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1993 in LGBT Rights

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In 1993, there were 116 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 37 changes made and 74 in the following year. A total of 627 legal changes were made in the 1990s.

  • December 31
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Article 234 of the Civil Code establishes that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. The Civil Code establishes that "homosexuality" is grounds for divorce, separation and annulment of marriage. The Constitution (1993) establishes that cohabitation is the stable union of a man and a woman (Article 5). On four occasions since 2016, the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC) was ordered through judicial means to recognize and register same-sex marriages celebrated abroad, however, the RENIEC appealed all the rulings. In 2020, the Constitutional Court declared inadmissible the appeal for constitutional grievance filed by Óscar Ugarteche, so that the RENIEC would comply with registering his marriage certificate with his same-sex partner, which was celebrated in Mexico. In 2022, the Constitutional Court declared the constitutional grievance inadmissible on the grounds that the registration of same-sex marriages “collides with the notion of marriage contained not only in the Civil Code, but also in the Political Constitution of Peru.” Susel Paredes and Gracia Aljovín filed the lawsuit. In July 2023, the Fourth Constitutional Court of the Superior Court of Justice of Lima ordered RENIEC to register the marriage of a same-sex couple celebrated in Argentina. The Court decided not to apply Article 234 of the Civil Code in the specific case because it is contrary to the principle of equality and non-discrimination contained in the constitution and international agreements. The decision only applies to the plaintiff couple and does not affect the content or validity of Article 234.
  • December 21
    Serving openly in military becomes don't ask, don't tell.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell was the historic compromise signed by President Bill Clinton authorizing people who are LGBT to serve in the military provided they didn't disclose sexuality. The law also removed the ability for others in the military from asking for a service member's orientation.
  • August 1
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    In 1993, the Northern Territory's Anti-Discrimination Act of 1992 came into effect, prohibiting discrimination in employment on the basis of "sexuality", which included "transsexuality", providing protections to trans people as well. Later amendments would replace sexuality with sexual orientation and add gender identitty in 2022.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).
    Norway recognized same sex registered partnerships in 1993, giving gay couples all rights of marriage with the exception of adoption rights.
  • June 24
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent in Ireland is 17 for heterosexual and homosexual sex. Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 states: "Subject to sections 3 and 5 of this Act, any rule of law by virtue of which buggery between persons is an offence is hereby abolished."
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality was decriminalized in Ireland with the the passing of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993.
  • June 16
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Nevada repealed its laws against sodomy in 1993. The bill that repealed the sodomy ban was Senate Bill 466.
  • June
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In 1993, Lithuania's Parliament abolished Article 122.1 of it's Penal Code. Article 122.1 had criminalized male-to-male sex between adults with a punishment of up to three years imprisonment.
  • May 27
    Equal age of consent becomes unequal.
    Until a few years after decriminalisation, an unequal age of consent remained.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Nenets, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Udmurt, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Bashkortostan, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Chelyabinsk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Ulyanovsk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Samara, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Tatarstan, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Mariy-El, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Yamalo-Nenets, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Tuva, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Altay Kray, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Khakassia, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Kirov, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Novosibirsk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Omsk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Kurgan, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Perm, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Chuvash, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Komi, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Sverdlovsk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Tyumen, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Khanty-Mansiysk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Altay, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Kemerovo, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Tomsk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Krasnoyarsk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Orenburg, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Irkutsk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Buryatiya, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Zabaykalsky, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Amur, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Sakha, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Chukotka, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Kamchatskaya, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Sakhalin, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Magadan, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Khabarovskiy Kray, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Primorskiy Kray, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Arkhangelskaya, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Vladimir, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Vologda, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Kostroma, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Yaroslavl, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Ivanovo, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Nizhegorod, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Mordovia, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Penza, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Saratov, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Tambov, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Ryazan, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Moscow City, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Lipetsk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Tula, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Oryol, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Kaluga, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Volgograd, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Astrakhan, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Kalmykia, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Stavropol, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Ingushetia, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In North Ossetia-Alania, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Kabardino-Balkar, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Karachay-Cherkess, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Adygeya, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Krasnodar, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Rostov, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Voronezh, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Belgorod, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Kursk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Bryansk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Smolensk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Tver, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Novgorod, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Kaliningrad, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Pskov, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Leningrad, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Karelia, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Murmansk, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Moscow, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Dagestan, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In Komi-Permyak, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In St. Petersburg, homosexuality is legal. It has been legal since 1993 when it was legalized nationally.
  • Homosexual activity becomes varies by region.
    Homosexuality between men became legal in Russia on May 27, 1993. Homosexuality was never explicitly criminalized between women. In Chechnya, homosexuality is de facto illegal. On November 30, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation recognized the LGBT movement as extremist and banned it. However, the court ruled this does not concern the private life of LGBT people, but more concerns LGBT activists.
  • May 25
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    In 1993, Moldova implemented a ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men. This law applies in Chișinău.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    In 1993, Moldova implemented a ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men. This law applies in Gagauzia.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    The Moldovan legislation bans MSMs from donating blood due to high risk of transmitting STDs since 1993.
  • April 7
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    On April 7th, 1993, the Council of Washington D.C. repealed provisions of its sodomy law to legalise consensual homosexuality.
  • April 2
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes state-enforced.
    In 1993, Minnesota passed a law prohibiting education institutions from teaching about homosexuality or bisexuality or promoting them as acceptable lifestyles. This was repealed in 2023.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    A 1993 amendment to Minnesota's human rights act prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation. During this time, no federal protections existed.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is illegal. Religious exemptions apply. Additionally, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity. HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted housing in every state (March 2012)."
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Language specifically protects on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Exemptions exist for religiously affiliated/operated organizations.
  • March 3
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Until 2022, Switzerland only provided for legal gender recognition on the condition of surgery and sterilisation.
  • January 1
    Serving openly in military becomes n/a.
    From 1993 to 2007, there were no known cases of people getting discharged because they were LGBTQ, it was at a stand still. Until 2007 when a act was passed to make it fully legal for serving openly.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    In 1993, the Netherlands passed the General Equal Treatment Act which prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
  • (date unknown)
    Equal age of consent becomes unequal.
    Following decriminalisation, the age of consent for gay men was set at 18, compared to 16 for heterosexuals and lesbians.
  • January 1
    Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Legal for all people
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    In 1993, the Netherlands passed the General Equal Treatment Act which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Since 2016, serving openly in the military has been legalized.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    legal since 1993
  • (date unknown)
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Any person may adopt per state statute, and case law has permitted second-parent adoptions.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Any person of "full age" may adopt, and second-parent adoption is also legal.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In 1993, Guinea Bissau repealed parts of the Portuguese colonial penal code that outlawed "vices against nature". Later, in 2008, Guinea Bissau signed the 2008 United Nations Statement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity which called on all countries to "promote and protect human rights of all persons, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity".
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Equal Rights Act of 1993 banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Hate crimes in the Netherlands have been rising in recent years.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (1-year deferral).
    Blood Donation was banned in Brazil until 2020.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1993

