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1987 in LGBT Rights

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In 1987, there were 14 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 12 changes made and 26 in the following year. A total of 169 legal changes were made in the 1980s.

  • December 8
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    In the United Arab Emirates, access to many websites discussing LGBTQ+ topics is blocked by ISPs. The 2012 Law on Combating Cybercrimes criminalises the "condoning, provoking, or promoting of sin through the computer network or any information technology means or a website". In 2016, an amendment to the Federal Penal Code punishes production, possession or display of any material "against public morals" with imprisonment. This is frequently used against the LGBTIQ+ community. Additionally, trans women are effectively criminalised in terms of gender expression due to the Federal Penal Code of 1987 containing Article 359 which punishes “any male disguised in a female apparel” entering a women-only space with up to one year in prison.
  • July 1
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes varies by region.
    Since 1987, there have been laws in the United States that have restricted the discussion of LGBTIQ+ issues in several states. While some laws enacted in the 80s and 90s were repealed, some were not and more laws would pass in the 2020s. Alabama Public Television banned an episode of “Arthur” (entitled “Mr Ratburn and the Special Someone”) because Mike McKenzie (director of programming for the station) deemed the episode “inappropriate” for young viewers. It is unknown about other American states’ censorship laws regarding LGBTQIA+ issues.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes state-enforced.
    In 1987, House Bill 1476 came into effect in Oklahoma requiring HIV/AIDS education to state that homosexual activity is a primary responsible cause for contact with the HIV/AIDS virus. The law was never repealed. This would be the first education law censoring LGBTIQ+ topics in the United States.
  • January 31
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes other punishment.
    The 1986 Press Law contains Article 6 which prohibits content that undermines Islam, including the spread of "fornication and forbidden practices and publishing photographs, pictures, and materials which "violate public chastity". Punishments include flogging and imprisonment. Article 237 of Iran's Penal Code provides that same-sex affection between men or between women other than ‘liwat’ or ‘tafkhiz’ (Anal Sex between men and frotting), such as “kissing or touching as a result of lust”, is punishable with 31-74 lashes. In Iran, there are no laws restricting to discussing LGBT topics in the Internet. However those who are accused of Political dissidence or plotting to " overthrow the Islamic Republic " could be subjected to the death penalty as well, of which charges are also included with Homosexuality . An estimated number from the Amnesty International reports is that more than 5,000 Gay men and Lesbians have been executed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
  • (date unknown)
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    The anti-discrimination provision in the penal code was changed in 1987 after recommendation of the above mentioned commission to include sexual orientation, so that it now reads: " Persons who publicly or deliberately disseminate statements or other reports by which any group of people are threatened, ridiculed or degraded on account of their racial origin, skin colour, national or ethnic origin, beliefs or sexual orientation, are liable to fines, short-term detention or imprisonment for up to two years."
  • January 1
    Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    The process of undergoing sex reassignment surgery is extensive and arduous, and is restricted to those over the age of 18. There further exists a requirement for adult trans individuals to provide formal certification of parental approval to be issued a permit for surgery. Access to HRT likely requires similar steps.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    In 2021, Mauritanian officials announced at its third Universal Periodic Review, that moratorium on the death penalty has been in place since 1987. This has been verified by various UN mechanisms such as the Committee Against Torture. However, arrests in the country are still common.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes ambiguous.
    In 1987, Liechtenstein legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad. It is unclear if trans people can seek gender affirming care in Liechtenstein or have to go abroad but they are not explicitly prohibited.
  • Serving openly in military becomes illegal.
    not allowed at all
  • Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes not legally recognized.
    not recognized a tall
  • (date unknown)
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation was made unlawful through inclusion in the provisions of the Swedish Penal Code.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Became legal due to a fatwa from Khomeini in 1987. Trans individuals have the gender they identify with legally recognized and sex reassignment surgeries are publicly funded.
  • January 1
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Article 72 of the 1987 constitution states that marriage is between a man and a woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage in Nicaragua.
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    Article 431 in Grenada’s Criminal Code of 1958, which was amended in 1987 states “If any two persons are guilty of unnatural connexion, or if any person is guilty of unnatural connexion with any animal, every such person shall be liable to imprisonment for ten years.” Unnatural connexion is a term that has been used in legal and moral contexts to refer to sexual activities that were considered deviant or immoral by societal standards of the time. This often included homosexual acts, both between men and between women. However in this Criminal Code, while the language is gender-neutral, only sexual acts between men are criminalized.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1987