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2021 in LGBT Rights

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In 2021, there were 50 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 101 changes made and 39 in the following year. A total of 194 legal changes have been made so far in the 2020s.

  • December 9
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    The new law that legalizes same-sex marriage also provides adoption benefits to same-sex couples.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    The Chilean president has signed into law a bill that was approved by the Congress legalizing same-sex marriage.
  • December 7
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    Banned in all of Canada
  • Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    Banned in all of Canada
  • Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    Banned through all of Canada
  • November 2
    Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes recognized.
    The Michigan Secretary of State permits individuals to request a ‘Nonbinary (X)’ sex designation on their state ID and driver’s license.
  • November 1
    Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes varies by region.
    On São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro it's legally recognized the Non-Binary identity on documents.
  • Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes recognized.
    (ADI) 4.275
  • October 28
    Censorship of LGBT Issues becomes varies by region.
    Censorship became "other punishment" in the state of Texas, and in Florida Govt. DeSantis wants to ban LGBT topics from being discussed in schools. Generally, LGBT Topics are considered under the Free Speach Clause. Due to the nature of the current laws, and state decisions such as in Flordia; "Varies by region" is the best indicator to use.
  • Censorship of LGBT Issues becomes other punishment.
    Numerous schools and libraries in Texas have been instructed to terminate or remove books with topics that, "make students feel uneasy". The topics under fire include (but are not limited to) lgbtq characters, same-sex relationships and gender discussion. Teachers that ignore this law could be fired.
  • October 21
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    "A Namibian court has found that the constitution bans discrimination based on sexual orientation."
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    "A Namibian court has found that the constitution bans discrimination based on sexual orientation."
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    "A Namibian court has found that the constitution bans discrimination based on sexual orientation." Section 139 of the Labour Act of 2004 repealed the Labour Act of 1992 which in Section 107 prohibited sexual orientation discrimination.
  • September 26
    Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    Switzerland approved same-sex marriage with a national referendum. The law will come in effect on 1st July, 2022.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    The new law of same sex marriage for Switzerland also guarantees adoption rights for same sex couples.
  • September 24
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes ambiguous.
    The Greek Minister of Health requested the review of the “Blood Donor History” form of the National Blood Donation Center, which, among other things, prohibits anyone who has had even a homosexual relationship since 1977 from becoming a voluntary blood donor.
  • September 23
    Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    The congress of Sonora has voted to legalize same sex marriage.
  • September 22
    Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    The congress of Querétaro approved to legalize same sex marriage.
  • September
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).
    From September 2021 new guidelines were introduced that lowered the deferral period to 4 months.
  • September 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    People who are in a monogamous same sex relationship can now donate blood without deferral.
  • August 25
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    The Yucatán Congress voted unanimously for prison sentences of up to three years for anyone administering conversion therapy treatment. Those who administer therapy on minors can be faced with up to six years of prison sentences.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    The Yucatán Congress passed the marriage equality bill in a 20-5 vote margin.
  • August 16
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    Blood donation criteria brought in line with UK rules, after being delayed since June 2021.
  • August 6
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    The Sexual Offences and Obscene Publications Act was revised to ban any therapy that attempts to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • August 3
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    The Senate approved the bill that modifies and strengthens Law No. 20,609, which establishes measures against discrimination, adding as arbitrary discrimination any act, practice and/or medical, psychological, psychiatric treatment or of any other nature that aims to modify the sexual orientation or gender identity and expression of a person or a group of people.
  • July 21
    Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes recognized.
    Decree in place since july 21th of 2021 as of Presidential Decree N ° 476/21. Recognizing identities outside the male and female binomial by incorporating the nomenclature "X" in the National Identity Document as an option, for all people who do not identify themselves as male or female.
  • July 15
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    On July 15, The governor of Minnesota signed an executive order restricting conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth in the state.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions.
    In July 2020, the Parliament of Montenegro passed a bill to recognise life partnerships for same-sex couples and started recognising them in July 2021.
  • June 30
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, surgery not required.
    Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel declared unconstitutional a state law requiring sex-reassignment surgery to change the sex designation on a birth certificate.
  • June 29
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    "fin des descriminations au don du sang pour les hommes ayant des relations sexuelles avec des hommes."
  • June 15
    Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    The legalization of same-sex marriage was approved in a unanimous vote in Sinaloa, however, a number of lawmakers abstained to vote.
  • June 14
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    In line with England and UK.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    In line with UK rules.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    Donors of any gender will be asked about their recent sexual activity, and those who have only had one sexual partner within the last 3-months will be eligible to donate.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    Donors of any gender will be asked about their recent sexual activity, and those who have only had one sexual partner within the last 3-months will be eligible to donate.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    The 3-month deferral for MSM has been dropped in England, Wales and Scotland. Instead, donors of any gender will be asked about their recent sexual activity, and those who have only had one sexual partner within the last 3-months will be eligible to donate. Northern Ireland is due to follow suit with these changes in September 2021.
  • June 7
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    On 7 June 2021, in delivering the verdict on this case, Justice N Anand Venkatesh prohibited Conversion Therapy with India becoming only the 2nd country in Asia to ban conversion therapy behind Taiwan
  • June
    Same-sex marriage becomes unregistered cohabitation.
    Cambodian national law does not recognize same sex marriage. Some provinces have begun recognizing lesbian partnerships as marriages. As of June 2021, same sex relationship recognition offering limited legal rights known as "declaration of family relationship" was available in 68 Communes.
  • May 3
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (up to life in prison as punishment).
    The Sexual Offences Bill (2019), first tabled in 2015, criminalises sexual activity between persons of the same gender.
  • May
    Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes recognized.
    While making gender marker change on birth certificates available to transgender individuals, an X gender marker option was also added for non-binary individuals.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, surgery not required.
    Ohio's birth certificate law was struck down in December 2020 and judged discriminatory against transgender individuals. Thus, Ohio-born citizens will now be able to modify their gender marker. There is no specific requirement to modify the gender marker, since each court will have their own ruling, but it is advised that their requirement be as accessible as possible.
  • March 16
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    Nationwide
  • March 6
    Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes recognized.
    Prince Edward Island residents can change their IDs and birth certificate to a gender neutral marking.
  • March
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    Banned by passing of Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020
  • Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.
    Same sex couples banned from adopting.
  • February 17
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalized in Bhutan on February 17, 2021.
  • January 31
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).
    As of January 31 2021, Australian Red Cross’s Lifeblood service requires a 3-month deferral.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (3-month deferral).
    Reduced to 3-months on Jan 31, 2021.
  • January 26
    Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    On January 26, 2021 the biden administration made it so transgender individuals can openly serve in the military, 10 years after don’t ask don’t tell was repelled.
  • January 25
    Serving openly in military becomes varies by region.
    Biden administration overturns Trump administration's policy against transgender people serving in the military, however, Texas govt. Greg Abbot kept the ban in place for his state.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 2021

  • Intersex Greece FaviconIntersex Greece
    Greece
    Intersex Greece is a nationwide collective of intersex adults, parents of intersex children, supportive individuals and related professionals located in Greece. Intersex Greece…