In 2020, there were 86 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 33 changes made and 45 in the following year. A total of 150 legal changes have been made so far in the 2020s.
- December 15Same-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 1Blood 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
- August 13Conversion therapy becomes banned.The Health Leislation Ammendment Act of 2020 modified the Public Health Act of 2005 to make conversion therapy illegal. Penalties are up to 18 months in jail for attempting to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity using practices such as aversion therapy, hypnotherapy and psychoanalysis.
- July 31Conversion therapy becomes varies by region.Some states have banned conversion therapy. Nationwide ban pending.
- July 23
- July 16Homosexual activity becomes illegal (up to life in prison as punishment).5 years in prison for the first offender(article 148). Third offenders is punishable by life imprisonment
- June 29
- June 15LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
- 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 12Same-sex marriage becomes unregistered cohabitation.The Uttarakhand High Court acknowledged that cohabitation and "live-in relationships" are protected by law.
- June 1Blood 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
- May 26Same-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
- May 1
- May
- April 20Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- April 2Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers in Washington follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- 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).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral 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, it is not legally binding but most agencies and the American Red Cross treat it as such.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
- March 31Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes recognized.There is now an option to have “X” written for the gender mark on your license.
- March 8Conversion therapy becomes banned.On the 7th of March Germany banned Conversion Therapy for minors.
- February 11Right 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 22Conversion therapy becomes banned.Utah is the 19th U.S State to ban conversion therapy.
- January 13Same-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
Rainbow Bhutan
GlobalRainbow Seniors
Communication with public and private bodies with the ultimate goal of creating a network of solidarity and support of the LGBTQI + community that will respond to the needs of…Faros
The project aims to strengthen protection, monitoring and prevention mechanisms as well as combat hate crimes and homophobic, biphobic and transphobic discrimination and violence…Faros
The project aims to strengthen protection, monitoring and prevention mechanisms as well as combat hate crimes and homophobic, biphobic and transphobic discrimination and violence…