This article is about current LGBT rights around the world. For historical and current movements to further LGBT rights, see
LGBT social movements.
Homosexual acts legal
Same-sex marriage
Other type of partnership (or unregistered cohabitation)
Marriage recognized but not performed
Same-sex unions not recognized
|
Homosexual acts illegal
Minimal penalty
Heavy penalty
Up to life in prison
Up to death
Rings indicate local or case-by-case application.
|
Laws affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people vary greatly by country or territory—everything from legal recognition of same-sex marriage or other types of partnerships, to the death penalty as punishment for same-sex sexual activity or identity.
LGBT-related laws include but are not limited to: government recognition of same-sex relationships, LGBT adoption, sexual orientation and military service, immigration equality, anti-discrimination laws, hate crime laws regarding violence against LGBT people, sodomy laws, anti-lesbianism laws, and higher ages of consent for same-sex activity.
In 2011, the United Nations passed its first resolution recognizing LGBT rights, and followed up with a report documenting violations of the rights of LGBT people, including hate crime, criminalization of homosexuality, and discrimination.[1][2]
Throughout Hindu and Vedic texts there are many descriptions of saints, demigods, and even the Supreme Lord transcending gender norms and manifesting multiple combinations of sex and gender.[3] There are several instances in ancient Indian epic poetry of same sex depictions and unions by gods and goddesses. There are several stories of depicting love between same sexes especially among kings and queens. Kamasutra, the ancient Indian treatise on love talks about feelings for same sexes. Transsexuals are also venerated e.g. Lord Vishnu as Mohini and Lord Shiva as Ardhanarishwara (which means half woman).[4]
The ancient Law of Moses (the Torah) forbids men lying with men (intercourse) in Leviticus 18 and gives a story of attempted homosexual rape in Genesis in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities being soon destroyed after that. The death penalty was prescribed.
Middle Assyrian Law Codes dating 1075 BC states: "If a man have intercourse with his brother-in-arms, they shall turn him into a eunuch.[citation needed]
The "conquest mentality" of the ancient Romans shaped Roman homosexual practices.[5] In the Roman Republic, a citizen's political liberty was defined in part by the right to preserve his body from physical compulsion or use by others;[6] for the male citizen to submit his body to the giving of pleasure was considered servile.[7] As long as a man played the penetrative role, it was socially acceptable and considered natural for him to have same-sex relations, without a perceived loss of his masculinity or social standing.[8] The bodies of citizen youths were strictly off-limits, and the Lex Scantinia imposed penalites on those who committed a sex crime (stuprum) against a freeborn male minor.[9] Acceptable same-sex partners were males excluded from legal protections as citizens: slaves, male prostitutes, and the infames, entertainers or others who might be technically free but whose lifestyles set them outside the law.
"Homosexual" and "heterosexual" were thus not categories of Roman sexuality, and no words exist in Latin that would precisely translate these concepts.[10] A male citizen who willingly performed oral sex or received anal sex was disparaged, but there is only limited evidence of legal penalties against these men, who were presumably "homosexual" in the modern sense.[11] In courtroom and political rhetoric, charges of effeminacy and passive sexual behaviors were directed particularly at "democratic" politicians (populares) such as Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.[12]
Roman law addressed the rape of a male citizen as early as the 2nd century BC, when a ruling was issued in a case that may have involved a man of same-sex orientation. It was ruled that even a man who was "disreputable and questionable" had the same right as other citizens not to have his body subjected to forced sex.[13] A law probably dating to the dictatorship of Julius Caesar defined rape as forced sex against "boy, woman, or anyone"; the rapist was subject to execution, a rare penalty in Roman law.[14] A male classified as infamis, such as a prostitute or actor, could not as a matter of law be raped, nor could a slave, who was legally classified as property; the slave's owner, however, could prosecute the rapist for property damage.[15]
In the Roman army of the Republic, sex among fellow soldiers violated the decorum against intercourse with citizens and was subject to harsh penalties, including death,[16] as a violation of military discipline.[17] The Greek historian Polybius (2nd century BC) lists deserters, thieves, perjurers, and "those who in youth have abused their persons" as subject to the fustuarium, clubbing to death.[18] Ancient sources are most concerned with the effects of sexual harassment by officers, but the young soldier who brought an accusation against his superior needed to show that he had not willingly taken the passive role or prostituted himself.[19] Soldiers were free to have relations with their male slaves;[20] the use of a fellow citizen-soldier's body was prohibited, not homosexual behaviors per se.[21] By the late Republic and throughout the Imperial period, there is increasing evidence that men whose lifestyle marked them as "homosexual" in the modern sense served openly.[22]
Although Roman law did not recognize marriage between men, and in general Romans regarded marriage as a heterosexual union with the primary purpose of producing children, in the early Imperial period some male couples were celebrating traditional marriage rites. Juvenal remarks with disapproval that his friends often attended such ceremonies.[23] The emperor Nero had two marriages to men, once as the bride (with a freedman Pythagoras) and once as the groom. His consort Sporus appeared in public as Nero's wife wearing the regalia that was customary for the Roman empress.[24]
Apart from measures to protect the prerogatives of citizens, the prosecution of homosexuality as a general crime began in the 3rd century of the Christian era when male prostitution was banned by Philip the Arab. By the end of the 4th century, after the Roman Empire had come under Christian rule, passive homosexuality was punishable by burning.[25] "Death by sword" was the punishment for a "man coupling like a woman" under the Theodosian Code.[26] Under Justinian, all same-sex acts, passive or active, no matter who the partners, were declared contrary to nature and punishable by death.[27]
In feudal Japan, homosexuality was recognized, between equals (bi-do), in terms of pederasty (wakashudo), and in terms of prostitution. The Samurai period was one in which homosexuality was seen as particularly positive. In Japan, the younger partner in a pederastic relationship was expected to make the first move; the opposite was true in ancient Greece. Homosexuality was later briefly criminalized due to Westernization.[28]
Laws prohibiting homosexuality were also passed in China. (China neither adopted an Abrahamic religion nor was colonized, except for Hong Kong and Macau which were colonized with Victorian era social mores and maintain separate legal system from the rest of China.) Homosexuality was not decriminalized there until 1997.[29] Prior to 1997, homosexual in mainland China was found guilty included in a general definition under the vague vocabulary of hooliganism, there are no specifically anti-homosexual laws.[30]
