2010s in LGBT rights
This is a list of notable events in LGBT rights that took place in the 2010s.
Overview
During the 2010s, acceptance of LGBT people slowly increased in many parts of the world. Marriage for same-sex couples was an ongoing debate in many nations, while over eighteen nations legalized same-sex marriage.In June 2011 the United Nations Human Rights Council passed the UN's first-ever motion condemning discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals commissioning a report on the issue. During an ABC News interview in 2012, Barack Obama expressed his support for gay marriage, becoming the first US President to do so. Although many nations allowed gays and bisexuals to serve in their militaries, a major milestone came in September 2011 when the US abolished its "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.
In 2015, Ireland became the first nation to legalize same-sex marriage via referendum. In 2017, Leo Varadkar became Ireland's first openly gay Taoiseach, joining the ranks of other nation's first openly gay and lesbian heads of state in the 2010s.
In April 2015, former olympic athlete Caitlyn Jenner came out as a transgender woman, and was subsequently called the most famous openly transgender person in the world, and on June 26 of that year, same-sex marriage was legalized in all 50 states of the U.S. as the Supreme Court ruled in a 5–4 vote that refusing to grant marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples violated the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the Episcopal Church announced acceptance of transgender people in the 2010s.
However, LGBT rights supporters faced obstacles with the implementation of laws curbing expression of homosexuality in Russia and China, as well as in the United States, with the Trump administration's decisions to reinstate the ban on transgender people serving in the military and the rescission of protections for transgender students.
Events by year
2010">2010 in LGBT rights">2010
- February 2 — The United States Tax Court ruled in O'Donnabhain v. Commissioner that taxpayers may deduct the medical costs associated with treating gender identity disorder from their federal income taxes.
- March 1 — Crime Decree 2009 decriminalises in Fiji. Fiji became the first Pacific Island country to formally decriminalise homosexuality.
- March 4 — Mexico City's same-sex marriage and adoption laws come into effect. This follows twenty-two couples' taking part in a symbolic marriage ceremony in Tlaxcala on February 26 to highlight the issue.
- March 31 — The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopts a recommendation on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.
- April 8 — Portugal abolishes the ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood
- May 17 — Amid controversy, a law enabling same-sex marriage in Portugal is promulgated by president Aníbal Cavaco Silva, although adoption is ruled out. The law comes into force on June 5, with the first marriage on June 7.
- June 2 — United States President Barack Obama issues a memorandum ordering federal departments and agencies to extend spousal benefits to same-sex couples to the extent permitted by the Defense of Marriage Act.
- June 27 — Same-sex marriage in Iceland is legalised with Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and her partner, Jónína Leósdóttir, among the first to make use of the law.
- August 4 — In Perry v. Schwarzenegger, District Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that Proposition 8, the state constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage, violates the "Equal Protection Clause" and the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution because there is no rational basis for singling out homosexual couples for denial of marriage licenses. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit then issued an emergency stay without explanation on August 16.
- September 13 — Chief of the Defence Force of Australia Angus Houston issued an order lifting the ban on transgender personnel.
- September 29 — Tasmania passes a bill recognizing legal same-sex marriages performed outside Tasmania.
- December 22 — The Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 is signed into law by the President of the United States Barack Obama. following its passage by the United States Congress, President Barack Obama signs the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 into law.
2011">2011 in LGBT rights">2011
- January 1 — The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 comes into effect in Ireland, allowing same-sex couples to enter civil partnerships.
- January 31 — Following its passage in December 2010, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signs the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act. This act allows all couples, regardless of gender, to enter into civil unions which provide all of the state benefits of marriage. The law is scheduled to take effect June 1.
- April 13 — Rear Admiral Mark L. Tidd, Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy, issues a two-page "guidance" memo stating that following final repeal of the don't ask, don't tell policy, same-sex couples would be allowed to marry in Naval facilities with Naval chaplains officiating in those states in which same-sex marriage is legal.
- April 29 — The United States Department of Labor updates its internal equal employment opportunity policy to bar discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
- June 24 — Following a 36–26 vote passing exemptions for religious organisations, the New York Senate approves the same-sex marriage law; the New York State Assembly also approved the bill to legalise same-sex marriage in the state by a vote of 80–63. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law shortly before midnight. The law would make New York the largest state in the United States to recognize same-sex marriage.
- September 20 — Don't ask, don't tell, the law which since 1993 has excluded LGB people from serving openly in the United States military, expires nine months after it was legislatively repealed. The United States Army is the first branch of the military to announce officially that the exclusionary policy is over.
- December 1 — Australian state Queensland passes in parliament Civil Partnership Bill.
