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2020 in LGBT Rights

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In 2020, there were 26 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 31 changes made and 35 in the following year. A total of 65 legal changes have been made so far in the 2020s.

  • December 15
    Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.
    Although same-sex couples cannot adopt jointly, adoption by individuals is illegal regardless of sexual orientation or partnership status. Stepchild adoption is only available for married (different-sex) couples.
  • December 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).
    12 month deferral periods were dropped to 3 months across multiple categories of donor, including MSMs.
  • September 4
    Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions.
    Civil Partnership Law, 2020
  • July 31
    Conversion therapy becomes varies by region.
    Some states have banned conversion therapy. Nationwide ban pending.
  • June 29
    Homosexuals serving openly in military becomes legal.
    Serving openly in the military is legal.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexual acts are not criminalized.
  • June 15
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    As of June 15th, 2020 the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity is illegal under Title VII the Civil Rights Act of 1964, classified as sex discrimination.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    As of June 15, 2020, all persons working for employers that employ more than 15 people are protected from discrimination based solely on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity via the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    Employment distribution protection for sexual orientation and gender identity is now included in "sex" in Title VII. Other forms of protection (housing for example) are not yet present.
  • June 12
    Same-sex marriage becomes unregistered cohabitation.
    The Uttarakhand High Court acknowledged that cohabitation and "live-in relationships" are protected by law.
  • June 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).
    1-year deferral reduced to a 3-month deferral in line with other UK regions (at the time).
  • May 28
    Right to change legal gender becomes illegal.
    On International Transgender Day of Visibility 2020 Hungary's parliament submitted a bill to amend the definition of sex to match sex at birth, making it impossible for individuals to change their legal gender.
  • May 26
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Adoption was legalized for gay couples when gay marriage became legal. Single individuals (whether gay or straight) have been allowed to adopt equally before then.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    Same-sex marriage in Costa Rica has been legal since May 26, 2020 as a result of a ruling by the Supreme Court of Justice. Costa Rica was the first country in Central America to recognize and perform same-sex marriages.
  • May 8
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The Supreme Court has ruled that the blood donation ban is unconstitutional in May of 2020.
  • May 1
    Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes recognized.
    Same birth laws that allowed gender change without GRS.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, surgery not required.
    Amended birth certificate laws.
  • May
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    Banned for minors.
  • April 2
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).
    3-month deferral in line with FDA guidance.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).
    The FDA announced changes to blood donor eligibility policy on 2nd April 2020, reducing the MSM deferral period from 12 months to 3 months.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).
    In July 2019, Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn announced that the deferral period would be reduced to four months of abstinence from 2 April 2020.
  • March 8
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    On the 7th of March Germany banned Conversion Therapy for minors.
  • February 11
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, surgery not required.
    Law was changed to allow trans people to apply through the family court under section 28 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationship Registration Act 1995.
  • January 22
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    Utah is the 19th U.S State to ban conversion therapy.
  • January 13
    Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    Marriage equality in Northern Ireland was brought into line with the rest of the UK via the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 2020