In modern times nine countries have no official heterosexist discrimination. They are Argentina, Belgium, Canada,[31][32] Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, and Spain. This full non-discrimination includes the rights of marriage and adoption. Portugal has also marriage rights for same-sex couples but this right does not include same-sex adoption. The Canadian Blood Services’ policy indefinitely defers any man who has sex with another man, even once, since 1977.[33] In the U.S., mandated by federal law Pub.L. 103-160 (10 U.S.C. § 654), the U.S. armed forces’ policy on homosexuality in the military, commonly known as Don’t ask, don’t tell, prohibited coming out ("a statement that a member is homosexual or bisexual" or anything that would reveal sexual orientation, i.e. talking about a boyfriend, girlfriend, or attractions) because it was considered tantamount to "a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts". More than 13,500 service members were discharged from the military under the 1993 law. However, the policy was repealed by Congress in December 2010. In the Senate, repeal passed by a majority of 63–33, including six Republicans voting in favour of gays serving openly in the military. The repeal was effective September 20th, 2011. Also in the U.S., LGBT people face different laws for certain medical procedures than other groups. For example, gay men have been prohibited from giving blood since 1983,[34][35] and George W. Bush's FDA guidelines barred them from being sperm donors as of 2005, even though all donated sperm is screened for sexually-transmitted diseases.[36][37]
Africa
[edit] Northern Africa
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Algeria |
 Illegal (Penalty: Fine - up to 2 years prison)[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Egypt |
Not specifically outlawed, other laws may apply[38] |
|
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
 Libya |
Illegal (Penalty: up to 5 years prison).[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
 Morocco (incl. Western Sahara) |
Illegal (Penalty: up to 3 years) |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 South Sudan |
Illegal (Penalty: Up to 10 years.) |
|
Constitutional ban since 2011 |
|
|
|
|
 Sudan |
Illegal (Penalty: 5 years up to death penalty.) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Tunisia |
Illegal (Penalty: Fine - 3 years) |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
[edit] Western Africa
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Benin |
 Legal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Burkina Faso |
Legal[38] |
|
Constitutional ban since 1991 |
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Cape Verde |
Legal since 2004[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Côte d'Ivoire |
Legal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Gambia |
Illegal (Penalty: up to 14 years[39]) |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Ghana |
Male illegal
Female legal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Guinea |
Illegal (Penalty: 6 months to 3 years prison)[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Guinea-Bissau |
Legal[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Liberia |
Illegal (Penalty: Fine) |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Mali |
Legal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Mauritania |
Illegal (Penalty: Death penalty) |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Niger |
Legal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Nigeria |
Male illegal
Female illegal in areas under Sharia
Female legal in areas not under Sharia. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Senegal |
Illegal (Penalty: 1 month to 5 years prison) |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Sierra Leone |
Male illegal
Female legal[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Togo |
Illegal |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
[edit] Middle Africa
[edit] Eastern Africa
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Burundi |
Illegal since 2009[40] |
|
Constitutional ban since 2005 |
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Djibouti |
Unclear[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Eritrea |
Illegal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Ethiopia |
Illegal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Kenya |
Male illegal (Penalty: up to 14 years' imprisonment)
Female not specifically covered by the Penal Code |
|
Constitution since 2010 specifically mentions only opposite sex marriage[41] |
Homosexuals and unmarried couples prohibited[42] |
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Rwanda |
Legal[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
Constitutional ban in Article 26 since 2003 |
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Somalia |
Illegal[38] |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
 Uganda |
Illegal |
|
Constitutional ban since 2005 |
|
|
|
|
 Tanzania |
Illegal (Penalty: up to life imprisonment)[38] |
|
|
A couple must be married to adopt a child jointly. No specific prohibition against an LGBT person adopting as a sole applicant.[43] |
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
[edit] Indian Ocean States
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Comoros |
Illegal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Madagascar |
Legal |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Mauritius |
Male illegal
Female legal (national debate over repeal of the law).[38][44]
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination[45] |
Unknown |
 Réunion (Overseas department of France) |
Legal since 1791 |
Pacte civil de solidarité
since 1999 |
|
Single gay persons may adopt |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Unknown |
| 22x20px Seychelles |
Male illegal
Female legal (decriminalisation proposed)
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
[edit] Southern Africa
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Angola |
Not specifically outlawed, other laws may apply (Penalty: Labour camps for habitual offenders).[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Botswana |
Illegal (Penalty: Fine - 7 years) |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Lesotho |
Male illegal
Female legal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Malawi |
Male illegal
Female legal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Mozambique |
Legal[46] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination[45] |
Unknown |
 Namibia |
Illegal (not enforced)[38][47] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 South Africa |
Male legal since 1998 (retroactive to 1994), female always legal
+ UN decl. sign. |
Limited recognition of unregistered partnerships since 1998 |
Legal since 2006 |
Legal since 2002 (joint and step-parent) |
Since 1998 |
Bans all discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, including hate speech |
Anti-discrimination laws are interpreted to include gender identity; legal gender may be changed after surgical or medical treatment |
 Swaziland |
Male illegal
Female legal. Pending law includes outlawing lesbian sex conduct.[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Zambia |
Male illegal (Penalty: up to 14 years)
Female legal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Zimbabwe |
Male illegal
Female legal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
[edit] Partially recognised states
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Western Sahara (80% controlled by Morocco) |
Illegal (Penalty: up to 3 years prison) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Somaliland |
Illegal (Penalty: expulsion from country, prison - up to life, in various regions and districts; death penalty)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Americas
Northern America
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex unions |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination Laws (sexual orientation) |
Anti-discrimination Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Bermuda (Overseas territory of the United Kingdom) |
Legal since 1994 (Age of consent discrepancy) |
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
|
 Canada |
Legal since 1969 (Age of consent discrepancy[48]) + UN decl. sign. |
|
Legal since 2003, nationwide since 2005 |
[49][50] |
Since 1992[51] |
Bans all anti-gay discrimination, including hate speech |
Sex changes legally recognised, but only after sex reassignment surgery; Explicit anti-discrimination protections only in NWT, implicit elsewhere;[52] |
 Mexico |
Legal since 1872[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
PACS in Coahuila since 2007.
