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1980 in LGBT Rights

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In 1980, there were 21 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 16 changes made and 7 in the following year. A total of 141 legal changes were made in the 1980s.

  • December 18
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality has been legal since the New York v. Onofre case in 1980.
  • September 10
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Section 8 § 1 of the German Transsexuellengesetz (Transsexuals Act of September 10, 1980) states that transgender people can change their first names and gender entry under the condition of gender-affirming surgery, sterilization, and divorce.
  • August 13
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
    None exist.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes no protections.
    None exist.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    None exist in the criminal code.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Same sex marriage is not legal.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    1-3 years in prison, 100 000-500 000 cfa fine. Decriminalization pending
  • May 30
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexual sex has been legal in the state of Pennsylvania since the case of Commonwealth v. Bonadio. In this case, the judges declared that the statute against homosexuality was unconstitutional due to invasion of privacy. The decision was made on May 30th, 1980.
  • April 18
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes ambiguous.
    Unknown.
  • February 20
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes no protections.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    The hormonal transition of trans people is not medically banned.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    There are no known laws restricting gender affirming care.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexual Activity is Legal in Trentino Alto Adige
  • January 1
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexual acts were legalized prior to the federal ruling which legalized homosexuality for all federal jurisdictions in 2003.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Prior to November 2011, a lifetime ban was in place for MSM
  • January 1
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Legislative repeal, effective 1980.
  • (date unknown)
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Homosexual men in Turkey cannot donate blood. The Turkish Red Crescent considers homosexuality to be a risk factor for HIV/AIDS.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    Before 2017, blood donations by MSMs were illegal. They remained illegal until the health minister removed such bans.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1980