In 2002, there were 45 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 76 changes made and 107 in the following year. A total of 714 legal changes were made in the 2000s.
- November 29LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.Illegal as per the Discrimination Law Amendment Act 2002 religious exemptions apply unfortunately.
- November 7
- Same-sex adoption becomes legal.As in the UK, IVF treatment is available for lesbian couples too.
- September 10Same-sex adoption becomes legal.Legal under the case of Du Toit v Minister of Welfare and Population Development, later made official through the Consolidated Children's Act of 2010
- September 4Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.Family Law adopted on July 25, 2002 recognized two categories of adoption: "incomplete adoption" and "full adoption". In the first case, adoptive parents could be both individuals and married partners (Articles 150-155). In the second case, adoptive parents are married partners only (Articles 156-160).
- September 1
- Conversion therapy becomes not banned.Conversion therapy is not criminalized in the country, and is not encouraged by any public services.
- July 27LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.Before the adoption of the Anti-Discrimination law in 2009, several laws prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation: - broadcasting law (2002), article 21; - law on public information (2003), aticle 38; - labour law (2005), article 18; - law on higher education (2005), article 8. Also, the 2006 Constitution prohibits discrimination in general but it does not mention sexual orientation or gender identity.
- July 11Equal age of consent becomes equal.The revised Criminal Code equalised the age of consent to 17, after pressure from the EU.
- June 24Equal age of consent becomes equal.The age of consent between people with maximum 5 years of difference is 14. Sexual contact between coetaneous is never punishable.
- June 21Homosexual activity becomes illegal (death penalty as punishment).In Kaduna, along with Yobe, the definition of sodomy is vague. In these states, "sodomy" is committed by "[w]hoever has anal coitus with any man". The punishment for sodomy in Kaduna under the Sharia Penal Code Law 2002, is stoning to death (rajm). The punishment for lesbianism ("[w]hoever, being a woman, engages another woman in carnal intercourse through her sexual organ or by means of stimulation or sexual excitement of one another.") is ta'azir, which means "any punishment not provided for by way of hadd or qisas". "Hadd" means "punishment that is fixed by Islamic law". "Qisas" includes "punishments inflicted upon offenders by way of retaliation for causing death/injuries to a person"
- June 8
- June 6Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
- June 1Homosexual activity becomes legal.Consensual same-sex sexual activity is legal in Transnistria, despite many foreign sources saying that it is illegal. Article 131 of the Criminal Code of Transnistria that came into force in June 2002, states that committing sodomy, lesbianism and sexual intercourse with a person under the age of sixteen is illegal. However, the article does not state that committing 'sodomy and lesbianism' above 16 is illegal. All the other articles related to sex crimes, such as sexual assault and coercion to perform sexual acts, have listed '(heterosexual) sexual intercourse, sodomy and lesbianism' in the same category. There are no other articles in the Criminal Code of Transnistria that have laws that are separated in penalizing same-sex sexual activity, or committing 'sodomy and lesbianism.'
- March 12Same-sex adoption becomes legal.Single people, regardless of their sexual orientation, may adopt children, and same-sex couples in a free union are permitted to adopt in Bolivia, according to Article 84 of the Child and Adolescent Code.
- March 1Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.Same-sex couples or even homosexuals are not allowed to adopt in Kenya. Chapter 141, Section 158 of Kenya's The Children Act states: "An adoption order shall not be made if the applicant or, in the case of joint applicants, both or any of them [...] is a homosexual."
- February 28Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.There is no definition of marriage in Republika Srpska 1992 Constitution. Article 36: "Marriage and marriage & family relations are regulated by law" The Family Laws of 2002 and 2023 have the same definition of marriage in articles 4: "Marriage is a union of life between husband and wife regulated by law."
- February 13
- January 15LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.Law 14170 of January 15, 2002. Determines the imposition of penalties for companies who practice discriminatory act against a person because of their sexual orientation.
- January 6
- January 1
- (date unknown)
- January 1Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).One of the many countries were lgbt people cannot donate.
- Same-sex adoption becomes legal.Under the amendment to the Newfoundland and Labrador Adoption Act.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes no protections.
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.
- Homosexual activity becomes varies by region.Sex between consenting adults (18 years of age by the Law on Child Protection, No. 23/2002) of the same sex or gender is not criminalized in the Indonesian Penal Code. Same-sex sexual activity in Indonesia is legal (not criminalized), with the exception of the Aceh province.
- (date unknown)Same-sex adoption becomes legal.Any individual may petition for single parent or joint adoption. Second-parent adoption is permitted via case law referenced below.
- LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.As male homosexuality is illegal, no protection is available to any members of the LGBTQ+ community.
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.
- January 1
- (date unknown)Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.Arkansas will amend after receipt of a court order verifying that they have undergone sex-reassignment surgery and that their names have been changed.
- Homosexual activity becomes legal.In Arkansas in 2002 there was a state supreme court hearing about homosexual activities (sodomy), about a 1977 law that forbid the acts. It was overturned, and it is now currently legal. Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that homosexual acts are legal, and any imprisonment with the 1977 law would be released.
- JanuaryRight to change legal gender becomes illegal.No legislation at present, but government has said it will legislate and there has been a landmark court prompting the government to seek legislation surrounding the issue. This legislation has yet to be carried out.
- Serving openly in military becomes lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.Taiwan allows gay and lesbian soldiers provided they maintain military discipline standards.
- (date unknown)Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
- Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.Men can receive 3 to 14 years of imprisonment under Criminal Code 1974. The legislation lists homosexuality under "Unnatural Offenses" and "Indecent Practices Between Males."
LGBT Organizations Founded in 2002
- MassEqualityMassEquality is the leading Massachusetts grassroots advocacy organization working to ensure that everyone across Massachusetts can thrive from cradle to grave without…
- Boys of Bangladesh
Boys of Bangladesh (BoB), is the largest network of self-identified Bangladeshi gay men. It is a non-registered, non-funded and non-formal group run by a pull of dedicated…- Zagreb Pride Organization
Zagreb Pride Organization is the organization that runs Zagreb Pride, the LGBT pride march in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.- Equality Alabama
Equality Alabama's mission is to advance equality for LGBTQ Alabamians where they live, work, learn and play through education and advocacy.- National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global not-for-profit advocacy organization specifically dedicated…- Rede Ex Aequo
A rede ex aequo- SC Equality
SC Equality is the statewide LGBTQ rights organization in South Carolina. - Boys of Bangladesh