In 2011, there were 109 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 95 changes made and 134 in the following year. A total of 1750 legal changes were made in the 2010s.
- December 30Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
- December 7Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).
- Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).Until 2013, Rio Grande do Norte provided legal recognition to same-sex couples as civil unions under federal Brazilian law.
- Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).Until 2013, Pernambuco provided legal recognition to same-sex couples as civil unions under federal Brazilian law.
- Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).
- Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).Until 2013, Mato Grosso provided legal recognition to same-sex couples as civil unions under federal Brazilian law.
- Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).Until 2013, Santa Catarina provided legal recognition to same-sex couples as civil unions under federal Brazilian law.
- Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).Until 2013, Mato Grosso do Sul provided legal recognition to same-sex couples as civil unions under federal Brazilian law.
- Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).Until 2012, the Federal District provided legal recognition to same-sex couples as civil unions under federal Brazilian law.
- Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).Until 2012, Espirito Santo provided legal recognition to same-sex couples as civil unions under federal Brazilian law.
- Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).Until 2012, Minas Gerais provided recognition to same-sex couples as civil unions under federal Brazilian law.
- December 2Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.Included in Article 522 of Mali’s people and family code is a ban on adoption by gay people. This part of the article when translated to English reads: “ Under no circumstances is a homosexual allowed to adopt a child under any regime whatsoever.”
- November 30LGBT 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.
- November 12LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Article 5 of the Law for the Regulation and Control of Housing Leasing, enacted in 2011, bans discrimination and provides protection to those who are especially vulnerable, or vulnerable to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, among others.
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.Sexual orientation is protected in various realms in Venezuela, including employment, banking, prohibition of incitement and housing. Comprehensive LGBT protections have been proposed in constitutional reforms or legislation several times but faced opposition on each attempt. Laws for LGBT protections have come and gone in the legislatures for at least two decades and progress has languished. In 2023, the national assembly approved the Draft Organic Law against all Types of Discrimination to the second stage of the legislative process and is undergoing a public consultation process. Gender identity is also protected in housing since 2011.
- November 7Blood donations by MSMs becomes varies by region.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (1-year deferral).In November of 2011, England (along with Wales and Scotland) abolished the lifetime deferral for men who have sex with men donating blood. It was replaced with a one-year deferral period.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (1-year deferral).MSMs must wait 1 year before donating blood in Guernsey. This was aligned to the UK laws at the time.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (1-year deferral).In November of 2011, England (along with Wales and Scotland) abolished the lifetime deferral for men who have sex with men donating blood. It was replaced with a one-year deferral period.
- 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 (indefinite deferral).Northern Ireland continued their lifetime deferral for men who have sex with men from donating blood until 5 years later than the rest of the UK in 2016.
- November 2
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.The Criminal Code bans all acts of discrimination and incitement to hatred based on "homosexual orientation". There is no protection based on gender identity.
- November 1
- October 26
- October 6Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires medical diagnosis.Christmas Island is under the jurisdiction of Western Australia whose Gender Reassignment Act (2000) requires applicants to have: 1. Undergone gender-affirming surgery (Article 15.b.i), 2. Adopted "the lifestyle" and have "the gender characteristics of a person of the gender to which the person has been reassigned" (Article 15.b.ii), 3. That they have received "proper counselling" in relation to their gender identity (Article 15.b.iii). However, in 2011, the High Court of Australia held in AB and AH v. Western Australia (2011) that the surgical procedure was no longer a requirement, but some sort of physical alteration must have taken place. In this instance, HRT can be seen to fulfil this requirement. If the Board is satisfied, they will issue a "recognition certificate" that enables the applicant to request a gender marker change on the birth certificate.
- Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires medical diagnosis.Cocos is under the jurisdiction of Western Australia whose Gender Reassignment Act (2000) requires applicants to have: 1. Undergone gender-affirming surgery (Article 15.b.i), 2. Adopted "the lifestyle" and have "the gender characteristics of a person of the gender to which the person has been reassigned" (Article 15.b.ii), 3. That they have received "proper counselling" in relation to their gender identity (Article 15.b.iii). However, in 2011, the High Court of Australia held in AB and AH v. Western Australia (2011) that the surgical procedure was no longer a requirement, but some sort of physical alteration must have taken place. In this instance, HRT can be seen to fulfil this requirement. If the Board is satisfied, they will issue a "recognition certificate" that enables the applicant to request a gender marker change on the birth certificate.
- Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires medical diagnosis.Western Australia's Gender Reassignment Act (2000) requires applicants to have: 1. Undergone gender-affirming surgery (Article 15.b.i), 2. Adopted "the lifestyle" and have "the gender characteristics of a person of the gender to which the person has been reassigned" (Article 15.b.ii), 3. That they have received "proper counselling" in relation to their gender identity (Article 15.b.iii). However, in 2011, the High Court of Australia held in AB and AH v. Western Australia (2011) that the surgical procedure was no longer a requirement, but some sort of physical alteration must have taken place. In this instance, HRT can be seen to fulfil this requirement. If the Board is satisfied, they will issue a "recognition certificate" that enables the applicant to request a gender marker change on the birth certificate. Since 2025, the Board has been abolished and requirements for reassignment procedures are no longer in place. However, a note from a doctor is still required.
