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1996 in LGBT Rights

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In 1996, there were 120 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 69 changes made and 37 in the following year. A total of 634 legal changes were made in the 1990s.

  • November 26
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Article 32 of the Constitution of Belarus defines marriage to be exclusively between a man and a woman. Additionally, this was reaffirmed by a ballot referendum in 2022.
  • November 4
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    The 1996 Adoption Act removed gender specific language, stating: "A child may be placed for adoption with one adult or 2 adults jointly", therefore allowing LGB couples to adopt.
  • November 1
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Age of consent in North Macedonia is set to 14 years and is equal for everyone.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    The Criminal Code of the Republic of Macedonia adopted on July 23, 1996 decriminalized consensual homosexual intercourse between men.
  • October 16
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Since 1996, it has been possible for someone who has gone through sex reassignment surgery to change their sex in their documents
  • Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In 1996, a statute defining marriage as between one man and one woman came into effect. Part of the statue read: "A marriage between persons of the same sex which was entered into in another state or foreign jurisdiction, even if valid where entered into, shall be void in this Commonwealth."
  • August 29
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In 1996, the Governor of Alabama at the time, Fob James, signed an executive order that banned gay marriage, and all recognition of same-sex couples. In 1998, Fob James signed a bill into law that restricted marriage to different-sex couples. In 2006, Alabama voters approved a constitutional amendment that banned gay marriage.
  • August 24
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In 1996, the Mississippi governor issued an executive order to ban same sex marriage. The state then furthered this by passing a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in November of 2004. The amendment was ruled unconstitutional in November 2014 by a district court judge, and then the fifth circuit court of appeals affirmed this, staying enforcement until appeal.
  • July 1
    Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).
    On July 1, 1996, Greenland embraced Denmark's registered partnership law, granting legal recognition to same-sex couples. This move was a pivotal moment in advancing LGBTQ+ rights in Greenland, signaling a step towards greater equality and inclusion within the community.
  • June 28
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Article 51 of the Constitution of Ukraine, adopted in 1996, defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. However, things may change soon. The country’s current president Zelensky stated that Ukraine’s government may allow civil partnerships for same-sex couples in the future.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    The right to change one's gender on official documents in New South Wales was established under the Transgender (Anti-Discrimination and Other Acts Amendment) Act 1996, which came into effect on 28 June 1996. The law allowed for a person to apply to change their legal gender only if they have undergone sexual reassignment surgery, which was defined by the act as a "surgical procedure involving the alteration of a person’s reproductive organs for the purpose of assisting a person to be considered to be a member of the opposite sex, or to correct or eliminate ambiguities relating to the sex of the person." The law also stated that the applicant must be over the age of 18 and unmarried. If the person was under 18, the act required that a parent or guardian apply on their behalf.
  • June 27
    Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).
    Iceland has recognized same sex registered partnerships, giving them all rights and duties of marriage. A ban on same sex adoption was lifted in 2006.
  • June 20
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Same-sex marriage is illegal under SB 1487, called No Same-Sex Marriages.
  • June 19
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    In 1996, transgender people were added to New South Wales' anti-discrimination act as a protected characteristic against employment discrimination.
  • June 1
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    Federal human rights law applies directly to only federal government employment and employers which fall under federal jurisdiction. Gender identity is only implicitly protected under interpretation of the law by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Attempts have been made to have gender identity and gender expression added as protected classes to both the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code, though none of these attempts so far has been successful. Provincial human rights acts are separate, but Supreme Court precedent exists for requiring provinces to protect the same classes as the Canadian Human Rights Act. At this time all provinces protect against employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Of the provinces only Ontario has explicit protection on the basis of both gender identity and gender expression in its human rights code, though several provide implicit protections on the basis of gender identity or "transsexualism" under the category of "sex" or "gender".
  • May 15
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Tennessee Act of 1996 define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
  • May 8
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Several provisions within the constitution, the family law and the civil code points to the definition of a marriage as being a union between a man and a woman.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Prohibition of "sexual orientation" discrimination was first included at Section 8 of the Interim Constitution that came into force in April 1994, and was carried through Section 9(3) of the Constitution of South Africa (1996). On the 10th of May 2024, the President gave royal assent to the Hate Crimes and Hate Speech act which further strengthened LGBT protections in South Africa. The act provides protections under grounds of albinism, ethnic or social origin, gender, HIV and AIDS status, nationality, migrant or refugee status or asylum seekers, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or sex characteristics.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    South Africa is currently the only African country to allow transgender service in their military.
  • May 6
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In 1996, Alaska’s legislature passed a statute restricting marriage to different-sex couples, preventing it from same-sex couples. In 1998, Anchorage would provide the freedom to marry in spite of this.
  • April 24
    Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.
    In Andorra, same-sex couples or individuals may not adopt. Article 2 of the 1996 law governing adoption specifically requires a heterosexual couple to adopt.
  • January 26
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Age of consent laws are equitable regardless of gender or orientation.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Campbell v. Sundquist struck down the state's Homosexual Practices Act, ruling the state's same-sex-only sodomy law violated their right to privacy under Tennessee's Constitution, which is a right that was recognized in the 1992 case of Davis v. Davis.
  • January 1
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    Gender affirming care is legal in Latvia. However, despite misinformation stating otherwise, it is rarely given to minors.
  • (date unknown)
