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1982 in LGBT Rights

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In 1982, there were 15 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 8 changes made and 24 in the following year. A total of 164 legal changes were made in the 1980s.

  • December 8
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexual activity in Northern Ireland has been legal since 1982.
  • December 4
    Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.
    The China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) does not allow same-sex couples to adopt, nor does it allow foreign same-sex couples to adopt a baby from China.
  • September 23
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality was decriminalised within Portugal in 1982.
  • August 14
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    It is legal for individuals to change their legal gender without having to go through gender reassignment surgery.
  • August 4
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent in France is 15 for both male-male, female-female, and male-female sex.
  • May 8
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or 1,000,000 franc fine.
  • April 14
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Law no. 164 of 14 April 1982 was the first law in Italy to introduce the possibility of changing sex. This law was published in the Official Gazette no. 106 of 19.04.1982 and came into force on 4 May 1982. Before 1982, Transgender people did not have the possibility of changing sex and name, living as if trapped in a biological body that they did not feel was their own. At the end of the 70s there were several protests in Italy by the LGBT movement that pushed politics to take an interest in the issue of sexual transition. With Law 164/1982, however, sex rectification was only possible after surgery.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Surgery is required
  • January 1
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    Full discrimination protection pending.
  • Same-sex adoption becomes single only.
    Under state law only. Legalization pending.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes ambiguous.
    in all areas of Employment for discrimination protection. Full discrimination protection pending state wide.
  • (date unknown)
    Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
    Individuals and married couples jointly may petition for adoption per La. CHC 1198, 1202. Second-parent adoption is not legal.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.
    State law provides protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation only. However, public state employees are allowed domestic partner benefits.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1982

  • Anti Violence Project FaviconAnti Violence Project
    New York, United States
    AVP empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supports…