- December 6 — Elio Di Rupo of Belgium becomes the first openly gay male leader of a European Union country.
2012">2012 in LGBT rights">2012
- February 7 — The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rules in Perry v. Schwarzenegger that California's Proposition 8, which restricts marriage to mixed-sex couples, is unconstitutional.
- May 8 — In the United States, North Carolina voters approve of Amendment 1 bans same-sex marriages and any "domestic legal union" in the state constition.
- May 28 — In Moldova, a bill that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment is signed into law by the President Nicolae Timofti.
- May 31 — In the United States, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, strikes down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional.
- December 5 — Supreme Court of Mexico unanimously strikes down a same-sex marriage ban in the southern state of Oaxaca, paving the way for same-sex marriages nationally.
2013">2013 in LGBT rights">2013
- January 1 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the U.S. state of Maryland.
- January 2 — The National Assembly of France approves Article 1 of the same-sex marriage bill by a 249-to-97 vote.
- January 5 — The Marriage Bill, which would legalize same-sex marriage for couples in England and Wales, passes 400–175 in the Second Reading in the House of Commons.
- April 23 — The National Assembly of France legalizes, in a second voting, same-sex marriage and adoption.
- May 1 — Civil unions become legal in the U.S. state of Colorado.
- May 14 — Brazil legalizes same-sex marriage after the Federal Court ruled that the government was not allowed to discriminate against gay people in the provision of marriage licenses.
- May 30 — The Nigerian parliament passes a law banning same-sex marriage.
- July 1 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the U.S. state of Delaware.
- August 1 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the U.S. states of Rhode Island and Minnesota.
- August 5 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Uruguay after it was passed on May 10 by the Chamber of Deputies of Uruguay with 71 affirmative votes out of 92 in its second reading, making Uruguay the second country in Latin America, after Argentina, and twelfth overall, to legalize same-sex marriage. The law was previously passed by the Senate on April 2 by a 23-8 vote.
- December 11 — The Supreme Court of India overrules the Delhi Court in re-establishing the primacy of section 377 of the Indian penal code that makes homosexual activity illegal.
- December 12 — The High Court of Australia overrules the Australian Capital Territory's law allowing same-sex marriage in contravention of the Marriage Act saying the federal parliament alone could set such laws. The ruling annuls weddings that have taken place already.
- December 17 — The Parliament of Uganda approves the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which originally proposed the death penalty for homosexuality but now contains life in prison for "aggravated homosexuality." The bill must be signed by the President of Uganda before becoming law.
- December 19 — The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the state must issue marriage licenses to couples without respect to gender.
2014">2014 in LGBT rights">2014
- January 13 — Nigeria passes a law that makes same-sex marriage illegal, along with public displays of same-sex relationships and belonging to homosexual groups. The law enshrined punishments for those that violate it. This includes those in a same-sex marriage or civil union being sentenced to 14 years in prison and foreign partnerships being "void"; additionally those who register, operate or participate in gay clubs, societies and organizations or who directly or indirectly makes public display of affection as part of a same-sex relationship would be punished with up to 10 years in prison.
- February 4 — The Scottish Parliament approves same-sex marriage bill.
- April 14 — In Malta parliament approves a civil partnership bill.
- July 21 — United States President Barack Obama signed an executive order expanding employment protections for federal workers and contractors to include gender identity. This order also bans sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination for companies receiving federal contracts.
- August 1 — The Constitutional Court of Uganda invalidated the Anti-Homosexuality Bill as not enough members of parliament were present to vote on the bill.
- October 9 — Estonia became the first former Soviet country to recognize same-sex partnerships. The law came into effect in 2016.
- October 10 — Same-sex marriage was legalized in North Carolina.
- *Same-sex married couples in Virginia can now legally adopt.
- October 15 — Same-sex marriage was legalized in Idaho
- October 17 — Same-sex marriage was legalized in Arizona after U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick ruled that state's ban was unconstitutional. The judge refused to grant a stay on his opinion and State Attorney General Tom Horne chose not to appeal.
- October 21 — Same-sex marriage was legalized in Wyoming.
- December 17 — Same-sex marriage became legal in Scotland.
2015">2015 in LGBT rights">2015
- January 1 — Same-sex marriage became legal in Luxembourg.
- January 6 — Same-sex marriage became legal in the state of Florida.
- March 3 — The Parliament of Slovenia voted to legalize marriage for same-sex couples.
- June 12 — In the Mexican state of Chihuahua, the governor César Duarte Jáquez announced that his administration would no longer prevent same-sex couples from marrying.
- June 22 — Same-sex marriage became legal in the British Territory of Pitcairn Islands.
