2010 in LGBT Rights

In 2010, there were 115 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 83 changes made and 112 in the following year. A total of 1432 legal changes were made in the 2010s.

  • December 3
    Conversion therapy becomes banned.
    Article 3(c) of the Law on Mental Health (2010) establishes that a person cannot be diagnosed on their mental health exclusively on the basis of their "sexual choice or identity”. It prevents health professionals, particularly psychiatrists, from legally engaging in sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE). Additionally, at the subnational level, in December 2020, the province of Santa Cruz passed the Integral Law for the recognition and historical reparation of the rights of trans persons (Law No. 3.724), which prohibits "aversion therapies" for trans people under Article 24.
  • November 1
    Same-sex adoption becomes single only.
    Law specifies that married couples or single individuals may adopt, but there is no same sex marriage in Ireland at present.
  • October 10
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    For Local Authorities they would be bound by Equality Act 2010 and have a duty under Public Sector Equality Duty. For private landlords would be bound by Equality Act 2010
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    It is illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity when hiring
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Discrimination in the United Kingdom is illegal. This extends to Salford.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes foreign same-sex marriages recognized only.
    Gay Union legalization pending.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    Marriages performed in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are recognised. They are not however performed in Aruba.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes foreign same-sex marriages recognized only.
    Marriages performed in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are recognised. They are not however performed in Curaçao. However, this doesn't mean equal treatment is given to same sex married couples (as opposed to different sex married couples)
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    Marriages performed in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are recognised. They are not however performed in Sint Maarten.
  • October 8
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Discrimination is protected for sexual orientation and gender identity as per the law against racism and discrimination of any kind.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Discrimination is protected for sexual orientation and gender identity as per the law against racism and discrimination of any kind.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    The law against racism and all other forms of discrimination, in article 5a explicitly includes sexual orientation and (gender) identity.
  • October 1
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Housing discrimination for sexual orientation and gender identity is illegal.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    It is illegal to discriminate employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    It is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in England.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    It is illegal for a service provider to deny a service based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    It is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in England. This extends to Manchester.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    Discrimination in Manchester is illegal.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Both Sexual and gender orientation
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    LGBTQ+ Communities are protected from any discrimination.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    The Equality Act 2010 made it illegal for any public or private landlord to discriminate against tenants due to many things, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    The Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against any employee on the grounds of many things, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    All discrimination is illegal
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    All discrimination is illegal
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    All discrimination illegal
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    The Equality Act brings together over 116 separate pieces of legislation into one single Act. Combined, they make up a new Act that provides a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all. The Act simplifies, strengthens and harmonises the current legislation to provide Britain with a new discrimination law which protects individuals from unfair treatment and promotes a fair and more equal society. Also covering LGBT discrimination would be the Human Rights Act, which is a fundamental piece of the legislation underpinning the Scottish Parliament. In 2024, Scotland revised its hate crime law to explicitly include gender identity and sexual orientation.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    It is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    For Local Authorities they would be bound by Equality Act 2010 and have a duty under Public Sector Equality Duty. For private landlords would be bound by Equality Act 2010
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    Laws against inciting hatred on sexual orientation through an aggravating circumstance and anti-discrimination laws in all areas on sexual orientation and gender identity (including harassment, victimisation, direct and indirect discrimination).
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Employment discrimination protections in the UK stem from several peices of legislation, which were combined into the wide-ranging Equality Act 2010. There are, however, exemptions for certain occupations (such as religious organisations).
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    LGBT discrimination in Great Britain is illegal, but Northern Ireland only offers limited anti-discrimination laws.
  • September 2
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • August 30
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    There is legislation protecting both sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace
  • August 14
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes ambiguous.
    The Law on Prohibition of Discrimination from 2010 prohibits discrimination in all areas, but there is no specific article dealing with Housing.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Article 16 of the Anti-Discrimination Law from 2010 bans Employment discrimination. Discrimination is prohibited on basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex characteristics among others.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    On July 27, 2010, Montenegrin Parliament passed a Law on Prohibition of Discrimination, which prohibits, among other categories, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex characteristics in all areas.
  • August 10
    Serving openly in military becomes lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
    All discrimination is illegal in all areas. Unfortunately Like every other African countries, trans people cannot serve
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    LGB people are protected here. No laws in place for trans people.
  • July 27
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    It's illegal
  • July 15
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Same-sex adoption is legal in Argentina.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    In 2010, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to legalize gay marriage. The Senate passed the bill by a narrow margin (33 votes in favor, 27 against, and 3 abstained). Argentina was the tenth country in the world to enact marriage equality.
  • June 27
    Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    Iceland granted marriage equality to gay and lesbian couples on June 27, 2010, making it the ninth country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage.
  • May 31
    Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    In 2010, the XVIII Constitutional Government of Portugal approved a marriage equality bill, making it the eighth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
  • May 1
    Same-sex adoption becomes married couples only.
    Any individual can apodt regardless of thair marital status but prefecence has to be given to married couples. Joint adoption is available only for them. Second parent adoption is available for married and cohabiting couples - regardless of gender - but not for registered (same sex) partners. Same sex cohabiting couples's joint adoption has to be authorized by the Guardianship Office.
  • April 15
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    Full discrimination protection in the city of Charlottesville, Alexandria, Arlington county.
  • April 7
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    In Portugal, blood donations have rules regarding sexual behaviour but they are the same for homosexual and heterosexual people. While discrimination is illegal according to the Portuguese Constitution, discrimination is widely reported amongst the LGBTQ+ community and new legislation was discussed in 2021 to address this.
  • April 2
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
  • April 1
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Made officially legal through the Consolidated Children's Act of 2010
  • March 21
    Same-sex adoption becomes varies by region.
    There is no federal law allowing for joint adoption and second parent adoption by same-sex couples. Adoption is only permitted for same sex married couples in 21 of the 31 Mexican states and Mexico City
  • March 10
    Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    First area in Mexico to issue same-sex licenses.
  • February 18
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    SSM Pending.
  • February 10
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    See the constitution – section 23, paragraph 3.
  • February 5
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
  • February 4
    Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    Albania does not legally recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partnership benefits.
  • February 2
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Since 2010, the Constitution of Kenya has defined marriage strictly as a union between a man and woman.
  • February 1
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent in Fiji is 16, regardless of sexual orientation. It has been equal since homosexual sex has been legal- February 1st, 2010.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    On February 1st, 2010, the Crimes Decree (2009) came into force. All remaining articles in the Fijian Penal Code that outlawed homosexual sex were repealed.
  • (date unknown)
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    It's against the law for an employer to discriminate against their sexual or gender orientation.
  • January 1
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    illegal since 2010
  • LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.
    discrimination illegal since 2010
  • January
    Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes recognized.
    Arkansas rolled out its gender policy quietly in 2010. "Our official policy is to allow a licensee to change their gender as requested, no questions asked, no documentation required." -former Assistant Commissioner of Operations and Administration Mike Munns. Arkansas residents were thus able to change their marker on their driver's license (including to an X) since 2010, but this has only started being known since 2018.
  • January 1
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Nationwide since 2010.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    Morocco just launched a gay magazine in 2010. The first gay Moroccan came out.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Under their constitution.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Under the Pitcarin Islands Constitution.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes single only.
    Only single people.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    full adoption rights
  • Same-sex marriage becomes foreign same-sex marriages recognized only.
    Gay Marriage Required under 2018 AICHR Ruling. Gay marriage and Gay Unions Pending.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
  • (date unknown)
    Conversion therapy becomes sexual orientation only.
    Section 3(1)(d) of the Mental Health Act (Decree No. 54) (2010) states that expressing, refusing, or failing to express a specific sexual preference or sexual orientation should not be grounds for considering someone mentally ill. While this doesn't outright ban "conversion therapy," it does legally prohibit health professionals, especially psychiatrists, from engaging in it.
  • January 1
    LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Under Article 16 of The Constitution and article 79 of the Labour Code.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Under the Greenland Employment Act. also incitement to hate tread on sexual orientation.
  • (date unknown)
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Legal age of consent is 18, but close in age exclusions apply.
  • January 1
    Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).
    Civil Union was a recognized status
  • Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
    In 2010, New Hampshire was the fifth state to legalize gay marriage. The bill was signed into law on June 3, 2009.
  • (date unknown)
    Same-sex marriage becomes varies by region.
    23/31 States of Mexico (and Mexico City) recognize same-sex marriage.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 2010

