▸ 

1998 in LGBT Rights

View All Years

In 1998, there were 83 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 49 changes made and 53 in the following year. A total of 818 legal changes were made in the 1990s.

  • December 12
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    San Luis Potosi used to list homosexuality as a "corrupt habit" in its law against corruption of minors.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Sinaloa used to include homosexuality as a "corrupt habit" in its law against corruption of minors.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Sonora used to list homosexuality as a "corrupt habit" in its corruption of minors law.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Jalisco used to list homosexuality as a "corrupt habit" in its corruption of minors law.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Durango used to list homosexuality as a "corrupt habit" in its corruption of minors law.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Until the adoption of a new Penal Code in 2006, Chihuahua listed homosexuality as a "corrupt habit" in its law against corruption of minors.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Until 2000, the state of Mexico listed homosexuality as a "corrupt habit" in its law against corruption of minors.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Until 2001, Chiapas included homosexuality as a "corrupt habit" in its law against corruption of minors in 1990.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Campeche used to list homosexuality as a "corrupt habit" in its law against corruption of minors.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Baja California Sur used to list homosexuality as a "corrupt habit" in its law against corruption of minors.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Baja California used to list homosexuality as a "corrupt habit" in its law against corruption of minors.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Until 2004, Puebla's "corruption of minors" law listed "homosexual practices" as a "corrupt habit".
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Until 2008, Coahuila's Penal Code listed "homosexual practices" as a "corrupt habit" in its "corruption of minors" law.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Until 2015, Aguascalientes had listed homosexual practices as a "corrupt habit" in its corruption of minors law.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Mexico City, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Tlaxcala, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Tlaxcala.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Tabasco, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Tabasco.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Hidalgo, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Hidalgo.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Colima, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Colima.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Guerrero, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Guerrero.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Nayarit, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Nayarit.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Queretaro, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Queretaro.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Tamaulipas has Article 193 of its Penal Code which criminalises "corruption of minors" with imprisonment. One of the "corrupt habits" is homosexuality. It originated in 1986 and remains unrepealed even after Mexico repealed its federal law in 1998.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Zacatecas, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Zacatecas.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Morelos, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Morelos.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Nuevo Leon, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Nuevo Leon. However, since 2024, the municipality of San Nicolas de los Garza has banned drag shows.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Quintana Roo, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Quintana Roo.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Veracruz, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Veracruz.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Oaxaca, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Oaxaca.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Michoacan, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Michoacan.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Yucatan, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Yucatan.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Guanajuato, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Guanajuato.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes varies by region.
    In Mexico, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of all mentions of homosexuality in Article 201, which prohibited "corrupting minors" with habits that included homosexuality on the federal level. However, some states still contain homosexuality as a "corrupt habit" to showcase to minors.
  • November 23
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Powell v. The State, Supreme Court of Georgia (1998).
  • November 13
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    Since the repeal of Section 220 in 1998, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics in Austria.
  • October 9
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Male homosexuality was legalized in South Africa in 1998. Female homosexuality has never been illegal.
  • October 1
    Serving openly in military becomes illegal.
    In 1998, Ecuador's Military Code contained a provision stating that homosexuality was a reason to discharge members of the military. This was repealed in 2009.
  • September 26
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Following Canadian Blood Services guidelines.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Following Canadian Blood Services guidelines.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Following Canadian Blood Services guidelines.
  • September 1
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires medical diagnosis.
    The Family Code states that "correction of civil status records when changing gender is allowed only upon the conclusion of the health authorities". However, there are many reports of healthcare professionals being unwilling to do so.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
  • August 20
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    In 1998, Malta's age of consent became equalized at 18.
  • July 15
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In 1998, Kentucky’s legislature passes a statute restricting marriage to different-sex couples, effectively banning same-sex marriage. In 2004, it was codified that Kentucky only recognizes marriages between a man and woman regardless of where the ceremony was performed in the state constitution.
  • July 9
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    In 1998, the Sharia Criminal Offences Enactment of 1997 took effect in Johor, which criminalised “men posing as women” with one year in prison.
  • July 1
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In 1998, Iowa adopted a statute that declared, “Only a marriage between a male and a female is valid.”
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (5-year deferral).
    The formation of the New Zealand Blood Service in 1998 also imposed a 10-year deferral period for blood donations from men who have sex with men. This was reduced to 5 in 2009.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes state-enforced.
    In 1998, a bill was passed, amending the Mississippi Code to ban schools from teaching about homosexuality.
  • Equal age of consent becomes n/a.
    Homosexuality is illegal in Tanzania.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (up to life in prison as punishment).
    Section 16 of the Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act (1998) amended Section 154 of the Code to aggravate the penalty for "carnal knowledge against the order of nature”, raising it to "imprisonment for life and in any case to imprisonment for a term of not less than 30 years".
  • June 24
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    The ACT did not abolish their surgery requirements until 2014 (put in place in a 1997 act that took effect in 1998) - before then gender confirmation surgery was required to change official documents' gender marker.
  • June 5
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    In 1998, Ecuador amended its Constitution to protect people from discrimination in housing on the basis of sexual orientation. However, gender identity remained unprotected until 2008.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    In 1998, Ecuador amended its constitution to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in all areas. However, gender identity remained unprotected until 2008.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    The 1998 Constitution of Ecuador provided protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation including in employment. However, gender identity remained unprotected until 2008.
  • May 21
    Equal age of consent becomes unequal.
    Age of consent for homosexual couples set at 18 versus 16 for heterosexual couples.
  • 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.
  • April 22
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The 1998 Sexual Offences Act criminalises "gross indecency" with up to 5 years in prison but includes a clause that exempts it if it's between a man and a woman in private. Buggery is also punished with up to 10 years in prison.
  • 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.
  • March 15
    LGBT discrimination becomes varies by region.
    In 1998, Buenos Aires City became the first region of Argentina to provide protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Other provinces would provide the same but it wasn’t until 2009, that federal protections were enacted.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    In 1998, Buenos Aires City passed Law No. 10 which prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in any context. However, gender identity remained unprotected until 2015.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    In 1998, Buenos Aires City passed a law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation under any circumstance, including housing. However, gender identity remained unprotected until 2015.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    In 1998, Buenos Aires City became the first region of Argentina to provide protections from discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation. However, gender identity would not be protected until 2015.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes varies by region.
    Federally, there are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Argentina. However, some provinces prohibit housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Additionally, Law 521 (2015) of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires prohibits discrimination against LGBT people.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes varies by region.
    Laws on protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation vary in Argentina with the first law against such being passed in 1998 in Buenos Aires City. However, since 2021, Article 7 of Law on Promotion of Access to Formal Employment for Transvestites, Transsexuals and Transgender Persons (Law No. 27,636) expressly prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of gender identity and gender expression, protecting trans people from such discrimination federally.
  • March 12
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    Since the removal of a clause in police edict criminalising "wearing garments of the opposite sex" in 1998, there have been no laws censoring LGBTIQ+ topics or expression in Buenos Aires City until 2022.
  • February 27
    Equal age of consent becomes n/a.
    In 1998, Botswana "equalised" the criminalisation of homosexuality by applying it to women as well.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    In 1998, Botswana “equalised” the criminalisation of homosexuality to include lesbianism while equalising laws against rape. Homosexuality would be decriminalised in 2019.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    Until 2024, gender-affirming care was legal in Georgia.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In 1998, Washington passed a law restricting marriage to different-sex couples, effectively banning same-sex marriage. The Governor vetoed the law, but it was overturned the same day.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes illegal.
    In Venezuela, the law currently does not allow gender marker change in identification documents. Article 146 of the Civil Registry Law nominally allows the change of name based on gender but requests by transgender people are denied by the Civil Registry. In 2017, the Supreme Tribunal declared the right to gender change following medical, psychiatric and psychological examinations. With this, the judicial sector of Venezuela has been able to recognize some cases of gender change, but no proper mechanism is in place for the greater population of Venezuela. Until 1998, Venezuela was among the first countries to legally recognise trans people but all means of recognition ended under the new constitution under Hugo Chavez.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent started being equal when homosexuality was legalized
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality in Zhambyl Oblysy is legal since it was legalized countrywide in 1998
  • Same-sex adoption becomes single only.
    Single LGBT individuals may adopt children, but same-sex couples may not adopt jointly or by way of second parent adoption.
  • January 1
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Discrimination is illegal for both sexual orientation and gender identity
  • (date unknown)
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    This state explicitly bans housing discrimination based upon sexual orientation only. 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)."
  • January 1
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    In 1997, the New Hampshire state legislature banned discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation.
  • (date unknown)
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Since homosexual activity is illegal in Tonga, same-sex marriage is not legal.
  • January 1
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    There are several provision that bans discrimination against the basis of sexual orientations and gender identities. A court ruling has also stated that the general anti-discrimination law in the constitution extends its coverage to sexual orientation and gender identities as well.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    With Criminal Law from 1997 the edge of consent of 14 years became equal for everyone. The limit was raised to 15 years with Criminal Law adopted in 2011.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In 1998, a new penal code took effect in Kazakhstan, and Article 104 was omitted. This omission effectively decriminalized consensual same-sex sexual activity for men; it was already legal for women.
  • (date unknown)
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    In 1998, China banned homosexual men and women from donating blood out of fear of HIV spreading.

