In 1984, there were 8 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 36 changes made and 12 in the following year. A total of 169 legal changes were made in the 1980s.
- November 19Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.In 1984, New Jersey provided for legal gender recognition but required proof of surgery.
- October 17Same-sex marriage becomes banned.The Republic of Congo Family Code (Law No. 073-84): Section II. Marriage. Article 127. - Definition. "Marriage is the public act by which a man and a woman establish between them a legal and lasting union, the conditions of formation, effects and dissolution of which are determined by this Code."
- May 11Homosexual activity becomes legal.Homosexual activity between men was decriminalized in New South Wales on 11 May 1984 when the Crimes (Amendment) Act 1984 removed all parts of the Crimes Act 1900 that criminalized consensual sex between men. The Crimes (Amendment) Act 1984 was given assent on 31 May 1984 by NSW Governor Sir James Rowland, but the sections legalising homosexual activity came into effect 20 days earlier.
- January 6Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires medical diagnosis.Section 8(3) of the Births, Marriages and Deaths Registration Act (1983) states: "If after registration of birth, the change in any other particular of a person not provided for in this section has occurred, he, if he is twenty-one years of age, or either of his parents or his guardian of he is under twenty-one years of age, may apply to the Registrar directly or through respective district registrar or assistant district registrar for alteration of such a particular in the births register. Thereupon the Registrar shall, if satisfied that the applicant is competent to make the application and on production of documentary proof (in case of change of sex of the child medical certificate from the medical practitioner shall be produced) and on payment of the prescribed fee, cause the said particular of the person to be altered in the original birth information form filed in his office, but without erasing the original entry, and shall instruct the registration officer of the district or sub-district in which the birth of the person was registered to make a similar inscription in his births register and duplicate birth information form filed in his office." The Act must be interpreted in accordance with the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act. Section 8(3) of the Act should be interpreted to provide for the change of sex or gender in the Register. The Act does not specify that ‘change of sex’ must happen in any specific way, nor does it require documentary proof only from a healthcare provider. Unlike most countries, Eswatini's law effectively makes it easier for legal gender change for minors than for adults. However, the law is largely viewed to not be trans-specific, and it is unclear if trans adults are able to legally change their gender under this law.
- January 2Same-sex marriage becomes banned.There is no legal recognition of same-sex unions in Indonesia. Article 1 of the Law No. 1 of the Year 1974 on Marriage states unequivocally that marriage is "a physical and spiritual bond between a man and a woman as husband and wife, having the purpose of establishing a happy and lasting family founded on the Belief in God Almighty".[1] Moreover, Article 2 states that a marriage is only lawful if it is in accordance with the laws of the religions of the respective parties. Meanwhile, Indonesians who have entered into same-sex marriage abroad are not allowed to register their marriage in Indonesia due to Article 1 of the Marriage Act.[2] Additionally, Article 34(1) of the Law No. 23 of the Year 2006 on Civil Administration obliges all marriages to be reported to the local authorities within 60 days after marriage, and the explanation of Article 34(1) states that "marriage" can only be performed by a man and a woman
- January 1Homosexual activity becomes legal.Consensual same-sex activity has been legal in the Northern Territory since 1984.
- (date unknown)Equal age of consent becomes equal.
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.
LGBT Organizations Founded in 1984
Queensland Council for LGBTI Health
Formerly Queensland AIDS Council, rebranding in progress. Foremost LGBGI advocate group in Queensland. Runs a major clinic and gender service in Tenerife, a suburb of Brisbane.Antinoo Arcigay Napoli