In 1986, there were 11 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 6 changes made and 14 in the following year. A total of 182 legal changes were made in the 1980s.
- December 31
- December 6
- November 11Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).Anal intercourse between two consenting male adults is punishable by twenty-five (25) years imprisonment. Anal intercourse committed by a minor is punishable by five (5) years imprisonment. Serious indecency between two adults of the same sex is punishable by five years imprisonment. ("An act of “serious indecency” is an act, other than sexual intercourse (whether natural or unnatural), by a person involving the use of the genital organ for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire.")
- August 8Equal age of consent becomes equal.Equal age of consent since homosexual (male-and-male) activity was legalised with the commencement of the Homosexual Law Reform Act on 8 August 1986.
- Homosexual activity becomes legal.Legalised with the commencement of the Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986, introduced as a bill by former member of Parliament Fran Wilde.
- January 1Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
- Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.Section 18(2) of the the Births and Deaths Registration Act 11 of 1986 allows a person to change their forename. Section 18(3) provides for the change of a surname, but the Registrar-General must be satisfied that it is for a “lawful purpose”.
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.
- (date unknown)Serving openly in military becomes legal.Greenland allows LGBTQ+ individuals to serve openly as per Danish law.
- Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.Israelis can change their legal gender only after a sex-reassignment surgery.
- January 1Serving openly in military becomes lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.Until 1986, "sexual deviance" was a reason for exclusion for military service. At that time, some men claimed to be homosexual to avoid the draft. Lesbians have never been banned from the Italian military since women were first allowed to serve in 2000. Since 2010, discrimination against gays and lesbians in military service is banned, but the situation for transgender people is unclear. The organization Polis Aperta estimates that 5 to 10% of Italians in uniformed service (military or police) are LGB. Despite the ban on discrimination, some service personnel unfortunately face harassment or violence because of their sexual orientation. Unfortunately transgenders have not yet gained the right to military service in Italy