All states are obliged to honour same-sex marriages performed in Mexico City.[53] |
/ Legal in Mexico City since 2010.[54]
All states are obliged to honour same-sex marriages performed in Mexico City.[53] |
/ Joint adoption legal in Mexico City (2010)[54] and Coahuila.[55]
Nationwide, single gay persons may adopt.[56] |
/ No explicit ban. However, LGB persons have been reportedly discharged on the grounds of "immorality."[57] |
Nationwide since 2003.[58] |
/ Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name in Mexico City since 2008.[59] |
 Saint Pierre et Miquelon (overseas collectivity of France) |
Legal since 1791
+ UN decl. sign. |
Pacte civil de solidarité since 1999 |
|
Single gay persons may adopt |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 United States |
Legal nationwide since 2003.
+ UN decl. sign.
See Lawrence v. Texas |
/ Varies by state, but not recognized by federal gov't.
(Legal in California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin)
|
/ Varies by state, but not recognized by federal gov't.
(Legal in Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia)
|
/ Single gay persons may adopt, laws on couples vary by state |
Since 2011 |
/ No federal protections. Banned in 20 states. Included in the federal hate crimes law since 2009. See Matthew Shepard Act |
/ No federal protections. Banned in 13 states. Included in the federal hate crimes law since 2009. See Matthew Shepard Act |
Central America
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex unions |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination Laws (sexual orientation) |
Anti- discrimination Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Belize |
Male: Illegal since 2003 (Penalty: 10 year prison sentence)
Female: Legal; Foreign gay males and females barred from country by immigration law |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Costa Rica |
Legal since 1971
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
N/A |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
 El Salvador |
Legal + UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Yes |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Guatemala |
Legal+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Honduras |
Legal since 1899[38] + UN decl. sign. |
|
Constitutional ban |
Constitutional ban |
|
|
|
 Nicaragua |
Legal since 2008
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination[38] |
|
 Panama |
Legal since 2008
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Caribbean islands
South America
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination Laws (sexual orientation) |
Anti- discrimination Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Argentina |
Legal since 1887[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
Unregistered cohabitation throughout the country. |
Legal since 2010.[60] |
Legal since 2010. |
Since 2009.[61] |
/ The Constitution of Argentina prohibits all forms of discrimination, though sexual orientation is not explicited |
Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name without surgeries or judicial permission[62] |
 Bolivia |
Legal
+ UN decl. sign. |
(Proposed) |
Constitutional ban |
Constitutional ban |
Unknown |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Bans all discrimination based on gender identity[63] |
 Brazil |
Legal since 1830[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
Civil unions since 2004. |
/ |
Legal since 2010. |
Gays and lesbians to serve openly in military. |
/ The Constitution of Brazil prohibits all forms of discrimination, though sexual orientation is not explicited.[64] |
Transgenders can change their legal gender and name since 2009, though surgery is required.[65][66] |
 Chile |
Legal since 1999[38] (Age of consent discrepancy)
+ UN decl. sign. |
(Pending) |
(Pending) |
|
/ No explicit ban. However, LGB persons have been reportedly discharged because of their sexual orientation.[67][68] |
|
|
 Colombia |
Legal since 1981
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 2007 |
/ from 20 July, 2013 under a Court ruling if Congress does not act. |
single person, no matter her/his sexual orientation may adopt. First case of step-child adoption, Court ordered.[69] |
since 1999. Since 2009: the military special social security system can be used by same sex couples in the army |
Bans all anti-gay discrimination, including hate speech [70] |
[71] Since 1993. The name's gender can be changed easily in the National ID Card, to change the sex field a surgery is required. |
 Ecuador |
Legal since 1997
+ UN decl. sign. |
[72] Civil unions recognized since 2009 |
Constitutional ban |
Constitutional ban |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Bans all discrimination based on gender identity |
 Falkland Islands (overseas territory of the UK) |
Legal |
|
|
|
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Unknown |
| French Guiana |
Legal since 1791
+ UN decl. sign. |
Pacte civil de solidarité since 1999 |
|
Single gay persons may adopt |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Unknown |
 Guyana |
Male illegal (Penalty: life imprisonment)
Female legal. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
Added to constitution in 2004, but withdrawn afterwards by the government. |
Unknown |
 Paraguay |
Legal since 1880[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
Constitutional ban since 1992[73] |
Constitutional ban since 1992[73] |
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Peru |
Legal since 1836-37[38] |
|
|
|
since 2009[74] |
Bans all anti-gay discrimination. Penalized with 2-4 years in jail. |
Possible via Civil Code and Legal Process, but no specific law. |
 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |
Legal |
|
|
|
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Unknown |
 Suriname |
Legal since 1869[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Uruguay |
Legal since 1934
+ UN decl. sign. |
Civil unions since 2008.[75] |
But proposed.[76] |
Since 2009.[77] |
Since 2009.[78] |
Legal protection since 2004.[79] |
Legal protection since 2004.[79]
Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name since 2009.[80]
|
 Venezuela |
Legal
+ UN decl. sign. |
/ Civil unions in Mérida [81], Civil union bill passed first reading in National Assembly, becomes law if passes second |
|
|
(since 1999) |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination[38] |
Under consideration (passed first reading) |
Asia
[edit] Central Asia
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Kazakhstan |
Legal since 1998[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
 Kyrgyzstan |
Legal since 1998[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
 Tajikistan |
