1994 in LGBT Rights

In 1994, there were 54 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 28 changes made and 33 in the following year. A total of 422 legal changes were made in the 1990s.

  • December 1
    LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    None exist.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    all across Australia.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes no protections.
    Do to homophobia in the country. Only protections for gender identity and expression.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    No protection provision exist within neither the Penal code nor the Constitution
  • September 29
    LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    Discrimination is legal in Yemen
  • September 22
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes no protections.
    Homosexuality is illegal there.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    As homosexuality is illegal, same sex union is also illegal by default.
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    Article 120 states male homosexuality is punishable by 3 years in prison. Female homosexuality is not illegal, but lesbians still face heavy social persecution.
  • July 22
    Equal age of consent becomes unequal.
    The age of sexual consent was 18 years old for anal intercourse between men and 14 years for other sexual practices.
  • Equal age of consent becomes unequal.
    The age of sexual consent was 18 years old for anal intercourse between two men and 14 years for other sexual practices.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    There was no definition of marriage in the 1990 Constitution. Article 29: "Marriage and marriage & family relations are regulated by law" Law on Marriage and Family Relations from 1980, article 26: "Marriage is a union of life between husband and wife regulated by law".
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    On July 14, 1994, Parliament of Serbia repealed paragraph 3 of article 110 of Criminal Code and thus decriminalized male homosexuality on its entire territory, including the autonomous provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo & Metohija. Since the self-proclaimed independence of 2008, homosexuality has been legal in the Republic of Kosovo.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    On July 14, 1994, Serbian parliament repealed paragraph 3 of article 110 of Criminal Code and thus decriminalized male homosexuality. The whole term and criminal act called "Unnatural fornication" was completely removed from Criminal Code in 2005.
  • June 11
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Germany fully repealed section 175 of the German Criminal Code and legalized homosexual activity in 1994.
  • May 13
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In early 1994, Dr John Stubbs introduced a Private Members Bill with the aim of decriminalising consensual same-sex acts. On 13 May 1994, the Parliament of Barbuda approved “The Stubbs Bill” by a vote of 22 to 17.
  • April 27
    Equal age of consent becomes ambiguous.
    Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957, as inserted by the Immorality Amendment Act 2 of 1988, set the age of consent for gay and lesbian sex at 19, as opposed to 16 for straight sex. However, in the case of Geldenhuys v National Director of Public Prosecutions and Others the Constitutional Court found this discrimination to be unconstitutional, and set 16 as the uniform age of consent retroactively to 27 April 1994.
  • March 31
    Homosexual activity becomes varies by region.
    Homosexual activity was federally decriminalized by the Human Rights (Sexual Conduct) Act 1994, although some local state laws remained inconsitent until 1997.
  • March 1
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent in Belarus is 16 years, as stated in Articles 168 and 169, which read: "Sexual intercourse, sodomy, lesbian intercourse or other sexual acts committed by adults who have reached eighteen years of age, with a person who is obviously not reached sixteen years of age, with no signs of crimes envisaged by Articles 166 and 167 of this Code, shall be punished by restriction of liberty from two to four years, or imprisonment for a term of two to five years. "and" indecent assault, committed by a person under eighteen years of age, in relation to a person who obviously has not attained the age of sixteen, in the absence of evidence of the crimes stipulated in Articles 166, 167 and 168 of this Code, shall be punished by imprisonment for up to six months or imprisonment for a term of one to three years "
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Only form of homosexuality that is illegal is non-consensual homosexual intercourse
  • February 1
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    The Human Rights Act 1993 (Māori: Te Ture Tika Tangata 1993) outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and, implicitly, gender identity/expression. Initially, this law temporarily exempted government activities until 1999. In 1998, an amendment bill was introduced making this exemption permanent; this was abandoned following a change of government in 1999. The new Labour Government instead passed another amendment to apply the Act to government activities, and also to create a new ability for the courts to "declare" legislation inconsistent with the Act.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    The Human Rights Act 1993 (Māori: Te Ture Tika Tangata 1993) outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and, implicitly, gender identity/expression. Initially, this law temporarily exempted government activities until 1999. In 1998, an amendment bill was introduced making this exemption permanent; this was abandoned following a change of government in 1999. The new Labour Government instead passed another amendment to apply the Act to government activities, and also to create a new ability for the courts to "declare" legislation inconsistent with the Act.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    New Zealand responsible for defence.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    New Zealand responsible for defence.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    New Zealand responsible for defence.
  • Serving openly in military becomes legal.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    The Human Rights Act 1993 (Māori: Te Ture Tika Tangata 1993) outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and, implicitly, gender identity/expression. Initially, this law temporarily exempted government activities until 1999. In 1998, an amendment bill was introduced making this exemption permanent; this was abandoned following a change of government in 1999. The new Labour Government instead passed another amendment to apply the Act to government activities, and also to create a new ability for the courts to "declare" legislation inconsistent with the Act.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1994, Tanzania legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1994, Denmark adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • January 1
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1994, Slovakia adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1994, Lesotho legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1994, Czech Republic adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • January 1
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1994, Thailand adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1994, Denmark adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1994, Mongolia adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes other type of partnership.
    The Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos (Urban Leasing Law) was passed in 1994, allowing registered cohabitation for same-sex couples which granted some of the rights previously reserved for married couples.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    In the areas administrated by the Palestinian Authority and the Gaza Strip, same-sex marriage is unrecognized.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes unregistered cohabitation.
    Israel does not legally recognize same-sex marriage. In Israel, marriage is mostly regulated by religious institutions. However, in 1994 Israel expanded the Legal status of Unregistered Cohabitation to same sex couples, today it works virtually the same way as marriage with a few exceptions. Israel was the first country in Asia to grant such recognition and this legal status is still available to same sex couples.
  • January 1
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Since they passed a Hate crime laws.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    All areas since 1994.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes foreign same-sex marriages recognized only.
    Required legalization under EU Ruling. Gay union legalization pending.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    one of the few places in the Caribbean with discrimination protections.
  • (date unknown)
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Constitutional ban since 1994.
  • Equal age of consent becomes unequal.
    A bill was signed to reduce the age of consent for men who have sex with men from 21 to 18.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.
    Same-sex couples are not permitted joint or second parent adoption.
  • January 1
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Homosexuality is not legal in Yemen.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Surgery required.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1994

  • CenterLink FaviconCenterLink
    CenterLink exists to support the development of strong, sustainable LGBT community centers and to build a unified center movement.rnrnCenterLink was founded in 1994 as a…
  • Naz Foundation (India) Trust FaviconNaz Foundation (India) Trust
    The Naz Foundation (India) Trust is an organization based in New Delhi, India working on HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health. The organization focuses on reaching out to populations…
  • GayLawNet FaviconGayLawNet
    Global
    The #1 directory of LGBTQ attorneys worldwide. This is the oldest network on the internet for LGBTQ attorneys and legal insights.
  • The Rainbow Project FaviconThe Rainbow Project
    The Rainbow Project is a non-profit organization based in Northern Ireland that promotes the health and wellbeing of the LGBT people and their families in Northern Ireland. The…