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…
  • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Transidentität und Intersexualität e.V. FaviconDeutsche Gesellschaft für Transidentität und Intersexualität e.V.
    Germany
    The dgti (German Association for Transidentity and Intersexuality) is an association representing transgender, intersex and non-binary people. It is well known for issuing an…
  • Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand FaviconRainbow Sky Association of Thailand
    Thailand
    The Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand (RSAT) aims to improve healthcare access for LGBT individuals, particularly focusing on HIV counseling and testing. They work on…
  • LEGABIBO FaviconLEGABIBO
    Botswana
    LEGABIBO’s (Lesbians, gays, and bisexuals of Botswana) fight for change is in its DNA. They have fought for justice and the realisation of human rights for LGBTIQ+ people in…
  • Taiwan Tongzi Hotline Association FaviconTaiwan Tongzi Hotline Association
    Taiwan
    The Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association is the oldest and largest LGBTQ+ association in Taiwan. It offers many services for the LGBTQ+ community, such as support groups for…
  • Minus18 FaviconMinus18
    Australia
    "We’re creating an Australia where all young people are safe, empowered, and surrounded by people that support them" This registered Australian charity runs educational…
  • GENDERDOC-M FaviconGENDERDOC-M
    Moldova
    GENDERDOC-M was founded in 1998 as the first non-governmental organisation protecting and advancing the rights of LGBT+ people in Moldova. Their stated goal is to create a…
  • Ardhis FaviconArdhis
    France
    Ardhis is an association that proposes to recognize the rights of residence and asylum of foreign homosexual and trans people, whether these are based on the existence of a life…