1910s in LGBT Rights

Number of LGBT-related laws changed over time
  • January 1
    Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    France banned gender reassignment surgeries on people who were not intersex until 1975. However, hormones were accessible without a prescription. Trans people would often go to Germany or Morocco to get reassignment surgeries.
  • August 19
    LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
  • July 6
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1919 the non-profit foundation Institute for Sexual Science was founded in Berlin by Magnus Hirschfeld, becoming the first sexology research center in the world. The institute provided a range of endocrinologic and surgical services, including an early form of modern sex reassignment surgery in 1931. Ludwig Levy-Lenz, the institute's primary surgeon for transgender patients, pioneered early facial feminization and masculinization procedures, alongside developing hair removal treatments utilizing the institute's X-ray facility.
  • December 1
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    In the first post-medieval Criminal Code of the Principality of Serbia, named "Kaznitelni zakon" (Law of Penalties), adopted in 1860, sexual intercourse "against the order of nature" between males became punishable by from 6 months' to 4 years' imprisonment. As typical for the time, homosexual relations between women were excluded. Serbian law was continued in Yugoslavia
  • November 11
    Homosexual activity becomes ambiguous.
    During the Second Polish Republic, same sex activity was not legislated against, but was considered taboo.
  • December 30
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality decriminalized, but considered an illness
  • June 1
    Homosexual activity becomes varies by region.
    Male and female homosexuality is punishable by 14 years in prison by the Federal Criminal Code in all Southern States under Section 214. The Section reads "Any person who – (a) has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature; or (c) permits a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature; is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years." In Northern Nigeria, the laws and punishments regarding homosexuality are different. Section 284 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, states that "Whoever has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine" In some states in Northern Nigeria, same-sex couples can be punished with the death penalty, because of the implementation of Shari'a Law. The Shari'a criminal laws apply to those who voluntarily consent to the jurisdiction of the Shari'a courts and to all Muslims.
  • Equal age of consent becomes n/a.
    Homosexuality is illegal, so there is no age of consent.
  • January 1
    Same-sex adoption becomes single only.
    as part of Qatar.
  • January 1
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
    There are no housing protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in Qatar.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes no protections.
    There are no employment protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in Qatar.
  • (date unknown)
    LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    There are no legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in Qatar. Qatar's laws and cultural norms heavily discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. LGBTQ+ individuals are not afforded the same rights and protections as heterosexual individuals, and they often face harassment, discrimination, and violence. In Qatar, LGBTQ+ individuals are not allowed to openly express their sexual orientation or gender identity, and they are at risk of persecution if they do so.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    There are no specific laws or bans around MSMs donating blood in Qatar, however, homosexuality is illegal in the country.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes illegal.
    In Qatar, trans women can be arrested for the crime of "impersonating a woman". Such individuals are often deemed to be "violating public morality" or infringing "community protection" laws and, as such, police may detain them for up to six months without trial or charge, on this suspicion. While detained, authorities attempt to enforce conformity to local social norms of male appearance by requiring physical detransition, such as surgical removal of breast tissue. Detainees are required to attend conversion "therapy" upon release, according to information received by the BBC. Qatari authorities "categorically rejected" the reports by the trans women who detailed their experiences.[17
  • Serving openly in military becomes illegal.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.
    There are no same-sex adoption laws in Qatar. Same-sex couples are not allowed to adopt children in Qatar, and LGBTQ+ individuals are not afforded the same rights and protections as heterosexual couples when it comes to adoption and parenting.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Qatar. Qatar is a conservative Muslim country and does not permit same-sex marriage or any other form of same-sex relationship. The country's laws and cultural norms heavily discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals, and homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment or fines. As a result, gay marriage is not possible or recognized in Qatar and LGBTQ+ individuals are not afforded the same rights and protections as heterosexual couples.
  • August 31
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    Kosovo Vilayet was incorporated into the Kingdom of Serbia in 1913. The Penal Code of the Kingdom of Serbia passed on March 29, 1860 criminalized sex between men. Paragraph 206: Unnatural fornication between persons of the male sex to be punished by imprisonment from six months to four years and loss of civil honor.
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    The Penal Code of the Kingdom of Serbia (North Macedonia was part of it at that time) passed on March 29, 1860 criminalized sex between men. Paragraph 206: Unnatural fornication between persons of the male sex to be punished by imprisonment from six months to four years and loss of civil honor.
  • January 1
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Penal Code of 1913: Article 230: “The masculine homosexuality and feminine homosexuality that is not covered by any of the other previous articles, is punished with imprisonment for three years” (unofficial translation)
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    The 1911 Revolution ended China's final imperial dynasty, the Qing dynasty, and led to the establishment of the Republic of China. The explicit prohibition of ji jian (homosexual anal intercourse) was abolished by the succeeding states.
  • (date unknown)
    Equal age of consent becomes unequal.
    Age of consent for homosexual relationships was 21 while for heterosexual relationships the age of consent was 16.
  • October 14
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality has been legal since October 14th 1910.