- October 1LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Republican Governor Sandoval signed a bill to extend discrimination protections to transgender Nevadans in 2011. The bill was signed in May and went into effect in October of that year. Federally, varying protections exist as well.
- September 30Censorship of LGBT issues becomes fine as punishment.In December 2009, regional authorities in the Arkhangelsk Oblast began drafting laws to prohibit "promotion of homosexual propaganda" to minors, inspired by the 2006 law in Ryazan. The law took effect in September 2011 and was met with protests that faced arrest for violating said law. A federal ban would be implemented in 2013 and while Arkhangelsk has overturned its regional ban, federal law still applies to this day.
- September 27Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
- September 26Blood donations by MSMs becomes ambiguous.Usually legal according to the American Red Cross, but not legal for LGBTQ people in Djibouti.
- September 20Serving openly in military becomes legal.In 2011, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed by the Obama Administration. Former President Obama allowed members who were dishonorably discharged under DADT, to receive an honorable discharge.
- September 15
- Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes intersex only.
- Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes intersex only.
- Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes intersex only.
- Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes intersex only.
- Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes intersex only.
- Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes intersex only.
- Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes intersex only.
- Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes intersex only.In 2011, New South Wales recognised intersex people under federal Australian law. Non-binary identities are not yet legally recognized in New South Wales.
- September 14Same-sex marriage becomes banned.The Civil Code (Law No. 10/2011), states the following: Article 1467 (Notion of marriage): Marriage is the contract concluded between two people of different sex who want to start a family through a full communion of life, in accordance with the provisions of this Code. Article 1517 (Non-existent marriages): 1. It is legally non-existent: e) Marriage contracted by two people of the same sex.
- September 1Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).In 2011, Liechtenstein approved registered partnerships following a referendum. 68.8% of people voted in favor of the referendum, and 31.2% of people voted against it. The registered partnerships gave gay couples the same rights as heterosexual couples in inheritance, social security, immigration and taxation.
- August 25
- July 20Same-sex marriage becomes banned.In 2011, the Turks and Caicos Islands' Constitution defined a marriage as between a man and a woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage.
- July 17Same-sex adoption becomes second parent adoption only.On June 16, 2011, the Slovenia National Assembly voted 43 to 38 in favor of repealing the previous law that prevented same-sex couples from adopting children. The new Family Code was supposed to allow stepchild adoption but it was rejected on referendum held on March 25, 2012. The right to step-parent adoption for same-sex couples was recognised by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities on July 17, 2011, (by allowing a woman to adopt her same-sex partner's biological child) on the basis of the Law on Marriage and Family Relations (1976). This is despite the fact that Article 135 stipulates that adopters must be married. This raised the possibility that such an adoption would be possible even if the 2011 Family Code were to be repealed in a referendum.
- July 15
- July 9
- Serving openly in military becomes illegal.No protection granted as homosexuality is illegal
- July 8Same-sex marriage becomes banned.As homosexuality is a punishable offense, same sex marriage is also not legal
- June 24Same-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 20
- May 28Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
- May 18Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires medical diagnosis.In 2011, Vermont provided for legal gender recognition and became the first state to provide it will explicitly stating surgery was not a requirement. However, medical proof of “appropriate treatment” was required.
- May 13LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.Discrimination is prohibited on the grounds of "sexual orientation"
- May 5Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).
- April 18Same-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 9Equal age of consent becomes equal.On 8 April 2011, the Supreme Court of Gibraltar ruled that a higher age of consent of 18 for all gay sex was deemed unconstitutional, and thus mandated an equal age of consent of 16. Also at the same time decriminalised heterosexual anal sex and set the age of consent at 16 for that as well.
- April 7
- 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 6Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).Civil Partnerships were introduced by the Civil Partnership Act 2011.
- April 1Blood 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 15Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.Individuals in Portugal can legally change their gender and name on their birth certificate.
- February 8
- Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).In 2011, Malawi amended its articles that criminalize homosexuality between men to also include sex between women. The punishment is a maximum of fourteen years in prison with corporal punishment. In June of 2024, Malawi's Constitutional Court upheld the laws that criminalize homosexuality after a challenge was made.
- February 3
- FebruaryHomosexual activity becomes ambiguous.In February 2011, while speaking at the UN Human Rights Council’s review of Mozambique’s human rights record, the country’s justice minister stated that homosexuality was legal. However, the “vices against nature” clause remained in the penal code, leaving the legality of same-sex relations ambiguous.
