.
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.The age of consent in France is 15 for both male-male, female-female, and male-female sex.
- July 26
- May 8
- Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).The law forbade "sexual acts “against nature.” This is understood to ban same-sex sexual activity, it is punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a 1,000,000 Comorian franc fine. However, it is not believed to be actively enforced except for the prosecution of a lesbian couple in 2024. The 2024 case is the only known prosecution in the country's history.
- April 14Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.Law no. 164 of 14 April 1982 was the first law in Italy to introduce the possibility of changing sex. This law was published in the Official Gazette no. 106 of 19.04.1982 and came into force on 4 May 1982. Before 1982, Transgender people did not have the possibility of changing sex and name, living as if trapped in a biological body that they did not feel was their own. At the end of the 70s there were several protests in Italy by the LGBT movement that pushed politics to take an interest in the issue of sexual transition. With Law 164/1982, however, sex rectification was only possible after surgery.
- Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.In 1982, the National Fatwa Council issued a fatwa prohibiting sex reassignment surgery. Although, the fatwa is not legally binding and only applies to Muslims, in practice, this has led to a significant reduction of surgery options for transgender Malaysians, often resorting to go to Thailand to receive such treatment. Hormone therapy, however, remains unbanned.
- March 5LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.In 1982, Republican Governor Dreyfus signed a bill giving LGB people employment discrimination protections, making Wisconsin the first state in the union to do so.
- February 13Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.Article 333 bis of the Penal Code, as amended on 13 February 1982 by Law n° 82-04, criminalizes the distribution of anything against "decency" with up to 2 years in prison and a fine up to 2,000 dinars. Article 333, also amended in 1982, criminalizes indecent exposure of any "act against the order of nature with an individual of the same sex" with up to 3 years in prison and a fine up to 10,000 dinars. In January 2023 the Ministry of Commerce announced that all rainbow colored products, including flags, toys, and Qurans, are no longer allowed to be sold in the country. The Algerian government mass SMS texted citizens to warn them of fines for violating this order. In August 2023, Algeria's Ministry of Culture and Arts forced movie theaters to immediately stop showing the film, "Barbie." An official source told Reuters that the film "promotes homosexuality and other Western deviances."
- (date unknown)
- January 1
- (date unknown)Same-sex adoption becomes legal.Individuals and married couples jointly may petition for adoption per La. CHC 1198, 1202. Second-parent adoption is not legal.
LGBT Organizations Founded in 1982
Anti Violence Project
AVP empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supports…