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2000 in LGBT Rights

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In 2000, there were 23 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 28 changes made and 54 in the following year. A total of 583 legal changes were made in the 2000s.

  • November 30
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Same as in England.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent is 16 (or 18 for those in a position of authority) for all couples.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Equalised age of consent to 16
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    The Sexual Offences Act was successfully challenged in the European Court of Human Rights in the case of ADT v. UK in 2000. The court determined the provisions making sexual acts between more than two men illegal would be in violation of privacy laws, and therefore, those portions of the Act became unenforceable. Essentially, this was the last barrier to legalizing same-sex activity within the UK.
  • November 27
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
  • October 25
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Full discrimination under sex and disability. Under all of the discrimination protections.
  • September 12
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • September 1
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In 2000 a new criminal code was introduced, repealing article 121 against homosexuality.
  • August 16
    Same-sex marriage becomes not legal.
    Outlawed by the Marriage Amendment Act 2000.
  • July 23
    LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
  • June 24
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    It has been legal since 1988 but the current criminal code was enacted in 2000.
  • June 9
    Same-sex adoption becomes single only.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes not legal.
    The marriage law explicitly prohibits marriage between same-sex couples
  • June 1
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Any person or couple may adopt a child regardless of orientation pursuant Connecticut Public Act Number 00-228.
  • May 15
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Law Number 3406
  • February 15
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    According to article 140 and 141 of the Georgian Penal Code, the age of consent for both homosexual and heterosexual sex is 16.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
  • January 12
    Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Defence as part of United Kingdom
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    The British military actively recruits gay men and lesbians, all three services have deployed recruiting teams to gay pride events, and punishes any instance of intolerance or bullying. The Royal Navy advertises for recruits in gay magazines and has allowed gay sailors to hold civil partnership ceremonies on board ships and, since 2006, to march in full naval uniform at a gay pride marches. British Army and Royal Air Force personnel could march but had to wear civilian clothes until 2008, now all military personnel are permitted to attend Gay Pride marches in uniform.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    United Kingdom responsible for defence.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    The Ministry of Defence were forced to change their stance on when the European Court of Human Rights ruled in September 1999 that the then current ban on gays in the military was unlawful.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 2000