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1998 in LGBT Rights

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In 1998, there were 21 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 21 changes made and 25 in the following year. A total of 319 legal changes were made in the 1990s.

  • December 24
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    One of the many countries that doesn't allow lgbt people to donate. Changes pending.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
  • December 23
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexual activity is legal in Chile.
  • November 24
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
  • November 23
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Powell v. The State, Supreme Court of Georgia (1998).
  • October 9
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    While it remained illegal until the court gave its ruling on 9 October 1998, the 1998 ruling was ordered to be retroactively applied to 27 April 1994.
  • September 26
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
  • September 1
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
  • August 20
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    In 1998, Malta's age of consent became equalized at 18.
  • July 1
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Mandatory minimum of 20 years imprisonment for any attempt to commit acts "against the order of nature."
  • June 5
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Under article 11.2
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    In the 1998 constitution, article 23.3 extended discrimination protection to sexual orientations. In its 2008 constitution included gender identity in its protection in article 11.2
  • May 21
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality legalised following the European Court of Human Rights case of Modinos v. Cyprus.
  • May 20
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    General law on HIV/AIDS protects LGBT people from discrimination in some contexts.
  • May 8
    Homosexuals serving openly in military becomes legal.
    President of Bahamas made an announcement in 1998, explicitly supporting LGBTQ+ individuals to serve in the military
  • April 22
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Imprisonment of up to 5 years for "gross indecency"
  • April 2
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    Sexual orientation was not included in the Alberta Human Rights act until 2009 but was "read in" by the Alberta Human Rights Commission since 1998.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    Sexual orientation had been read-in as a protected ground in spite of no explicit mention in the law during this span. Reading-in of transgender under "gender" is a more recent development.
  • January 2
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1998

  • Equality California FaviconEquality California
    California, United States
    Equality California is the largest statewide LGBT advocacy organization in California working to secure full and lasting equality for and acceptance of LGBT people.
  • Out & Equal FaviconOut & Equal
    United States
    Out & Equal Workplace Advocates educates and empowers organizations, human resources professionals, employee resource groups, and individual employees through programs and…
  • The Trevor Project FaviconThe Trevor Project
    United States
    ~~ Mission ~~ The mission of The Trevor Project is to end suicide among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people. The organization works to fulfill…
  • JFLAG FaviconJFLAG
    Jamaica
    J-FLAG is the first human rights organisation in the history of Jamaica to serve the needs of LGBT peoples and over time it became the first port of call for the media, resulting…