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1988 in LGBT Rights

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In 1988, there were 23 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 15 changes made and 14 in the following year. A total of 164 legal changes were made in the 1980s.

  • December 31
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
  • LGBT employment discrimination becomes no protections.
  • Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Homosexuality is illegal and same sex marriage is not recognized.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    As homosexual conduct is illegal, discrimination is permitted for these people. The government has also explicitly stated their disapproval of homosexual conducts.
  • Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
    Article 325 of the Guinea Penal Code states that homosexuality is illegal with punishment being 6 months to three years in prison and a fine of 100,000 to 1,000,000 Guinean francs. If the act was committed with a minor (under 21 years), the individual will face the maximum penalty.
  • December 23
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Homosexuality is legal
  • October 5
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes no censorship.
    Laws enforcing any kind of censorship in Brazil are explicitly against the Brazilian Constitution of 1988, that severely punishes it. Every time a State Congress tries to introduce a bill like this on a state level, the Supreme Court intervenes on the case.
  • LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.
    The Brazilian Constitution of 1988 criminalizes any form of discrimination based on ethnicity, race, sex, color and age, but it does not include sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
    Although the Brazilian constitution of 1988 prohibits any form of discrimination, it was not until 2019 that homosexuals and trans people were definitively recognized as one of these groups.
  • August 4
    Same-sex marriage becomes unrecognized.
    Legalization pending. Law makers say denying gay marriage is unconstitutional. Same sex weddings do happen in The Philippines and can be blessed, but just not registered. Civil unions pending.
  • May 24
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes other punishment.
    Section 28 was put in place during Margaret Thatcher’s government and prohibited the “promotion of homosexuality” by local authorities. This harmed LGBT+ support groups and prevented schools from discussing LGBT+ matters, impacts which have been felt for years after the law was repealed.
  • May 4
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Never was banned, officially legalized in 1988. In Turkey, the minimum age required to get sex reassignment surgery is 18. In order for one to legally change their gender, the surgery must be conducted at a state hospital.
  • March 24
    Censorship of LGBT issues becomes other punishment.
    Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 stated that local authorities could not "intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship". The law did not create a criminal offence, leaving staff to fear losing their jobs if they breached the rules.
  • March 4
    Equal age of consent becomes unequal.
    Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957, as inserted by the Immorality Amendment Act 2 of 1988, set the age of consent for gay and lesbian sex at 19, as opposed to 16 for straight sex. Gay male sex was in any case illegal for all ages.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1988, Niger 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 1988, Nepal 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 state-enforced.
    An archaic 1988 law "banning homosexual or gay topics within school classrooms" was made.
  • Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    In 1988, Denmark implemented a life-time ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men.
  • January 1
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).
    no description
  • Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    Published in 1988, the Marshall Islands government legislation established rules for registering births, deaths, and marriages. The expressions used for marriages only described different-sex couples (i.e., one man, and one woman) and did not include any information relating to same-sex marriage. No gay marriages have been officiated in the Marshall Islands.
  • (date unknown)
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent of 14 years is equal for everyone.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Transgender citizens are permitted to change their legal gender in Taiwan provided they undergo gender re-assignment surgery.. In 2008 the Taiwanese Health Department announced it would recommend that female to male transexuals would no longer be required
  • Homosexual activity becomes male illegal, female legal.
    According to sections 136–142 of the The Criminal Offences Act, the maximum penalty for same-sex sexual activity in Tonga is 10 years in prison and whipping. Decriminalization pending.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1988

  • COLAGE FaviconCOLAGE
    United States
    COLAGE unites people with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer parents into a network of peers and supports them as they nurture and empower each other to be…
  • GLEN; Gay And Lesbian Equality Network FaviconGLEN; Gay And Lesbian Equality Network
    Ireland
    GLEN's vision for equality, as articulated in the Building Sustainable Change programme is that of full participation by lesbian, gay and bisexual people in all aspects of life…