1920s in LGBT Rights

Number of LGBT-related laws changed over time
  • January 1
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Criminal Code for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia as of October 3, 1929) adopted on January 27, 1929 criminalized "unnatural fornication" without specifying the definition of the mentioned term. Paragraph 285: for unnatural fornication between persons, the perpetrator shall be punished with strict imprisonment, unless the act turns into a more serious crime.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    Section 178(g) of the Zambian Penal Code (1930) criminalizes any act of "solicitation for immoral purposes in a public place". This provision was used as a legal basis to arrest and prosecute Paul Kasonkomona who, in 2013, appeared on a television show arguing that the rights of sexual minorities should be recognized so that the HIV epidemic could be dealt with effectively. He was arrested by the authorities after his statement and was acquitted two years later. Furthermore, in 2019, the Minister of Religious Affairs ordered the cancellation of a television program for allegedly "promoting homosexuality".
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Section 154 of the Penal Code of Tanzania (1930) punished “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” with imprisonment for up to 14 years. Section 155 made attempting to commit such acts punishable by 7 years in prison.
  • October 5
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    This previous Penal Code from 1872 was replaced in 1929. The new legal order aimed to modify the legal architecture of the Porfirio Díaz dictatorship, which was based on penal repression, to align it with the context of the constitutional guarantees and social justice proclaimed by the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Once again, any notion of homosexuality (both male and female) was formally excluded from the document. The potential criminalization allowed by the previous code due to the vagueness of the sanctions related to 'offenses against public morality and good customs' is now technically limited solely to a prohibition of pornography. Thus, Article 536 536 (Second Book; Title 8 'Crimes against Public Morality'; Chapter I 'Offenses against Public Morality or Good Customs') mentions imprisonment and fines for those who reproduce or manufacture obscene writings, images, or objects, as well as for those who display or commercialize such obscene expressions in public. Again, in 1931, the penal code was substituted by the one that still governs at the federal level today. However, in 1966, Article 201 (Third Book; Title 8 'Crimes against Public Morality and Good Customs'; Chapter II 'Corruption of Minors') was reformed, and for the first time, a reference to homosexuality appeared. It established imprisonment for anyone who induces or incites a minor under 18 years old to engage in 'homosexual practices.' The penalty was doubled if the act was repeated and resulted in the minor 'acquiring habits of homosexual practices.' Finally, those last provisions that indirectly incited the criminalization of homosexuality were eliminated in the 1999 reform.
  • January 1
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    with the incorporation of the British Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 into Cyprus law. For the first time since 1858, this made male homosexuality a criminal act in Cyprus. Female homosexuality was not recognised or mentioned in the law. With independence from Britain in 1960, Cyprus retained British colonial law on the island almost in its entirety, with the relevant parts of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 becoming articles 171 to 174 of Chapter 154 of the Cypriot Criminal Code
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1929, Denmark legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
  • January 1
    Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    Same sex couples are taboo.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    The laws are based on the Italian Penal Code of 1929 (the time of the founding of the sovereignty of Vatican City). There are no criminal laws against non-commercial, private, adult and consensual same-sex sexual activity. On October 13, 2014, the Vatican released a report that summarizes ongoing discussions about family issues among the top Catholic clergy. Totally unexpected, they moved the LGBT community across the world by showing a positive attitude towards the homosexuals. Though no decisions were announced, the clergy seemed keen to let the society reap the benefits of cohabitation and civil unions.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery
  • January 1
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Currently, same-sex marriage is banned in Thailand under Section 1448 in the Civil and Commerce code. Part of the section reads: “A marriage can take place only when the man and woman have completed their seventeenth year of age.” This implies that marriage is only possible between a man and a woman. There is currently a bill that is aiming to redefine marriage to terms without gender references. On March 27th, 2024, the Thailand parliament voted on that bill which legalizes same-sex marriage, and it passed. It was then sent to the Thailand Senate, and it passed there on June 18th, 2024, with a 130 to 4 vote with 18 abstaining. The bill was then given royal approval and publishing in the Royal Gazette.
  • July 1
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    Up to 14 years in prison with hard labour
  • 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.