Legal since 1998[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
 Turkmenistan |
Male illegal (Penalty: up to 2 year prison sentence)
Female legal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
 Uzbekistan |
Male illegal (Penalty: up to 3 year prison sentence)
Female legal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
[edit] Western Asia
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Bahrain |
? Unclear[38] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Iraq |
Legal since 2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Israel |
Legal since 1963 de facto
1988 de jure[82]
+ UN decl. sign. |
Unregistered cohabition Legal |
/ Cannot be performed in the country, but foreign same-sex marriages are recognised |
[83][84] |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
[citation needed] |
 Jordan |
Legal since 1951
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Kuwait |
Illegal (Penalty: fines, men under 21 face prison sentences up to 10 years, men over 21 face prison sentences up to 7 years) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Lebanon |
Illegal (Penalty: minimal, unknown); very lax enforcement[38] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Oman |
Illegal (Penalty: fines, prison sentence up to 3 years; however, only enforced when dealing with "public scandal") |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Palestinian territories (Gaza) |
Male illegal (Penalty: up to 10 year prison sentence)
Female legal |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
| Palestinian territories (West Bank) |
Legal since 1951[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 Qatar |
Illegal (Penalty: fines, prison sentence up to 5 years) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Saudi Arabia |
Illegal (Penalty: death or prison/fines/whipping) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Syria |
Illegal (Penalty: prison sentence up to 3 years; law de facto suspended) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 United Arab Emirates |
Illegal (Penalty: deportation, fines, prison time or death sentence) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Yemen |
Illegal (Penalty: flogging or death) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
[edit] South Asia
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Afghanistan |
Illegal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Bangladesh |
Illegal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Bhutan |
Illegal (Penalty: prison sentence up to 1 year; no cases of penalty actually enforced) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 India |
Legal since 2009 Delhi High Court ruling |
No explicit recognition.[85] |
No explicit recognition.[85] |
|
[86] |
|
. There are no laws to protect from discrimination. |
 Iran |
Illegal (Penalty: Death) |
|
|
|
|
|
Transsexuality in Iran is legal if accompanied by a sex change operation; however, transsexuals still report societal intolerance.[87] |
 Maldives |
? Criminal code does not criminalize same-sex sexual relations; sharia law may apply, but no applications have been reported |
|
|
|
[citation needed] |
|
|
 Nepal |
Legal since 2007[38] + UN decl. sign. |
|
Under consideration |
Under consideration |
|
Supreme Court ruled discrimination laws apply to homosexuals |
"Third gender" cards have been issued since September 2007, legally protected class[88] |
 Pakistan |
Illegal (Penalty: 2 years to life sentence) |
|
|
|
|
|
'Third gender' officially protected from discrimination by Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2010 |
 Sri Lanka |
? Status unclear - British-enacted sodomy law may apply, never implemented |
|
|
|
[citation needed] |
|
|
[edit] East Asia
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 China |
Legal since 1997 |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender |
 Hong Kong |
Legal since 1991 (equal age of consent of 16 for both heterosexual and homosexual sex since 2006) |
|
|
|
The People's Republic of China is in charge of Hong Kong's defence affairs. Regardless of sexual orientation, military personnel are not recruited from Hong Kong. |
|
|
 Japan |
Legal since 1880 (was illegal from 1873-1880; before that there were no laws forbidding sodomy)
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
Foreign same-sex marriages recognized.[89] |
|
[90] |
No nationwide protections, but some cities ban some anti-gay discriminations[38] |
Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery and in case that the transsexual has no child under 20 years old |
 Macau |
Legal since 1996 |
|
|
|
Unknown (China responsible for defence) |
|
Unknown |
 Mongolia |
Legal since 2002 |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
Unknown |
 North Korea |
(showing public affection is frowned upon even for heterosexual couples) |
|
|
|
|
|
Unknown although there are heavily obeyed gender roles for both male and female. See Let's trim our hair in accordance with the socialist lifestyle |
 South Korea |
Legal |
|
|
|
|
|
Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender |
 Taiwan |
Legal |
|
Pending law allows civil unions or same-sex marriage. |
|
Due to military draft |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination (in work and education) |
Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery |
[edit] Southeast Asia
Europe
[edit] European Union
[edit] Central Europe
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Austria |
Legal since 1971
+ UN decl. sign. |
Registered partnership since 2010 |
|
|
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Croatia |
Legal since 1977
+ UN decl. sign. |
Unregistered cohabitation since 2003 |
|
Single gay persons may adopt |
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[99][100] |
Act on the elimination of discrimination, The Law on volunteering, Electronic media Law (all including both gender identity and gender expression) |
 Czech Republic |
Legal since 1962
+ UN decl. sign. |
Registered partnership since 2006. |
|
Single gay persons may adopt |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Germany |
Legal since 1969 (since 1968 in East Germany)
+ UN decl. sign. |
Registered partnership since 2001 |
|
/ Step-child adoption only (full joint adoption proposed) |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Hungary |
Legal since 1962
+ UN decl. sign. |
Registered partnership since 2009 |
Constitutional ban since 2012[101] |
|
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Liechtenstein |
Legal since 1989
+ UN decl. sign. |
Registered partnership since 2011 |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
 Poland |
Never punished. Legal until 18th century, criminalized in 19th by laws of Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary, legal again since 1932