  • It Gets Better Project FaviconIt Gets Better Project
    Global
    The It Gets Better Project's mission is to communicate to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth around the world that it gets better, and to create and inspire the changes…
  • Equality Michigan FaviconEquality Michigan
    Equality Michigan works to achieve full equality and respect for all people in Michigan regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Equality Michigan…
  • One Colorado FaviconOne Colorado
    One Colorado is a statewide advocacy organization dedicated to securing and protecting equality and opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Coloradans and…
  • Identoba FaviconIdentoba
    Identoba is a Georgian gender equality and LGBT rights organization. Identoba is one the largest LGBT rights NGOs in the country.
  • All Out FaviconAll Out
    Global
    All Out is mobilizing millions of people to build a world where no person will have to sacrifice their family or freedom, safety or dignity, because of who they are or who they…
  • Geikristlaste Kogu FaviconGeikristlaste Kogu
    Geikristlaste Kogu is a religiously and politically independent non-governmental organization of gay and lesbian Christians working for equal treatment and opportunities for…
  • The Swiss Rainbow Families Association FaviconThe Swiss Rainbow Families Association
    The Swiss Rainbow Families Association champions the concerns and interests of rainbow families at the federal level. It is the primary contact for all questions related to the…
  • Transgender Support Association FaviconTransgender Support Association
    The Transgender Support Association is a Greek LGBTQI+ activist organization based in Athens. It focuses on the rights of transgender and transgender people (transvestites…
  • TGNS - Transgender Network Switzerland FaviconTGNS - Transgender Network Switzerland
    TGNS aims to represent the interests and networking of individual trans people, their local groups and organizations on a national level. To this end, we are also happy to assist…
  • Trans-Ident e.V. FaviconTrans-Ident e.V.
    Trans-Ident e.V. is a non-profit association that has set itself the goal of supporting and caring for transident people and their relatives as well as being the association of…