In 1989, there were 19 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 26 changes made and 30 in the following year. A total of 199 legal changes were made in the 1980s.
- December 20
- October 15Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.After the constitutional amendments in Serbia were adopted in March 1989 and Serbia regained sovereignty in its provinces (Vojvodina and Kosovo & Metohija), the criminal code of (Central) Serbia became valid in the entire territory of Serbia. Consensual sex between two men was punishable by up to one year in prison.
- October 5LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.The 1989 Constitution of Mato Grosso provided protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in all areas except for housing. However, gender identity remained unprotected.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
- LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
- October 1Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).Denmark becomes the first country in the world to legally recognize same-sex unions as the Danish Registered Partnership Act goes into effect. "Two persons of the same sex may have their partnership registered."
- July 25Censorship of LGBT issues becomes state-enforced.Censorship of LGBTIQ+ topics in Singapore largely began in the 1990s after the Censorship Review Committee recommended that materials promoting homosexuality be disallowed in their 1992 report. Gay clubs which had flourished in the 1980s and decades prior were also subject to police raids since 1989. LGBT topics are also censored in media and education by the Ministry of Communications and Information, and the Infocomm Media Development Authority. Restrictions on topics date back to 1997 on the Internet and 2004 on radio. Even after decriminalisation, the government sought to keep its censorship laws.
- June 8Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.Since 1989, legal gender recognition was recognised under an interpretation of Article 89 of Law 1270 of 1970 which provides for a change to one's civil status through a judicial or notarial procedure. In practice, this often required surgery. In 2012, the Constitutional Court rules on the right to sexual identity, its relationship with the right to health in the case of transgender people and the change of the marital status of persons on the grounds on gender reassignment. The Chamber rules that it is the duty of the Health Promotion Agency to which the plaintiff is registered, to apply the procedures needed for the gender reassignment surgery, since these are covered by the Compulsory Health Plan (POS). Additionally, in the action for protection it is requested the application of all the procedures required for the normalization of the process of feminization and changing registration of gender from MALE to FEMALE, without leaving in this document any record of the biological condition.
- February 3
- January 17Same-sex marriage becomes banned.Article 101 of Senegal's Family Code states: "An engagement is a solemn agreement by which a man and a woman promise marriage to each other." This explicitly defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
- January 1(deleted region)
Intersex infant surgery becomes parental approval required.It is illegal to perform medical treatment onto any person without consent. However, consent is given by their parents on their behalf under the Children’s Act. - Intersex infant surgery becomes parental approval required.In the UK it is illegal to perform medical treatment onto any person without consent. For infants, consent is given by their parents on their behalf under the Children’s Act
- (date unknown)Homosexual activity becomes legal.Same-sex sexual activity in the Falkland Islands has been legal since 1989.
- January 1Homosexual activity becomes legal.Sections 129 and 130 of the Criminal Code were repealed in 1989 when a new penal code was adopted.
LGBT Organizations Founded in 1989
National LGBT Bar Association
The National LGBT Bar Association is a national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists and affiliated lesbian, gay, bisexual and…Stonewall
Stonewall works to achieve equality and justice for lesbians, gay men and bisexual people by focusing on policy development, cultural and attitudinal change, lobbying for legal…Rainbow Youth
Rainbow Youth is a charitable organisation providing support, information, advocacy and education for queer and trans* young people (aged between 13 and 28), their friends and…Equality Texas
Equality Texas advocates and lobbies for the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Equality Texas Foundation educates and…akt
akt supports lgbtq+ young people aged 16-25 in the uk who are facing or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment.LOS - für Lesben, Bisexuelle und queere Frauen in der Schweiz
The Lesbian Organization Switzerland LOS is the national umbrella organization for lesbians, bisexuals and queer women in Switzerland. They fight for the legal and social…LGBT Youth Scotland
LGBT Youth Scotland supports LGBTQ+ young people in all aspects of their lives by providing exceptional youth work. They empower them to use their voices to foster change in…Affirmations
Affirmations provides a welcoming space where people of all sexual orientations, gender identities & expressions, and cultures can find support and unconditional acceptance, and…ACLU Idaho
The ACLU of Idaho is located in Boise, Idaho. While they are an independent entity, they also serve as a local affiliate to the national American Civil Liberties Union. They…