+ UN decl. sign. |
(proposed) |
Constitution defines marriage as "a union of a man and a woman"[102] |
Single gay persons may adopt |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Sex change legal; birth certificate is amended after the reassignment surgery |
 Slovakia |
Legal since 1962
+ UN decl. sign. |
(proposed) |
|
|
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Slovenia |
Legal since 1977
+ UN decl. sign. |
Registered partnership since 2006 |
|
|
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination |
Sex change is legal: new documents can be issued based on a person's new gender identity.[103] |
 Switzerland |
Geneva, Vaud, Valais and Ticino: legal since 1798. Nationwide since 1942
+ UN decl. sign. |
Registered partnership since 2007 |
|
Single gay persons may adopt. (full joint-adoption proposed) |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
[edit] Eastern Europe
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Albania |
Legal since 1995
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[104] |
Forbids discrimination based on gender identity. |
 Armenia |
Legal since 2002
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
 Azerbaijan |
Legal since 2000 |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
 Belarus |
Legal since 1994 |
|
Constitutional ban since 1994. |
|
Banned from military service |
|
|
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Legal since 1998
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Bulgaria |
Legal since 1968
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
Constitutional ban since 1991. |
Single gay persons may adopt. |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Georgia |
Legal since 2000
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Kosovo |
Legal since 1970 (as part of Serbia) |
|
. |
|
|
But not implemented, LGBT people are highly discriminated, no open/legal LGBT organisation. |
[105] |
 Macedonia |
Legal since 1996
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination[100] |
|
 Moldova |
Legal since 1995 |
|
Constitutional ban since 1994. |
|
|
Some cities ban the "propaganda" of homosexualism |
|
 Montenegro |
Legal since 1977
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
Constitutional ban since 2007. |
|
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[106] |
Forbids discrimination based on gender identity. |
 Romania |
Legal since 1996
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[100] |
|
 Russia (incl. all constituent regions) |
Legal since 1993. Previously legal from 1917 to 1930. |
|
|
|
|
Some regions ban the "propaganda" of homosexualism |
|
 Serbia |
Legal since 1994
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
Constitution defines marriage as "a union of a man and a woman" |
|
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Act on the elimination of discrimination |
 Ukraine |
Legal since 1991 |
|
Constitution defines marriage as "a union of a man and a woman" |
|
|
|
|
[edit] Northern Europe
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Denmark |
Legal since 1933
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 1989. First country to legalise same-sex unions. |
(to become legal on June 15th) |
Only in registered partnerships since 2010 |
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[38][100] |
|
 Estonia |
Legal since 1992
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
Single persons may adopt. Two people can adopt a child only if they are married.[107] |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination[100] |
|
 Faroe Islands (constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark) |
Legal since 1933 |
|
|
|
(Denmark responsible for defence) |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination[100] |
|
 Finland |
Legal since 1971
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 2002 |
(under consideration)[108] |
/ Step-child adoption only (full joint adoption under consideration) |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination[100] |
|
 Greenland (constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark) |
Legal since 1933
+UN decl. sign via Denmark. |
Legal since 1996 |
|
/ Step-child adoption only |
(Denmark responsible for defence) |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Iceland |
Legal since 1940
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 1996 |
Legal since 2010 |
Legal since 2006 |
N/A |
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[100] |
Sex changes are legal and documents can be amended to the recognised gender. |
 Ireland |
Legal since 1993
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 2011 |
Supreme Court decision pending |
Single gay persons may adopt. Step Child adoption under consideration. |
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[100] |
Legislation to recognise gender identity pending after High Court ruling in favour. |
 Isle of Man |
Legal since 1992 |
Legal since 2011 |
|
|
UK responsible for defence |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Gender Recognition Act 2009[1] |
 Latvia |
Legal since 1992
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
Constitutional ban since 2006 |
Only married couples can adopt |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Lithuania |
Legal since 1993
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
Constitutional ban since 1992 |
Only married couples can adopt |
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[100] |
|
 Norway |
Legal since 1972
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 1993 |
Legal since 2009 |
Legal since 2009 |
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination.[109][100] |
Sex changes are legal and documents can be amended to the recognised gender. |
 Sweden |
Legal since 1944
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 1995 |
Legal since 2009 |
Legal since 2003 |
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[38] |
Sterilization (Sweden is pursuing to ban sterilization for transgender people)and divorce necessary for legal gender change. |
 United Kingdom |
Legal since 1967 in England and Wales, 1981 in Scotland and 1982 in Northern Ireland
+ UN decl. sign. |
Civil partnership since 2005 |
(under consideration) |
Legal since 2002 in England and Wales, 2009 in Scotland and unclear in Northern Ireland |
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[110][38] |
Gender Recognition Act 2004 |
[edit] Southern Europe
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Andorra |
Legal since 1790
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 2005 |
|
Legal since 2005 |
N/A |
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[100] |
