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1978 in LGBT Rights

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In 1978, there were 13 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 27 changes made and 13 in the following year. A total of 161 legal changes were made in the 1970s.

  • September 30
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Michigan Compiled Law 333.2831(c) allowed citizens to change the sex designation on birth certificates with an affidavit of a physician certifying that sex-reassignment surgery had been performed.
  • July 7
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    5 to 14 years in prison. Not enforced.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
    Homosexuality is illegal there.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    Homosexual activity is illegal in the Solomon Islands.
  • Equal age of consent becomes n/a.
    Homosexual activity is illegal in the Solomon Islands.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Homosexual activity is illegal in the Solomon Islands.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Anal sex between two consenting males will be sentenced to 14 years in prison. Attempted anal sex will reult in seven years in prison. Acts of "gross indecendy" will receive five years in prison. (decriminalization pending
  • April 1
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Starting on April 1st, 1978, trans people were allowed to legally change their gender in Quebec if they fit the following criteria: -The person must be of age -a Canadian citizen -not married -have been residing in Quebec for at least a year -must have undergone medical and surgical treatment that would modify the sexual organs and general sex characteristics In 2005, the criteria requiring the person to not be married is removed. -
  • January 1
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexual acts were legalized prior to the federal ruling which legalized homosexuality for all federal jurisdictions in 2003.
  • January 1
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Age of consent are 15 regardless of sexual orientation.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Legislative repeal, effective 1978.
  • (date unknown)
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1978