In 2010, there were 121 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 89 changes made and 60 in the following year. A total of 1291 legal changes were made in the 2010s.
- December 10Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires medical diagnosis.Permit for the operation by which a man's body changed to female or vice versa, get about four a year. In Belarus, such permission shall issue a specially created interdepartmental commission on medical, psychological and social rehabilitation of persons with the syndrome of denial of sex. It is composed of 15 experts of the ministries of Health, Defense, Interior, Justice, Education. The Commission refers the patient to a mental health and psycho-sexological examination. A year later, after a thorough examination by psychiatrists, sexologists, urologists, gynecologists, endocrinologists and geneticists, the board makes a decision - to change this person or not.
- December 3Conversion therapy becomes banned.Article 3(c) of the Law on Mental Health (2010) establishes that a person cannot be diagnosed on their mental health exclusively on the basis of their "sexual choice or identity”. It prevents health professionals, particularly psychiatrists, from legally engaging in sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE). Additionally, at the subnational level, in December 2020, the province of Santa Cruz passed the Integral Law for the recognition and historical reparation of the rights of trans persons (Law No. 3.724), which prohibits "aversion therapies" for trans people under Article 24.
- November 1Same-sex adoption becomes single only.Law specifies that married couples or single individuals may adopt, but there is no same sex marriage in Ireland at present.
- October 10
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.It is illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity when hiring
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.Discrimination in the United Kingdom is illegal. This extends to Salford.
- Same-sex marriage becomes foreign same-sex marriages recognized only.Marriages performed in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are recognised. They are not however performed in Aruba.
- Same-sex marriage becomes foreign same-sex marriages recognized only.Marriages performed in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are recognised. They are not however performed in Curaçao. However, this doesn't mean equal treatment is given to same sex married couples (as opposed to different sex married couples)
- Same-sex marriage becomes legal.Marriages performed in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are recognised. They are not however performed in Sint Maarten.
- October 8LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Discrimination is protected for sexual orientation and gender identity as per the law against racism and discrimination of any kind.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Discrimination is protected for sexual orientation and gender identity as per the law against racism and discrimination of any kind.
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.The law against racism and all other forms of discrimination, in article 5a explicitly includes sexual orientation and (gender) identity.
- October 1
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.The Equality Act brings together over 116 separate pieces of legislation into one single Act. Combined, they make up a new Act that provides a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all. The Act simplifies, strengthens and harmonises the current legislation to provide Britain with a new discrimination law which protects individuals from unfair treatment and promotes a fair and more equal society.
- LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Housing discrimination for sexual orientation and gender identity is illegal.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.It is illegal to discriminate employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.It is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in England.
- LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.It is illegal for a service provider to deny a service based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.It is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in England. This extends to Manchester.
- LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Both Sexual and gender orientation
- LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.The Equality Act 2010 made it illegal for any public or private landlord to discriminate against tenants due to many things, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.The Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against any employee on the grounds of many things, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.All discrimination is illegal
- LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.All discrimination is illegal
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.All discrimination illegal apart from stirring up hatred on the basis of gender identity
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.The Equality Act brings together over 116 separate pieces of legislation into one single Act. Combined, they make up a new Act that provides a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all. However stirring up hatred is restricted to race and sexual orientation only The Act simplifies, strengthens and harmonises the current legislation to provide Britain with a new discrimination law which protects individuals from unfair treatment and promotes a fair and more equal society. Also covering LGBT discrimination would be the Human Rights Act, which is a fundamental piece of the legislation underpinning the Scottish Parliament. In 2024, Scotland revised its hate crime law to explicitly include gender identity and sexual orientation.
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.All discrimination apart from stirring up hatred on the basis of gender identity is illegal
- LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.It is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
- LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.Only limited protections for gender reassignment in Northern Ireland, in training, employment, goods, facilities, services or premises. And no protections exist for intersex individuals
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Employment discrimination protections in the UK stem from several peices of legislation, which were combined into the wide-ranging Equality Act 2010. There are, however, exemptions for certain occupations (such as religious organisations).
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.LGBT discrimination in Great Britain is illegal in most contexts, however while hate speech is illegal for all identies stirring up hatred is only illegal for sexuali orientation additionally Northern Ireland offers even less anti-discrimination laws. Scotland however has made stirring up hatred illegal regardless of identity
- September 2Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
- August 14LGBT housing discrimination becomes ambiguous.The Law on Prohibition of Discrimination from 2010 prohibits discrimination in all areas, but there is no specific article dealing with Housing.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Article 16 of the Anti-Discrimination Law from 2010 bans Employment discrimination. Discrimination is prohibited on basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex characteristics among others.
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.On July 27, 2010, Montenegrin Parliament passed a Law on Prohibition of Discrimination, which prohibits, among other categories, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex characteristics in all areas.
- August 10Serving openly in military becomes lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.All discrimination is illegal in all areas. Unfortunately Like every other African countries, trans people cannot serve
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.LGB people are protected here. No laws in place for trans people.
