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1997 in LGBT Rights

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In 1997, there were 40 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 47 changes made and 59 in the following year. A total of 409 legal changes were made in the 1990s.

  • November 27
    Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent in Ecuador is 14, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. (Penal Code, Art 512)
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Article 516 of the code which criminalizes homosexual activity (from 4-8 years imprisonment) was repealed in 1997.
  • November 26
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    The penal code of 1997 is amended from the past penal code in which homosexuality if also legal
  • November 15
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Transgender people are able to change their gender on identification documents after being issued a document from a health institution confirming the surgical requirements.
  • Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.
    Transgender people are able to change their gender on identification documents after being issued a document from a health institution confirming the surgical requirements.
  • October 1
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Since October 1997 homosexual relationships are not criminalised in Kyrgyzstan.
  • July 25
    LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.
    Section 38 (2) in the Constitution of Fiji (1997) prohibited discrimination towards sexual orientation, and other grounds. However, the Constitution did not explicitly prohibit discrimination towards gender identity.
  • July 16
    Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
    No restrictions.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The law sets the age of consent as 16 for all sexual activities ("sodomy and "lesbianism" included explicitly.)
  • June 28
    LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 made it to where LGBTQ persons are not to be discriminated against through housing, banking, and other rights
  • May 1
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    In 1997 the High Court of Australia ruled that Tasmania's anti-gay laws were inconsistent with federal law, and Tasmania (the final jurisdiction with contrary laws) was forced to decriminalise homosexuality.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Tasmania decriminalizes homosexual activity, making homosexual activity legal in all Australian states.
  • Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    Follows from Australian law due to being a territory of Australia without any population
  • April 24
    Right to change legal gender becomes legal, no restrictions.
    Previous ministerial decree regulating legal gender recognition, the on the Establishment of Mandatory Processes for Gender Reassignment. Transgender people were not required to undergo sex reassignment surgery, sterilisation or divorce their partner. Appointment with medical expert committee required.
  • April 17
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    The family code was amended to prohibit same sex marriage.
  • March 28
    Same-sex marriage becomes banned.
    In March of 1997, the Maine Legislature passed a statute that restricted marriage to opposite-sex couples. The Governor at the time, Angus S. King, Jr., signed the bill into law.
  • March 14
    Homosexual activity becomes legal.
    China’s current Penal Code (1997) contains no explicit prohibition of consensual sexual acts between persons of the same sex and all previous laws against homosexual sex have been removed.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Sweden adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Taiwan adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Uruguay adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Sri Lanka adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Slovenia adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, El Salvador adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Nicaragua adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • January 1
    Gender-affirming care becomes restricted.
    In 1997, Malaysia adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults. Malaysia banned gender affirming surgeries (but not hormonal treatment) in 1983. Transgender people generally go to Thailand to receive care.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Costa Rica adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, South Korea adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Colombia adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Haiti adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Estonia adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Ecuador adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • January 1
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Montenegro adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Chile adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition. In 2023, the Gender Identity Support Program "Crece con Orgullo" began operating, which is aimed at children and adolescents from 3 to 17 years old, and includes gender-affirmative care. The state program was born under Decree 3 (2019) created by the Regulation of Article 23 of Law No. 21,120, which recognizes and protects the Right to Gender Identity.
  • (date unknown)
    Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Belize adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Bahrain adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
  • Gender-affirming care becomes legal.
    In 1997, Argentina adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition. In 1997, sterilization was also legalized, which allowed sex reassignment surgery to be performed.
  • January 1
    Equal age of consent becomes n/a.
    In Chechnya, the age of consent is irrelevant since homosexuality is illegal.
  • (date unknown)
    Same-sex marriage becomes other type of partnership.
    In 1997, the state established reciprocal beneficiary relationships, open to all couples as well as blood relatives, offering numerous spousal rights including the ability to sue for wrongful death, decisions about health care, proptery rights and co-tenancy, inheritance without a will, and insurance and state pensions.
  • Equal age of consent becomes equal.
    The age of consent in Thailand is 15 regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
  • January 1
    Equal age of consent becomes varies by region.
    The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there.

LGBT Organizations Founded in 1997

  • Equality Federation FaviconEquality Federation
    United States
    Equality Federation is the movement builder and strategic partner to US state-based organizations advancing equality for LGBT people in the communities we call home.
  • Ishtar MSM FaviconIshtar MSM
    Kenya
    Ishtar MSM is a Community Based Organization in Kenya who aimed at attaining full sexual health rights and social well being for Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Kenya.
  • Equality Florida FaviconEquality Florida
    Florida, United States
    Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida
  • GALA FaviconGALA
    South Africa
    From their website: GALA is the custodian of over 200 organisational and personal archival collections dating back to the 1940s, with archival responsibilities that include the…
  • GRIS-Québec FaviconGRIS-Québec
    Quebec, Canada
    Organization based in Quebec City aiming to educate people about LGBT issues and offer safe spaces for LGBT and questioning people.
  • Queeramnesty FaviconQueeramnesty
    Switzerland
    Queeramnesty works as part of Amnesty Switzerland specifically on the topic of "Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Development". The group successfully advocates for…
  • Lambda Warszawa FaviconLambda Warszawa
    Poland
    Lambda Warszawa has been active in supporting and creating a space necessary to create a positive identity of the LGBTQI+ community in Poland since 1997. Our mission is to offer…