- June 26 — Same-sex marriage was legalized in the United States of America after the Supreme Court ruled that refusing to grant marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
- July 13 — The Pentagon announced that it will allow transgender personnel to serve openly in the US military, starting in 2016.
- October 22 — Civil unions became legal in Chile.
- November 17 — Ireland held its first same-sex marriage.
- December 9 — Same-sex unions became legal in the Republic of Cyprus.
- December 23 — The Greek Parliament approved a bill that recognizes civil unions between same-sex couples.
2016">2016 in LGBT rights">2016
- January 1 — Civil unions and step-child adoption by same-sex couples become legal in Estonia.
- January 20 — The Evangelical Church in the Rhineland votes to allow same-sex marriages in its churches.
- April 1 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Greenland. The first same-sex couples were married on that day.
- May 12 — Same-sex sexual activity is decriminalized in Nauru.
- *Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the Mexican state of Jalisco following the Congress of Jalisco complying with the Mexican Supreme Court ruling by amending the state civil code.
- May 17 — Same-sex sexual activity is officially decriminalized in Seychelles.
- May 20 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the Mexican state of Campeche.
- July 1 — A bill banning the use of conversion therapy on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity takes effect in the state of Vermont.
- July 8 — A bill that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in public accommodations in Massachusetts is signed into law by governor Charlie Baker.
- July 16 — The General Synod of Anglican Church in Canada voted in favour of same-sex marriage.
- July 22 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the United Kingdom Crown dependency of Isle of Man.
- August 10 — Same-sex sexual activity is officially decriminalized by high court decision in Belize.
- September 1 — Northern Ireland lifts its lifetime ban on gay men donating blood.
- October 1 — A policy that lifts the ban on transgender troops from serving openly goes into effect in the United States.
- October 13 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the British Overseas Territory of the British Antarctic Territory.
- December 15 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. The first same-sex marriage is performed the following day.
2017">2017 in LGBT rights">2017
- January 1 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Ascension island.
- January 9 — The Constitutional Court of Peru rules that all same-sex marriages performed abroad must be recognized and registered as such in Peru.
- January 20 — Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States, all mentions of LGBT rights are removed from the White House website.
- February 22 — The Trump administration withdraws guidelines for transgender students in public schools regarding the use bathroom and facilities corresponding with their gender identity.
- March 1 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Finland with the first weddings taking place the same week. Joint adoption becomes legal as well.
- * A law requiring all single-occupancy bathrooms to be gender-neutral goes into effect in California, the first state to adopt such legislation.
- * British Secretary of Education Justine Greening announces that Sex and Relationship Education will be made compulsory in all English schools by 2019.
- April 25 — The Danish Parliament ratifies legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in the Faroe Islands.
- May 2 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Guernsey.
- May 5 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Bermuda following a landmark supreme court case.
- July 16 — The Israeli government announces that gay couples will not be allowed to adopt in Israel.
- July 26 — U.S. president Donald Trump announces a ban on transgender people serving in the United States military.
- August 4 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Tristan da Cunha.
- September 1 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Malta. A bill for legalisation was passed by the Parliament on 12 July 2017 and signed by the President on 1 August.
- October 1 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Germany. A bill for legalisation was passed by the Bundestag on 30 June 2017, and by the Bundesrat on 7 July. It was signed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on 20 July.
- December 7 — Same-sex marriage officially becomes legal in Australia.
- December 11 — Despite president Donald Trump's opposition, a federal judge rules that transgender people will be allowed to enlist in the United States military from January 1, 2018.
- December 12 — The Trump administration turns to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, requesting to stop transgender enlistment in the United States military.
2018">2018 in LGBT rights">2018
- April 12 — Trinidad and Tobago's High Court decriminalizes same-sex sexual activity.
- June 1 — Same-sex marriage is no longer legal in Bermuda.
- June 6 — The Supreme Court of Bermuda strikes down the ban on same-sex marriage, five days after the ban goes into effect. A stay is implemented, allowing the Government time to respond.
- July 1 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Jersey.
- September 6 — The Indian Supreme Court decriminalizes homosexuality, striking down the part of Section 377 that criminalised oral sex and anal sex.
- November 15 — Parliament in San Marino allowed civil unions and stepchild adoptions for homosexual couples
2019">2019 in LGBT rights">2019
- January 1 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Austria.
- January 23 — Angola decriminalizes homosexuality.
- May 17 — Taiwan becomes the first state in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.
- June 11 — Botswana decriminalizes homosexuality.
- June 13 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Ecuador.
- October 22 — Legislation to recognize same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland passed by MPs at Westminster, taking effect after the 21 October deadline passed without a devolved Northern Ireland government being re-formed.