1993 in LGBT Rights

In 1993, there were 26 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 56 changes made and 46 in the following year. A total of 330 legal changes were made in the 1990s.

  • 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.
  • October 31
    LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    Even though the constitution states that people should not be discriminated due to "any reasons", there are no specific provision for sexual orientations or gender identities.
  • May 1
    Serving openly in military becomes n/a.
    The Irish Army changed their policy in early 1993
  • April 23
    Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    The civil code defines marriage as a union of people with opposite sex
  • April 2
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Language protects based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Religious exemptions apply.
  • 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.
  • (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.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    No protection against discrimination.
  • January 1
    Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Legal for all people
  • (date unknown)
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    In 1993, the Unfair Dismissals Act (1977) was amended by the Unfair Dismissals (Amendment) Act (1993) to provide that dismissal on the grounds of an employee’s "sexual orientation" would automatically be deemed unfair. In 1998, Section 6(2)(d) of the Employment Equality Act (1999) extended this protection on the basis of "sexual orientation" to other aspects of employment. The Employment Equality Act (1998) was amended by the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (2015), which established that state-funded religious, medical or educational institutions may not discriminate on the basis of "sexual orientation", except in limited cases where “the action is objectively justified by the institution’s aim of preventing the undermining of the religious ethos of the institution”.
  • January 1
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Full discrimination protection.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • 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.
  • January
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality within Lithuania was decriminalised in 1993.
  • January 1
    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.
  • (date unknown)
    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.
  • Homosexual activity becomes varies by region.
    Homosexuality became legal in Russia in 1993. Now at the moment, homosexuality is legal except 1 region-Chechnya. On November 30, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation recognized the LGBT movement as extremist and banned it. However, according to the court's decision, this does not concern the private life of LGBT people, but more concerns LGBT activists, it is also prohibited to use LGBT symbols and demonstrate them. It is not forbidden to make a coming out. This is accurate information, as the data has been studied in ILGA and this statement by LGBT human rights organizations and lawyers.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    No protection against discrimination.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1993

  • Gay & Lesbian Public Action & Support Groups FaviconGay & Lesbian Public Action & Support Groups
    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
    OASIS promotes and defends lgbt rights in Guatemala since 1993
  • LGL FaviconLGL
    National LGBTQ+ rights organization.
  • Pink Cross FaviconPink Cross
    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 Amerifa FaviconIntersex Society of North Amerifa
    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…