  • Gay & Lesbian Public Action & Support Groups FaviconGay & Lesbian Public Action & Support Groups
    United States
    Organized in May 1993 to focus on grass roots organizing for Action in support of or to defeat legislation, To endorse candidates who support basic civil and human…
  • OASIS FaviconOASIS
    Guatemala
    OASIS promotes and defends lgbt rights in Guatemala since 1993
  • LGL FaviconLGL
    Lithuania
    National LGBTQ+ rights organization.
  • Pink Cross FaviconPink Cross
    Switzerland
    Pink Cross is the national umbrella organization of gay and bisexual men in Switzerland and represents their interests in all four language regions. Their goal is the recognition…
  • Intersex Society of North America FaviconIntersex Society of North America
    Global
    The Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) is devoted to systemic change to end shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital surgeries for people born with an anatomy that someone…
  • Harriet Hancock LGBT Center FaviconHarriet Hancock LGBT Center
    South Carolina, United States
    It can be isolating to be LGBTQ+ in South Carolina, but here at the Harriet Hancock Center we provide you with a safe and welcoming space for South Carolina’s LGBTQ+ community…
  • Equality New Mexico FaviconEquality New Mexico
    New Mexico, United States
    Equality New Mexico wants to be a trusted partner, and uplift the voices and leadership of our community in creating a reality of equity, full access, and sustainable wellness…