1960 in LGBT Rights

In 1960, there were 23 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were changes made and 4 in the following year. A total of 84 legal changes were made in the 1960s.

  • November 25
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    In 1960, France passed the Mirguet Amendment in Article 330 which doubled the charges for public indecency if involving people of the same sex compared to people of the opposite sex with imprisonment from six months to three years. The law would be repealed in 1980.
  • September 30
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960. Section 284 of the Penal Code states "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."
  • August 3
    Serving openly in military becomes ambiguous.
    There are no explicits bans on service by LGBT citizens, but intense discrimination discourages openness in this area.
  • January 12
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Same sex marriage is not recognized in Ghana
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    In 1960, English criminal law was imposed on Malawi, thereby criminalizing homosexuality. The punishment is a maximum of fourteen years in prison with corporal punishment.
  • January 1
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Article 193 of Kuwait's Penal Code explicitly prohibits male homosexual sex for up to seven years in prison. For lesbians, there is no specific law criminalizing it, however it is still technically illegal. This is because in Kuwait you are not able to consent to sex unless you're married. So, since gay marriage is not legal in Kuwait and you can't give consent until your married, lesbian sex is illegal.