|
 Cyprus |
Legal since 1998
+ UN decl. sign. |
(proposed) |
|
|
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Gibraltar (overseas territory of the UK) |
Legal since 1993 |
|
|
|
UK responsible for defence |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Greece |
Legal since 1951 (Age of consent discrepancy)
+ UN decl. sign. |
(proposed) |
|
(proposed)[111] |
[112] |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Italy |
Legal since 1890
+ UN decl. sign. |
(proposed) |
|
Only married couples can adopt |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Sex changes are legal and documents can be amended to the recognised gender.[113] |
 Malta |
Legal since 1973
+ UN decl. sign. |
(proposed) |
|
|
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Sex changes are legal and documents can be amended to the recognised gender |
 Portugal |
Legal since 1983
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 2001 |
Legal since 2010 |
Single gay persons may adopt |
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination, according to Constitution[100] |
Sex changes are legal and documents can be amended to the recognised gender, simplified in 2011. |
 San Marino |
Legal since 2001
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
 Spain |
Legal since 1979
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 1998 |
Legal since 2005 |
|
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[100] |
La Ley de Identidad de Género (Gender Identity Law), enacted in 2007. |
 Turkey |
Legal since 1858[38] |
|
|
|
|
Committee formed in March 2010 to draft a discrimination clause including sexual orientation.[114] |
|
 Vatican City |
Legal[38] |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
[edit] Western Europe
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Belgium |
Legal since 1795
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 2000 |
Legal since 2003 |
Legal since 2006 |
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[100] |
|
| France |
Legal since 1791
+ UN decl. sign. |
Pacte civil de solidarité
since 1999 |
(to become legal in 2013) |
Single gay persons may adopt (to become legal in 2013) |
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[38][100] |
|
 Guernsey (incl.  Alderney,  Herm and  Sark) |
legal since 1983 |
(proposed) |
|
|
UK responsible for defence |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination[115] |
[115] |
 Jersey |
legal since 1990 |
Legal since 2012 |
|
|
UK responsible for defence |
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Gender Recognition (Jersey) Law 2010[2] |
 Luxembourg |
Legal since 1795
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 2004 |
(proposed) |
Single gay persons may adopt (step-child only proposed) |
|
Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
|
 Monaco |
Legal since 1793 |
|
|
|
France responsible for defence |
|
|
 Netherlands |
Legal since 1811
+ UN decl. sign. |
Legal since 1998 |
Legal since 2001. First country to legalise same-sex marriage. |
|
|
Bans all anti-gay discrimination[100] |
|
[edit] Partially recognised states
| LGBT rights in: |
Same-sex sexual activity |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus (recognised only by the Republic of Turkey) |
Male illegal (Expected to be decriminalised in 2012),
Female legal[38] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oceania
[edit] Australasia
[edit] Melanesia
| LGBT rights in: |
Homosexual acts legal? |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 East Timor (terminology "Oceania" varies on border definitions) |
Legal since 1975[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
 Fiji |
Legal since 2010[116]
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
banned under the Marriage Act 2002 |
|
Unknown |
1997 constitution that banned all anti-gay discrimination has been repealed. |
Unknown |
 New Caledonia (overseas collectivity of France) |
Legal |
PACS since 2009 |
|
|
French responsibility |
Unknown |
|
 Papua New Guinea |
Illegal[38] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Solomon Islands |
Illegal[38] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Vanuatu |
Legal since 2007[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
[edit] Micronesia
| LGBT rights in: |
Homosexual acts legal? |
Recognition of same-sex relationships |
Same-sex marriage |
Same-sex adoption |
Allows gays to serve openly in military? |
Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) |
Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
 Guam (unincorporated territory of the United States) |
Legal since 1979 |
(proposed) |
|
Legal since 2002 |
since 2011 |
Bans all anti-gay discrimination, also US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well |
The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well |
 Federated States of Micronesia |
Legal[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
since 2011 |
The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well |
The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well |
 Kiribati |
Male illegal
Female legal[38] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Marshall Islands |
Legal since 2005[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
since 2011 |
|
|
 Nauru |
Male illegal
Female legal[38](legalisation proposed under a new Criminal Code)
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
Australia's responsibility |
|
|
 Northern Mariana Islands |
since 1983 |
|
|
|
since 2011 |
The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well |
The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well |
 Palau |
Male illegal
Female legal[38]
+ UN decl. sign. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
[edit] Polynesia
- ^ Jordans, Frank (June 17, 2011). "U.N. Gay Rights Protection Resolution Passes, Hailed As 'Historic Moment'". Associated Press. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/17/un-gay-rights-protection-resolution-passes-_n_879032.html.
- ^ "UN issues first report on human rights of gay and lesbian people". United Nations. 15 December 2011. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=40743.
- ^ ritiya-Prakriti: People of the Third Sex, p. 40
- ^ http://galva108.org/deities.html
- ^ Eva Cantarella, Bisexuality in the Ancient World (Yale University Press, 1992, 2002, originally published 1988 in Italian), p. xi; Marilyn B. Skinner, introduction to Roman Sexualities (Princeton University Press, 1997), p. 11.
- ^ Thomas A.J. McGinn, Prostitution, Sexuality and the Law in Ancient Rome (Oxford University Press, 1998), p. 326.
- ^ Catharine Edwards, "Unspeakable Professions: Public Performance and Prostitution in Ancient Rome," in Roman Sexualities, pp. 67–68.
