In 1999, there were 15 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 51 changes made and 48 in the following year. A total of 316 legal changes were made in the 1990s.
- December 30Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned.Article 77 of the constitution states that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. It also limits de facto unions to opposite-sex couples only. Article 77 of the Constitution reads as follows: «Marriage between a man a woman, which is based on free consent and absolute equality of rights and obligations of the spouses, is protected. A stable de facto union between a man and a woman which meets the requirements established by law shall have the same effects as marriage.»
- December 28LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
- Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.According to a study by the Council of Europe or the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, same-sex couples cannot adopt since Article 120 of the Family Code (1999) states that joint adoption is only allowed for married couples. The report suggests that in principle, there aren't any legal restrictions around adopting as an individual — gay or straight — however, all individuals are usually denied the right to adopt.
- December 21Equal age of consent becomes equal.The age of consent is 16 years old. However, this is due to the LGBT population not being officially mentioned or recognized in the law
- October 29
- July 14Serving openly in military becomes legal.
- May 29
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes no protections.
- LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.Although the discrimination protection clause protect citizens against all forms of discrimination, there are also provisions within the protection against discrimination that encourages "the evolution and promotion of family life" with a family having a "traditional" family connotation.
- May 19Same-sex adoption becomes legal.M v. H (Canada) rules that Constitution protects same-sex couples.
- May 7Right to change legal gender becomes legal, surgery not required.Just got rid of the requirement for surgery. Missing non binary options on documents.
- Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.The main legislation on gender change is the “General Requirements on Medical Procedures for the Change of Gender” issued by the Minister for Social Affairs (Soovahetuse arstlike toimingute ühtsed nõuded, of 07.05.1999, no 32). This sets out the conditions for changing a person’s legal gender and allowing medical treatment for gender reassignment. It requires: • An application to the Ministry for Social Affairs; • The decision is made by a medical expert committee appointed by the Minister of Social Affairs; • Certification of transsexual identity during at least two years prior to the application; • A psychiatrist’s decision that excludes the possibility that the wish to undergo gender/sex change is caused by psychiatric disorder; • Compatibility of chromosomatic and gonad gender/sex certified by genetic research; • At least two years of treatment must pass from the beginning of medical treatment. At least one year must pass from the positive response from the Minister for Social Affairs to have the right to surgically change gender. If the Person decides otherwise during that year they are not obliged to go ahead with the change of gender.
- April 18LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Article 8 of the Constitution
- January 19Homosexual activity becomes legal.Settlement of Williams v. Glendening, Baltimore Circuit Court.