1830s in LGBT Rights

Number of LGBT-related laws changed over time
  • December 29
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    Homosexual activity was illegal in Mauritius until 2023; however, the law criminalizing it was unenforced.
  • May 26
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    The 1837 Penal Code of Nicaragua technically legalised homosexuality as sodomy was not mentioned in the code. However, the clause against public indecency was potentially used to arrest homosexuals.
  • January 1
    Equal age of consent becomes female equal, male n/a.
    In 1835, male homosexuality was criminalised in Moldova.
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female uncertain.
    The 1835 Russian Penal Code applied to Moldova and criminalised sodomy.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female uncertain.
    Although proposed in a draft penal code of 1754, sodomy was not criminalized until the 1835 penal code.
  • April 2
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Age of consent for Anal or Vaginal sex is 14 years old.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Same-sex sexual activity in Bolivia has been legal since 1831 as the Penal Code did not mention homosexuality.
  • December 16
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    Since decriminalisation in 1830, the age of consent for homosexual relations has always remained equal to that of heterosexual ones in Brazil. According to the Brazilian Penal Code of 1940, the age of consent for sexual intercourse is the same for both heterosexual and homosexual couples: 14 years old.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Shortly after Brazil gained independence from Portugal, in 1830, the Imperial Penal Code decriminalized sodomy. Brazil's 1988 Constitution further strengthened affirmative protections by prohibiting any form of discrimination. Since then courts have since affirmed this additionally applies to sexual orientation.
  • January
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (death penalty as punishment).
    In 1830, in the case of State v. Cawood, the same court ruled that Congresses common law applied to Alabama. In 1833, a new code specifically adopted common-law crimes.