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1985 in LGBT Rights

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In 1985, there were 18 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 12 changes made and 8 in the following year. A total of 257 legal changes were made in the 1980s.

  • December 12
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    In 1985, the age of consent for homosexual relations was lowered to 16, equal to heterosexual relations, in the Australian Capital Territory.
  • July 11
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    In 1985, Manitoba required surgery for legal gender recognition.
  • April 30
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexual activity has been legal since 1985.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    The 1985 Civil Code of Puebla defined a marriage as between a man and a woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage.
  • April 17
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    Before the 2017 amendment, only sexual orientation was included as a protected class.
  • March 1
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    In Uruguay, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the end of the military dictatorship in 1985.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    In 1985, Kelantan passed its Sharia Criminal Code, which extended criminalisation of homosexuality to include lesbianism. This would be the first criminalisation of lesbianism in Malaysia.
  • Homosexual activity becomes varies by region.
    In 1985, Kelantan’s Sharia Criminal Code criminalised female homosexuality. Kedah would do the same in 1988. Until 1989, female homosexuality was not criminalised in the other states and territories of Malaysia.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes varies by region.
    In 1985, Kelantan became the first state to explicitly criminalise transgender expression its Sharia Criminal Code. All other states would follow suit until Pahang became the last in 2013.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Wisconsin provides legal gender recognition on the condition of surgery having been performed.
  • January 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    The UK banned gay men from donating blood in 1985 due to fear over the aids epidemic. This ban applied to Jersey law.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1985, Botswana legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1985, Saud Arabia legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
  • Censorship of LGBT issues becomes imprisonment as punishment.
    In 1985, Kelantan criminalised “men posing as women” with 1 year in prison in its Sharia Criminal Code. This would be the first criminalisation of gender expression in Malaysia.
  • January 1
    (deleted region)
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Decriminalised by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands in 1985.
  • (date unknown)
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality was decriminalised in French Polynesia in 1985.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Dutch Civil Law provides that in order for a citizen to change their legal gender they must first undergo gender re-assignment surgery.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1985

  • GLAAD FaviconGLAAD
    United States
    GLAAD builds support for equality by amplifying the voice of the #LGBT community and holding the media accountable for the words and images they present.
  • Arcigay FaviconArcigay
    Italy
    Arcigay is a non-profit organization which operates throughout Italy through local committees, clubs and associations promoting and protecting the right to equality.
  • SAN FaviconSAN
    Washington, United States
    SAN, formerly known as The Spokane AIDS Network, was established in 1985 as an informal network of friends, medical caregivers, and concerned citizens to coordinate services for…