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Komi-Permyak adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Yaroslavl adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Tver adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Novogrod adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Vologda adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Kostroma adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Ivanovo adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Nizhegrod adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Vladimir adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Moscow City adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Moskva adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Kaluga adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Tulskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Ryazan adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Mordovia adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Penzens adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Tambov adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Lipetskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Kabardino adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Stavropolskiy adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Arkhangelsk adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Murmansk adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Karelia adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    St Petersburg adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Leningrad adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Pskov adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Smolensk adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Bryansk adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Oryol adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Kursk adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Belgorod adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Voronezh adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Rostov adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Adygeya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Krasnodar adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Karachay-Cherkess adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    North Ossetia Alana adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Ingushetia adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Dagestan adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Kalmykiya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Astrakhan adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Volgograd adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Saratov adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Ulyanovskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Chuvashskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Mariy El adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Samarskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Tartarstan adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Udmurt adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Kirov adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Nenets adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Komi adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Perm adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Sverdlovskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Bashkortostan adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Orenburg adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Chelyabinskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Kurgan adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Yamalo Nenets adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Khanty-Mansiyskiy adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Tyumenskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Omsk adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Tomskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Novosibirskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Altay Kray adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Kemerovskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Khakasiya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Altay adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Krasnoyarskiy adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Irkutsk adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Buryatiya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Zabalajkalskij adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Tvya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Yereyev adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Sakha adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Amurskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Primorsky adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Sakhalin adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Khaboarovskiy adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Magadanskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Kamchatskaya adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Chuotka adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Kaliningrad adopted an equal age of consent a few years after homosexuality was decriminalised when a new federal criminal code was enacted.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    There are no legal restrictions on gender-affirming care in Poland.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    Since Norway adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood in 1996, trans people have the right to access gender-affirming care through the country's public healthcare system if they are over the age of 16 and have a physician's letter proving that they're transgender. Teens are given the right to puberty blockers after puberty has started. Treatment is not offered to non-binary patients. Surgeries are not recommended under 18, but some can get top surgery.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1996, Ghana legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad. The government is trying to pass a law that seeks to ban gender affirming surgeries and access to such is difficult for trans Ghanians.
  • January 1
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    Before July 2020, minors and adults alike were allowed to access gender affirming care, including hormones and puberty blockers and surgery for adults.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (death penalty as punishment).
    Homosexuality became legal in every Russian federal subject in 1993, except for Chechnya. While Chechnya does not have an official law dictating what to do against LGBTQ+ people, openly LGBTQ+ people will either get arrested, or possibly killed. Chechen police will participate in "honor killings" towards anyone who demonstrates homosexual activity or activism for queer rights.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes unregistered cohabitation.
    Unregistered cohabitation confers limited rights to unmarried couples.
  • January 1
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Employment Discrimination illegal.
  • (date unknown)
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Outlined in BC Human Rights Code
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Section 9(3) of the South African Constitution prohibits unfair discrimination on the grounds of sex, gender and sexual orientation. In addition, the Constitutional Court has stated that the section must also be interpreted as prohibiting discrimination against transgender people.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Section 9(3) of the South African Constitution prohibits unfair discrimination on the grounds of sex, gender and sexual orientation. In addition, the Constitutional Court has stated that the section must also be interpreted as prohibiting discrimination against transgender people.
  • January 1
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    There is protection against discrimination at court in the criminal code.
  • (date unknown)
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (1-year deferral).
    The Red Cross controls blood donations in Australia and it has a ban on MSMs active in the last year
  • Equal age of consent becomes varies by region.
    The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1996

  • Equality Pennsylvania FaviconEquality Pennsylvania
    Pennsylvania, United States
    Equality Pennsylvania is the commonwealth
  • ILGA-Europe FaviconILGA-Europe
    Global
    ILGA-Europe is the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Intersex Association ILGA-Europe works for equality and human rights for lesbian, gay…
  • FLay FaviconFLay
    Liechtenstein
    Originally founded in 1996 as a self-help group, the aim of FLay was and is to provide a point of contact for all gays and lesbians in the country, to offer counselling for…