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1983 in LGBT Rights

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In 1983, there were 36 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 16 changes made and 8 in the following year. A total of 169 legal changes were made in the 1980s.

  • December 27
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    The 1983 Criminal Code of the Northern Mariana Islands removed all mentions of criminalisation of consensual sodomy and only penalises cases of sodomy without consent as rape, decriminalising homosexuality.
  • December 10
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Misiones, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In San Luis, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Jujuy, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the fall of the military dictatorship in 1983. However, there is still a law from 1951 that prohibits "immoral dancing or dancing between men" at public dances.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In La Pampa, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Chubut, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Corrientes, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Entre Ríos, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Tierra del Fuego, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Salta, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Río Negro, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In San Juan, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983.
  • September 5
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    In 1983, the Code of Misdemeanours in La Rioja contained Article 39 which criminalised people from "bathing in public places in violation of the rules of decency", "exhibiting oneself in public in clothing contrary to public decency" and "inciting minors under 16 years of age to immoral acts". The article lists that homosexuals and those who are "exhibited on public roads or in public places disguised with clothing of the opposite sex" as people who will receive the maximum penalty, implying that homosexuals are viewed as promoting "immoral acts" to minors and trans people are dressing "indecently" and violate rules of decency if they bathe in accordance to their gender identity. These laws would be repealed in 2000.
  • July 15
    Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    The 1976 "Karnataka Marriages (Registration and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act" did not explicitly define marriage as between a man and a woman. The law did not receive assent and therefore take effect until 7 years later.
  • July 9
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    The Mauritanian authorities uses provisions such as “indecency” and “incitation to debauchery” in the 1983 Penal Code on those who challenge the country with LGBT social movements.
  • Equal age of consent becomes n/a.
    Homosexual activity is illegal in Mauritania.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.
    Same-sex adoption is not possible due to homosexual activities being punishable
  • Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Same-sex marriage is not possible due to the laws on Homosexual activity
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (death penalty as punishment).
    Illegal, public execution by stoning for men, [not enforced]; prison and fines for women Mauritanian representatives informed the United Nations that executions have effectively been suspended since 1987. On April 27, 2018, the National Assembly approved legislation replacing article 306 of the Criminal Code, mandating the death penalty for individuals convicted of "blasphemous speech" and "sacrilegious" acts. However, the death penalty for homosexual acts has not been enforced since 1986. The law removes the option, previously available under article 306, to substitute prison sentences for death penalties for certain apostasy-related offenses upon prompt repentance. Additionally, the law broadens the death penalty's reach to include "renegade acts."
  • July 8
    Serving openly in military becomes illegal.
    As homosexuality is illegal, serving in the military by LGBTQ+ individuals are also illegal
  • July 1
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires medical diagnosis.
    Trans people require a medical diagnosis in order to change their legal gender in Mississippi.
  • May 5
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Wisconsin's age of consent for same-sex and different-sex couple is 18. State Statute provides an exemption for people who are married between the ages of 16 and 17.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Wisconsin repealed its laws against sodomy in 1983. In order to secure enough votes to pass the legislation that repealed the ban on sodomy, legislators agreed to add to the bill that “the state does not condone or encourage any form of sexual conduct outside the institution of marriage.”
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    Gender affirming care is not banned in Belarus but is extremely difficult to access with huge state overreach resulting in 80% of requests being rejected in 2023 and specialists requiring more “social transition” before even prescribing hormones.
  • January 1
    Right to change legal gender becomes illegal.
    A 2014 HRW report found that while there is no law in Malaysia that prohibits explicitly legal gender recognition most people find it virtually impossible.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Male homosexual acts between adults over the age of 21 were partially decriminalized by the Sexual Offences (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1983.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    Malaysia banned gender affirming surgeries (but not hormonal treatment) in 1983. Transgender people generally go to Thailand to receive care.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1983, transsexualism began to be professionally diagnosed in the Soviet Union, which allowed the prescription of hormone therapy.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1983, transsexualism began to be professionally diagnosed in the Soviet Union, which allowed the prescription of hormone therapy.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1983, transsexualism began to be professionally diagnosed in the Soviet Union, which allowed the prescription of hormone therapy.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1983, transsexualism began to be professionally diagnosed in the Soviet Union, which allowed the prescription of hormone therapy.
  • January 1
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1983, transsexualism began to be professionally diagnosed in the Soviet Union, which allowed the prescription of hormone therapy
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1983, transsexualism began to be professionally diagnosed in the Soviet Union, which allowed the prescription of hormone therapy
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Austria allowed for legal gender recognition for trans people but they must have undergone surgery first. This changed in 2009.
  • January 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    In 1983, in response to the HIV epidemic, the Directorate General of Health banned MSMs from donating blood indefinitely. This ban was reiterated in 2009.
  • (date unknown)
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Starting in 1983, the United States implemented a full ban on blood donations from gay men. The primary justification for the ban was the perceived high risk of HIV transmission, with health regulators identifying men who have sex with men (MSM) as a significant risk to the safety of the blood supply.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1983

  • Resource Center FaviconResource Center
    Texas, United States
    Resource Center is a trusted leader that empowers the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities and all people affected by HIV through improving health and…
  • Resource Center of Dallas FaviconResource Center of Dallas
    Texas, United States
    Resource Center is a trusted leader that empowers the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities and all people affected by HIV through improving health and…