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1997 in LGBT Rights

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In 1997, there were 16 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 38 changes made and 52 in the following year. A total of 319 legal changes were made in the 1990s.

  • November 27
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent in Ecuador is 14, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. (Penal Code, Art 512)
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Article 516 of the code which criminalizes homosexual activity (from 4-8 years imprisonment) was repealed in 1997.
  • November 26
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    The penal code of 1997 is amended from the past penal code in which homosexuality if also legal.
  • November 15
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, surgery not required.
    Missing non binary options on documents. Under the 2018 revision of the sex change law in Russia.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Transgender people are able to change their gender on identification documents after being issued a document from a health institution confirming the surgical requirements.
  • October 1
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
  • July 16
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The law sets the age of consent as 16 for all sexual activities ("sodomy and "lesbianism" included explicitly.)
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
  • June 17
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
  • June 5
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Even though homosexuality was not directly illegal, a law regarding Vagrants and Thugs could have indirectly punished LGBT community. This act was repealed in 1997.
  • May 1
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Tasmania decriminalizes homosexual activity, making homosexual activity legal in all Australian states.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Follows from Australian law due to being a territory of Australia without any population
  • April 17
    Same-sex marriage becomes not legal.
    The family code was amended to prohibit same sex marriage.
  • April 1
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    According to ILGA.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    The only part of legal system that protects individuals from LGBT-based discrimination is in the law of children and youth, protecting them from sexual orientation based discrimination (gender identity is not mentioned explicitly)
  • February 4
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Discrimination (including by private parties) prohibited by sec. 9 of the Constitution of 1996. Discrimination in rental housing specifically prohibited by sec. 4 of the Rental Housing Act 50 of 1999. Discrimination in all areas (including housing) prohibited by sec. 6 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000. Gender identity is not specifically mentioned but is included by case law.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1997

  • Equality Federation FaviconEquality Federation
    United States
    Equality Federation is the movement builder and strategic partner to US state-based organizations advancing equality for LGBT people in the communities we call home.
  • Ishtar MSM FaviconIshtar MSM
    Kenya
    Ishtar MSM is a Community Based Organization in Kenya who aimed at attaining full sexual health rights and social well being for Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Kenya.
  • Equality Florida FaviconEquality Florida
    Florida, United States
    Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s LGBT community. Through lobbying, grassroots organizing…
  • GALA FaviconGALA
    South Africa
    From their website: GALA is the custodian of over 200 organisational and personal archival collections dating back to the 1940s, with archival responsibilities that include the…