- January 28Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires medical diagnosis.Following the amendment of the Act on the Amendment of Names and Sex Determination in Special Cases, known as the Law on Transsexuality (1981) by Judgment No. 1 BvR 3295/07 (2011) of the Federal Constitutional Court, the criteria for changing the name or both the name and the gender marker were unified. Currently, the law requires applicants to (i) prove that "due to their transsexual status, they do not feel comfortable with their sex registered at birth", (ii) they have lived for at least three years "in accordance with the gender they identify with" and (iii) that their "situation of transexuality is foreseeably stable". This procedure is carried out before a municipal judge, which has to verify that these requirements are met by subjecting the applicant to an examination carried out by two expert witnesses "specialised in transsexualism". (ILGA) In 2017, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSJ) commissioned the Humboldt University in Berlin to prepare an expert opinion on the "need for regulation and reform for transgender people". It found that the current assessment procedure is in many cases characterized by disproportionate time and expense as well as degrading and discriminatory experiences and violates the fundamental rights of the applicants. The non-governmental organization Deutsche Gesellschaft für Transidentität und Intersexualität e.V. (dgti) issues a supplemental ID card which contains one's self-chosen first names, pronouns and gender before a legal name change has taken place. It is known and accepted by German ministries, the police, and many authorities. The supplemental ID card is often a condition to correct one's name at, among others, schools, universities, banks and insurance companies. In five German states, references to the ID have been included in coronavirus ordinances and associated explanations to recognize it as an identification document, e.g., together with vaccination certificates. It has a special status of recognition in Germany. The legal basis of the supplemental ID card is the implementation of the request of the European Parliament, communicated in the 11th legislative period of the German parliament. When the Self-Identification law was introduced, people who went through this old process could apply for a monetary compensation.
- January 1LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.The Law on Prohibition of Discrimination from 2010 prohibited discrimination in Housing, but sexual orientation and gender identity were not explicitly mentioned as grounds.
- (date unknown)Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.In 2011, new guidelines were established and allowed change to identity documents only after sex reassignment surgery, physical and psychiatric medical examinations, hormone therapy and sterilization. Additionally, people under 21 are not allowed to change their gender on their official identity documents.
- Same-sex adoption becomes legal.The Civil Partnership Act 2011 enabled adoption for same-sex couples.
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.The Code of Judicial Conduct promulgated in 2011 protects "sexual orientation" from discrimination, prejudice and harassment. Palau does not provide broad legal protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. Palau's Constitution also doesn't have any mention of sexual orientation or gender identity.
- January 1Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (less than 6-month deferral).As of 2011, a 3 month deferral is applied after same-sex intercourse. Meaning, the couple must wait 3 months after intercourse to donate blood.
- (date unknown)LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Legal protections from discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identification exist.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.State law provides for protections against employment discrimination in regards to both sexual orientation and gender identification.
- January 1
- (date unknown)Same-sex marriage becomes banned.The Marriage and Family Code defines marriage as a union with equal rights between a man and a woman. It also states "The factual cohabitation of a man and a woman, as well as persons of the same sex shall not be recognized as the marriage (matrimony)." Article 11(1) states marriage shall not be allowed between persons of the same sex.
- January 1LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.In all Federal positions, discrimination based on sexual orientation is against the law in instances related to work and employment. In non-federal government jobs, it is based on the state's laws as no federal protections currently exist for non-employees. Additionally, even federal employees could face discrimination unrelated to work in areas of life such as housing, health care, etc. In fact, many groups are advocating the repeal of protections or the introduction of laws to permit discrimination.
- January
- (date unknown)
- January 1
LGBT Organizations Founded in 2011
Equality Louisiana
Equality Louisiana is a coalition of LGBT and allied organizations from all over Louisiana committed to full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.Akahat
AKAHATKaleidoscope Trust
The Kaleidoscope is a British human rights organisation that focuses on upholding LGBTQIA+ rights.Community Business
GlobalCreator of Hong Kong and Asia's first Diversity and Inclusion Index, which is now done annually for corporates that are LGBTQ inclusive.Pride Legal
GlobalThe most trusted network of independent attorneys for the LGBTQ community in California.Colour Youth
Colour Youth is an LGBTQ group, which aims to create a strong community of young people, support its members and claim its rights!CAN-Myanmar
Civil Authorize Negotiate Organization (C.A.N-Myanmar) is an LGBTIQ people-led a Non-Governmental Organization established on May 10, 2011, in Mandalay for Myanmar Society…Irca Casa Abierta
Eng: Focused on migratory assistance & the establishment process on the country, for LGBTQIA people who has left their original country for this…Okvir
Promotion and protection of culture, identity and human rights of LGBTIQA persons.Beograd Prajd
Organization of the pride parade in Belgrade, Serbia.Pro LGBT
Promotion and advocacy for the improvement of LGBT rights in Albania.Egal
The organization stands against discrimination, stigmatization, acts of violence and all forms of human rights violations.Campaign For Southern Equality
The Campaign for Southern Equality is working to build a South where LGBTQ people are equal in every part of life. A South where your zip code doesn’t determine your rights.…SPoD
Founded in 2011 with the dream of a fair, equal, and free world under the rainbow, SPoD provides legal, social, and psychological counseling to LGBTI+ people. In addition to…LGBT+ Føroyar
LGBT+ Føroyar is a movement for gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the Faroe Islands. They aim to increase the well-being of sexual minorities in society, as well as to…Alternative CI
Alternative CI is an Ivorian non-profit NGO fighting against STIs and HIV and against discrimination against LGBTQ+ + populations. Alternative Côte d'Ivoire works for an…