2011 in LGBT Rights

In 2011, there were 78 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 114 changes made and 106 in the following year. A total of 1445 legal changes were made in the 2010s.

  • December 30
    Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    Article 280 of the 2011 Family Code states marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
  • November 30
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    Article 134A of the Criminal Code (2000), as amended by Article 3 of the Law No. 1,482 (2011) criminalises acts of discrimination based on "sexual orientation". This provision is formulated in broad terms and its scope of application necessarily applies to housing. Articles 136C(3) and 136C(4) aggravate the penalty if such acts are committed by public servants or while providing public services.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    Article 134A of the Criminal Code (2000), as amended by Law No. 1,482 (2011), criminalises discrimination based on "sexual orientation", while Article 136C (3) and (4) aggravate the penalty if such discrimination is committed by public servants or while providing public services. These provisions ban "sexual orientation" discrimination in broad terms and therefore apply to employment. Article 136C (6) also includes the motive of denying or restricting labour rights as an aggravating factor.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Sexual orientation is explicitly covered in the law. Gender Identity on the other hand, is not mentioned explicitly but is implied.
  • November 7
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (1-year deferral).
    Following an evidence-based review by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) the lifetime ban was reduced to a 1-year deferral period in England, Wales, and Scotland.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (1-year deferral).
    Although you can't have sex for a year.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    The Irish Blood Transfusion Service bans blood from men who have sex with men. Their policy states: "In order to assure the continued safety of the blood supply, we currently ask those people who may have a particularly high risk of carrying blood-borne viruses not to give blood. This includes men who have ever had sex with another man / men."
  • November 5
    Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • September 26
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes ambiguous.
    Usually legal according to the American Red Cross, but not legal for LGBTQ people in Djibouti.
  • September 20
    Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve. "Transvestites" barred from service.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Legalized with national passing of Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Don't ask don't tell was officially repealed.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
  • Serving openly in military becomes lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
    Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals are permitted to serve openly in the military, however, transgender individuals are still banned.
  • September 1
    Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions.
    In 2011, Liechtenstein approved registered partnerships following a referendum.
  • July 22
    Same-sex marriage becomes ambiguous.
    There has been an officially recognised female-female marriage
  • July 9
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes no protections.
    LGBT community is taboo.
  • Serving openly in military becomes illegal.
    No protection granted as homosexuality is illegal
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    No protection is granted as homosexuality is illegal
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Up to 10-14 years in prison and a fine. Not enforced.
  • July 8
    Same-sex marriage becomes not legal.
    As homosexuality is a punishable offense, same sex marriage is also not legal
  • June 24
    Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    Marriage Equality Act was signed into law by Former Governor Cuomo on June 24, 2011, allowing same-sex couples to marry legally in New York for the first time. The New York City Clerk started issuing Marriage Licenses and performing civil marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples on July 24, 2011. The USA also followed later in 2015 with the Marriage Equality Act (2015)
  • June 16
    Same-sex adoption becomes step-child adoption only.
    On June 16, 2011, the Slovenia National Assembly voted 43 to 38 in favor of repealing the previous law making adoption illegal for same-sex couples.
  • May 25
    Same-sex marriage becomes n/a.
    In May 2011, a question to amend the Minnesota Constitutional is placed on the November 2012 ballot by the state legislature. The amendment failed to pass in 2012, but marriage remained illegal in MN due to a state law.
  • May 13
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Discrimination is prohibited on the grounds of "sexual orientation"
  • May 5
    Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions.
    Although the first formal legal recognition of a civil union took place in 2004 (See first source), the Supreme Court did not rule in favor of civil unions throughout the country until May 5, 2011.
  • April 18
    Same-sex adoption becomes ambiguous.
    While same-sex adoption is legal in Arizona, 2011 Ariz Legis Serv. 147 (S.B. 1188) gives preference to "a married man and woman" over an individual. Thus, the preference for married individuals not only discriminates against unwed individuals of all orientations, but the wording also carries allows for discrimination against LGBT couples. Second parent adoption is not permitted for same-sex couples.
  • April 7
    Same-sex marriage becomes not legal.
    Constitutional Ban. In 2011, the Parliament passed The Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendment) Act, 2011 which explicitly banned same-sex marriage and any other kind of union to be recognized in Jamaica.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Originally banned in a measure on a ballot, but Arkansas Supreme Court Overruled. Any unmarried individual may petition for adoption, and any married individuals must petition jointly before the court. While the Supreme Court of Arkansas has struck down bans to limit same-sex adoption on privacy grounds, all adoption cases are handled on a case by case basis before a lower court judge. Lower courts have a history of hostile rulings for same-sex adoptive parents as displayed in Larson v. Larson, 902 S.W.2d 254 (App. 1995).
  • April 6
    Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions.
    Civil Partnerships were introduced by the Civil Partnership Act 2011.
  • April 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (6-month deferral).
    Red Cross Japan reduces deferral for high HIV risk individual from 12 months to 6 months.
  • March 15
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Individuals in Portugal can legally change their gender and name on their birth certificate.
  • February 4
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Previously required surgery.
  • January 4
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.