▸ 

1980 in LGBT Rights

View All Years

In 1980, there were 33 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 35 changes made and 9 in the following year. A total of 165 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.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    Although Zimbabwean constitution does state "All citizens are equal", sexual orientations and gender identities are not protected.
  • February 20
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes no protections.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    There have been measures proposed during 2000 and 2003 to include sexual orientations and gender identities in grounds to protect against discriminations but these measures failed.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1980, Papua New Guinea adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1980, Jamaica adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1980, Spain adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1980, Haiti adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1980, Egypt adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1980, Dominican Republic adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1980, Chile adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1980, Bulgaria adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1980, Belize adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1980, Bahamas adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal, but restricted for minors.
    In 1980, Austria adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexual Activity is Legal in Trentino Alto Adige
  • January 1
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    "All Rwandans are born and remain equal in rights and freedoms. General guarantee of equality Discrimination of any kind or its propaganda based on, inter alia, ethnic origin, family or ancestry, clan, skin colour or race, sex, region, economic categories, religion or faith, opinion, fortune, cultural differences, language, economic status, physical or mental disability or any other form of discrimination are prohibited and punishable by law."
  • 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).
    .

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1980