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1977 in LGBT Rights

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In 1977, there were 44 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 23 changes made and 20 in the following year. A total of 252 legal changes were made in the 1970s.

  • December 1
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Sexual orientation is protected under the Quebec Charter of Human Rights since December 1977, making it the first province to protect it. Gender identity and expression is protected federally under Bill C-16.
  • November 4
    Serving openly in military becomes legal.
    As of 2009, the courts also ruled that transgender individuals are also permitted to serve in the military.
  • October 1
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    The Penal Code adopted on June 15, 1977 criminalised 'pederasty' under Article 137 with deprivation of liberty for up to ten years.
  • August 17
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In 1977, California passed a statute restricting marriage to different-sex couples, effectively banning same-sex marriage.
  • July 1
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    In Indiana Code 35-42-4-9, anyone under 16 years of age that is with a 18+ year old unless married is subjected to Felonies and jail time. Law does not specify if this includes LGBTQ people, generally it is the same for all people.
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    The Criminal Code of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (as part of the SFRY) adopted in 1977 criminalized unnatural fornication between men. Article 93 (2): for unnatural fornication between persons of the male sex, the perpetrator shall be punished by imprisonment for up to one year.
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    On June 28, 1977, the Socialist autonomous province of Kosovo (as part of SR Serbia in then SFRY) passed Criminal Law that criminalized consentual male homosexuality. "Unnatural fornication" between persons of the male sex was punishable by imprisonment for up to one year (Article 81 (3)). The same sentence remained after reintegration into the legal system of Serbia in 1989.
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    The Criminal Code of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia (as part of the SFRY) adopted on June 16, 1977 criminalized unnatural fornication between men. Article 101, paragraph (2): for unnatural fornication between persons of the male sex, the perpetrator will be punished by imprisonment for up to one year.
  • Homosexual activity becomes varies by region.
    On June 28, 1977, the Socialist Republic of Serbia and its two socialist autonomous provinces—Vojvodina and Kosovo—passed separate Criminal Laws that treated the issue of male homosexuality differently. In (Central) Serbia (Article 110, Paragraph 3) and Kosovo (Article 81, Paragraph 3) "unnatural fornication" between persons of the male sex was punishable by imprisonment for up to one year. In Vojvodina (Article 75, paragraph 3 is missing) there was no criminalization of consensual sex between men.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Age of consent is equitable regardless of gender or orientation.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent in Slovenia has been the same for everyone since 1977. The age limit of 14 was raised to 15 in 1999.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent of 14 has been the same for everyone since 1977.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    The Criminal Code of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro adopted on June 17, 1977 decriminalized consensual male homosexuality on the territory of Montenegro in the then SFRY.
  • 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.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In 1977, Vermont repealed its sodomy law. US Supreme Court ruling issued in Lawrence v. Texas struck down all sodomy laws on the basis of privacy and liberty. The decision overturned any laws remaining in all US states which prohibited acts of sodomy.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Legislative repeal, effective 1977.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    The Criminal Code of the Socialist Republic of Croatia adopted on June 16, 1977 decriminalized consensual male homosexuality on the territory of Croatia in the then SFRY.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    The Criminal Code of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia adopted on May 26, 1977, decriminalized consensual male homosexuality on the territory of Slovenia in the then SFRY.
  • June 8
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In 1977, Florida Gov. Reubin Askew signed a bill that banned same-sex couples from marrying. The bill also banned same-sex couples from adopting children.
  • June 2
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Minnesota laws are changed to explicitly outlaw same-sex marriage through adding the words "between one man and a woman".
  • May 27
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Age of consent in Wyoming is 17 for both same-sex couples and different-sex couples. State Statute is often confused to mean age 16, but in cases of Pierson v. State and Moore v. State, the courts ruled the law states 17. The statutes were later amended for clarity.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In 1977, Wyoming repealed its sodomy law. US Supreme Court ruling issued in Lawrence v. Texas struck down all sodomy laws on the basis of privacy and liberty. The decision overturned any laws remaining in all US states which prohibited acts of sodomy.
  • April 1
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Age of consent laws are equitable regardless of gender or orientation.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In 1977, South Dakota repealed its sodomy law. US Supreme Court ruling issued in Lawrence v. Texas struck down all sodomy laws on the basis of privacy and liberty. The decision overturned any laws remaining in all US states which prohibited acts of sodomy.
  • March 27
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    In 1977, Arkansas recriminalized sodomy with imprisonment. Sodomy was defined as homosexual acts, laws where repelled when the supreme court took on a case from 2002, Lawrence v. Texas. Supreme court ruled that all forms of punishment by sodomy was illegal, and homosexual acts are legal.
  • January 28
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes varies by region.
    Non-discrimination ordinances were enacted across Florida to explicitly protect individuals on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. These ordinances are still in effect today.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes varies by region.
    30 communities and 12 counties fully protects LGBTQ individuals from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations. 2 additional communities partially protect LGBTQ individuals.
  • (date unknown)
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In 1977, Wyoming passed a statute restricting marriage to different-sex couples, effectively banning same-sex marriage. Attempts to constitutionally ban it in the state failed several times.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Venezuela was the first country in South America to grant trans people legal gender recognition in 1977. There were many legal formulas available to do so until 1998.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Following Canadian Blood Services guidelines.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Following Canadian Blood Services guidelines.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Following Canadian Blood Services guidelines.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1977, Montenegro legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1977, Croatia legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1977, Bosnia and Herzegovina legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1977, Australia legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Following Canadian Blood Services guidelines.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Following Canadian Blood Services guidelines.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Age of consent is equal
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    As part of Yugoslavia
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    Canadian Human Rights Act (1977, cited 1985) Gender identity is not spelled out in the BC Human Rights Code. However, there are a set of strict guidelines of exempt cases for housing protections on the basis of sexual orientation.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In 1977, Utah restricted marriage to different-sex couples, effectively banning same-sex marriage. This would be codified in the state constitution in 2004.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    MSMs were not eligible to donate blood.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Men who had sex with men, even just once, were banned indefinitely from donating blood in Canada from 1977 to 2013.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1977