- ^ Amy Richlin, The Garden of Priapus: Sexuality and Aggression in Roman Humor (Oxford University Press, 1983, 1992), p. 225, and "Not before Homosexuality: The Materiality of the cinaedus and the Roman Law against Love between Men," Journal of the History of Sexuality 3.4 (1993), p. 525.
- ^ Plutarch, Moralia 288a; Thomas Habinek, "The Invention of Sexuality in the World-City of Rome," in The Roman Cultural Revolution (Cambridge University Press, 1997), p. 39; Richlin, "Not before Homosexuality," pp. 545–546. Scholars disagree as to whether the Lex Scantinia imposed the death penalty or a hefty fine.
- ^ Craig Williams, Roman Homosexuality (Oxford University Press, 1999, 2010), p. 304, citing Saara Lilja, Homosexuality in Republican and Augustan Rome (Societas Scientiarum Fennica, 1983), p. 122.
- ^ Williams, Roman Homosexuality, pp. 214–215; Richlin, "Not before Homosexuality," passim.
- ^ Catharine Edwards, The Politics of Immorality in Ancient Rome (Cambridge University Press, 1993), pp. 63–64.
- ^ As recorded in a fragment of the speech De Re Floria by Cato the Elder (frg. 57 Jordan = Aulus Gellius 9.12.7), noted and discussed by Richlin, "Not before Homosexuality," p. 561.
- ^ Richlin, "Not before Homosexuality," pp. 562–563. See also Digest 48.5.35 [34] on legal definitions of rape that included boys.
- ^ Under the Lex Aquilia. See McGinn, Prostitution, Sexuality, and the Law in Ancient Rome, p. 314.
- ^ McGinn, Prostitution, Sexuality and the Law in Ancient Rome, p. 40.
- ^ Sara Elise Phang, Roman Military Service: Ideologies of Discipline in the Late Republic and Early Principate (Cambridge University Press, 2008), p. 93.
- ^ Polybius, Histories 6.37.9 (translated as bastinado).
- ^ Phang, The Marriage of Roman Soldiers, pp. 280–285.
- ^ Phang, The Marriage of Roman Soldiers, p. 3.
- ^ Williams, Roman Homosexuality, p. 112 et passim.
- ^ Phang, The Marriage of Roman Soldiers, pp. 285–292.
- ^ Juvenal, Satire 2; Williams, Roman Homosexuality, p. 28.
- ^ Suetonius Life of Nero 28–29; Williams, Roman Homosexuality, p. 279ff.
- ^ Michael Groneberg, "Reasons for Homophobia: Three Types of Explanation," in Combatting Homophobia: Experiences and Analyses Pertinent to Education (LIT Verlag, 2011), p. 193.
- ^ Codex Theodosianus 9.7.3 (4 December 342), introduced by the sons of Constantine in 342.
- ^ Groneberg, "Reasons for Homophobia," p. 193.
- ^ The Beautiful Way of the Samurai Native Tradition and Hellenic Echo
- ^ "Xinhua - English". Web.archive.org. http://web.archive.org/web/19960101-re_/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/26/content_3970520.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
- ^ 晓飞, 郭 (2007-05-01). 中国法视野下的同性恋. 知识产权出版社. ISBN 978-7-80198-697-9.
- ^ Adoptive parents.ca - Adoption in Nunavut. "Adoption in Nunavut". http://www.adoptiveparents.ca/nun_issues.shtml.
- ^ Adoptive Parents.ca - Adoption in Yukon. "Adoption in Yukon". http://www.adoptiveparents.ca/yk_issues.shtml.
- ^ Canadian Blood Services - Société canadienne du sang. "Canadian Blood Services - Société canadienne du sang - Questions and Answers". Blood.ca. http://www.blood.ca/centreapps/internet/uw_v502_mainengine.nsf/page/Questions%20and%20Answers?OpenDocument#HT3. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
- ^ "FDA says gay men still can’t donate blood - AIDS". MSNBC. 23 May 2007. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18827137/. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
- ^ Resnick, Eric (17 March 2006). "Red Cross now seeks to allow gay blood donation". Gaypeopleschronicle.com. http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories06/march/0317062.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
- ^ FDA Recommends Barring Gay Men From Being Sperm Donors By Linda Orlando
- ^ American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) requires sperm donors be screened for all infections
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by State-sponsored Homophobia A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults
- ^ Gambia: Mob Violence And Murder Feared After President's Gay Beheading Threat, AllAfrica, 12 June 2008
- ^ Burundi abolishes the death penalty but bans homosexuality 27 April 2009.
- ^ Kenya Constitution
- ^ Section 158(3)(c)-(d), The Children Act, 2001
- ^ Sections 3-4, The Adoption of Children Act
- ^ The Sexual Offences Bill 2007
- ^ a b Africa: Outspoken activists defend continent's sexual diversity
- ^ Mozambique Gay Rights Group Wants Explicit Constitutional Protections
- ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
- ^ "Criminal Code (R.S., 1985, c. C-46), Section 159, Subsection (1)". Department of Justice Canada. 21 May 2010.
- ^ Sexual Orientation and Legal Rights (92-1E)
- ^ Same Sex Couple Adoption: The Situation in Canada and Australia (Research Note 29 1999-2000)
- ^ "Canadian Armed Forces". The Canadian Lesbian & Gay Archives. http://www.clga.ca/Material/Records/docs/details/caf.htm. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ Northwest Territories Human Rights Act, S.N.W.T. 2002, c.18. Section 5.
- ^ a b David Agren (10 August 2010). "Mexican States Ordered to Honor Gay Marriages". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/world/americas/11mexico.html?_r=1. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
- ^ a b Associated Press (4 March 2010). "Mexico City's gay marriage law takes effect". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35714490/ns/world_news-americas/#storyContinued. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
- ^ (Spanish) José Reyes (28 November 2011). "Adopción gay será posible en Coahuila". Vanguardia. http://www.vanguardia.com.mx/adopciongayseraposibleencoahuila-1158988.html. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "Intercountry Adoption: Mexico". Office of Children Issues, U.S. Dept. of State. November 2009. http://adoption.state.gov/country/mexico.html.
- ^ (Spanish) Milenio Semanal (17 October 2010). "Homosexualidad y Ejército". http://www.msemanal.com/node/3117. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ^ International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) (23 April 2003). "Mexico protects its gay and lesbian citizens with new law". http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mexico+protects+its+gay+and+lesbian+citizens+with+new+law.-a0108149079. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
- ^ International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) Trans (29 August 2008). "Mexico City extends official rights to transgender individuals". http://trans.ilga.org/trans/welcome_to_the_ilga_trans_secretariat/news/mexico_mexico_city_extends_official_rights_to_transgender_individuals. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
- ^ Argentina Passes Gay Marriage Bill
- ^ AG magazine (2 March 2009). "A New Argentina Overturns Gay Military Ban". Queerty. http://www.queerty.com/a-new-argentina-overturns-gay-military-ban-20090302/. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ Página12, 10 May 2012
- ^ Constitución Política del Estado VIGENTE Bolivia
- ^ (Portuguese) Iara Bernardi (Dezember 2010). "Projeto de Lei 122/2006". http://www.senado.gov.br/atividade/materia/Consulta.asp?STR_TIPO=PLC&TXT_NUM=122&TXT_ANO=2006&Tipo_Cons=6&IND_COMPL=&FlagTot=1. Retrieved 31 Dezember 2010.
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- ^ "Ordenan al ICBF iniciar trámite para que lesbiana adopte hija de su pareja". CaracolTV.com. 23 January 2010. http://www.caracoltv.com/noticias/justicia/articulo165973-ordenan-al-icbf-iniciar-tramite-lesbiana-adopte-hija-de-su-pareja. Retrieved 30 September 2010. (Spanish)
- ^ "Este miércoles el presidente Santos sanciona ley antidiscriminación". ElTiempo.com. 29 November 2011. http://www.eltiempo.com/politica/ARTICULO-WEB-NEW_NOTA_INTERIOR-10855506.html. Retrieved 29 November 2011. (Spanish)
- ^ Mora, Manuel Velandia. "Cambio de nombre es posible en Colombia". Manuel Antonio Velandia Mora Autobiografía y artículos. http://manuelvelandiaautobiografiayarticulos.blogspot.com/2007/12/el-cambio-de-nombre-es-posible-en.html. Retrieved 30 September 2010. (Spanish)
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- ^ "El Tribunal Constitucional de Perú considera que no se puede excluir de la Polícia o el Ejército a las personas homosexuales". Dos Manzanas. 13 December 2009. http://www.dosmanzanas.com/2009/12/el-tribunal-constitucional-de-peru-considera-que-no-se-puede-excluir-de-la-policia-o-el-ejercito-a-las-personas-homosexuales.html. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ Hilary Burke (18 December 2007). "Uruguay OKs gay unions in Latin American first". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1854039020071219. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
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- ^ Reuters (9 September 2009). "Lawmakers in Uruguay Vote to Allow Gay Couples to Adopt". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/world/americas/10uruguay.html. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ Rachel Weiner (15 May 2009). "Uruguay Lifts Ban On Gays In The Military". Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/15/uruguay-lifts-ban-on-gays_n_203996.html. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ a b (Spanish) Congress of Uruguay (18 August 2004). "Ley N° 17.817". http://www0.parlamento.gub.uy/leyes/AccesoTextoLey.asp?Ley=17817&Anchor=. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
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- ^ http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/1673
- ^ LGBTQ Timeline
- ^ "Attorney General rules same sex couples eligible to adopt"
- ^ Gay couple wins right to adopt foster son
- ^ a b "Lesbian marriages, born of a legal loophole, stir debate in India". http://www.despardes.com/lifestyle/feb05/lesbian-marriages.htm.
- ^ "Being gay still a crime in the military". StratPost. 2 July 2009. http://www.stratpost.com/being-gay-still-a-crime-in-the-military. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
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- ^ "Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity References". U.S. Department of State Human Rights Reports for 2008. http://www.globalequality.org/storage/documents/pdf/dos_report_sogi_references_2008.pdf. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
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- ^ "Asia's Silence on Gays in Military Broken by Taiwan". Palm Center. 15 May 2002. http://www.palmcenter.org/press/dadt/releases/asias_silence_on_gays_in_military_broken_by_taiwan. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
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- ^ Perspective: what has the EU done for LGBT rights?, Café Babel 17/05/10
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- ^ "Gender-Neutral Marriage Law Possible by 2012". YLE. http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/07/gender-neutral_marriage_law_possible_by_2012_1804013.html. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
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- ^ Discrimination will be banned, draft law says
- ^ a b "The Prevention of Discrimination (Enabling Provisions) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2004". Guernsey Legal Resources. http://www.guernseylegalresources.gg/ccm/legal-resources/laws/discrimination/prevention-of-discrimination-enabling-provisions-bailiwick-of-guernsey-law-2004.en. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ Chand, Shalveen (26 February 2010). "Same sex law decriminalised". Fiji Times. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=140812. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
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