- July 27
- LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.In Iceland, homosexual and heterosexual relationships are treated the same under housing laws. Individuals are not allowed to deny a person housing with homophobic or transphobic motivations. This came along with Act 65, The Amending Act which legalized gay marriage.
- July 15
- July 1Same-sex adoption becomes single only.§ 148. (1) "A single person may adopt a child only alone."
- June 27
- May 31
- May 21
- Right to change legal gender becomes legal, no restrictions.Changing gender is legal in Jersey however the individual must acquire a gender recognition certificate from the government of Jersey. They need to provide reasoning to the court and evidence.
- May 1Same-sex adoption becomes legal.Any individual can apodt regardless of thair marital status but prefecence has to be given to married couples. Joint adoption is available only for them. Second parent adoption is available for married and cohabiting couples - regardless of gender - but not for registered (same sex) partners. Same sex cohabiting couples's joint adoption has to be authorized by the Guardianship Office.
- April 15LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.Full discrimination protection in the city of Charlottesville, Alexandria, Arlington county.
- April 7Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.In Portugal, blood donations have rules regarding sexual behaviour but they are the same for homosexual and heterosexual people. While discrimination is illegal according to the Portuguese Constitution, discrimination is widely reported amongst the LGBTQ+ community and new legislation was discussed in 2021 to address this.
- April 1Same-sex adoption becomes legal.Made officially legal through the Consolidated Children's Act of 2010
- March 21Same-sex adoption becomes varies by region.There is no federal law allowing for joint adoption and second parent adoption by same-sex couples. Adoption is only permitted for same sex married couples in 21 of the 31 Mexican states and Mexico City
- March 13
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.On February 04, 2010, Albanian parliament approved a unified anti-discrimination law, known as the Law on Protection from Discrimination, which prohibits, among other categories, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics in all areas.
- March 10
- February 18
- February 10
- February 2
- February 1
- (date unknown)LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.It's against the law for an employer to discriminate against their sexual or gender orientation.
- January 1
- Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes recognized.Arkansas rolled out its gender policy quietly in 2010. "Our official policy is to allow a licensee to change their gender as requested, no questions asked, no documentation required." -former Assistant Commissioner of Operations and Administration Mike Munns. Arkansas residents were thus able to change their marker on their driver's license (including to an X) since 2010, but this has only started being known since 2018.
- LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Under the Pitcarin Islands Constitution.
- Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
- Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
- Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
- Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
- Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
- Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
- Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
- Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
- Same-sex marriage becomes foreign same-sex marriages recognized only.Gay Marriage Required under 2018 AICHR Ruling. Gay marriage and Gay Unions Pending.
- (date unknown)Conversion therapy becomes sexual orientation only.Section 3(1)(d) of the Mental Health Act (Decree No. 54) (2010) states that expressing, refusing, or failing to express a specific sexual preference or sexual orientation should not be grounds for considering someone mentally ill. While this doesn't outright ban "conversion therapy," it does legally prohibit health professionals, especially psychiatrists, from engaging in it.
- January 1LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Under Article 16 of The Constitution and article 79 of the Labour Code.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Under the Greenland Employment Act. also incitement to hate tread on sexual orientation.
- (date unknown)Same-sex marriage becomes banned.Dominican Republic law does not recognise any marriage or partnership between same sex couples. In 2010 the Constitution was amended to affirm that "The State shall promote and protect the family organization based on the institution of marriage between a man and a woman" (Article 55). In 2018 the IACHR ruled that the American Convention on Human Rights requires Dominican Republic to legalise same-sex marriage.
- Equal age of consent becomes equal.Legal age of consent is 18, but close in age exclusions apply.
- January 1
- Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
- (date unknown)Same-sex marriage becomes varies by region.23/31 States of Mexico (and Mexico City) recognize same-sex marriage.
LGBT Organizations Founded in 2010
It Gets Better Project
GlobalThe It Gets Better Project's mission is to communicate to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth around the world that it gets better, and to create and inspire the changes…Equality Michigan
Equality Michigan works to achieve full equality and respect for all people in Michigan regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Equality Michigan…One Colorado
One Colorado is a statewide advocacy organization dedicated to securing and protecting equality and opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Coloradans and…Identoba
Identoba is a Georgian gender equality and LGBT rights organization. Identoba is one the largest LGBT rights NGOs in the country.All Out
GlobalAll Out is mobilizing millions of people to build a world where no person will have to sacrifice their family or freedom, safety or dignity, because of who they are or who they…Geikristlaste Kogu
Geikristlaste Kogu is a religiously and politically independent non-governmental organization of gay and lesbian Christians working for equal treatment and opportunities for…The Swiss Rainbow Families Association
The Swiss Rainbow Families Association champions the concerns and interests of rainbow families at the federal level. It is the primary contact for all questions related to the…Transgender Support Association
The Transgender Support Association is a Greek LGBTQI+ activist organization based in Athens. It focuses on the rights of transgender and transgender people (transvestites…TGNS - Transgender Network Switzerland
TGNS aims to represent the interests and networking of individual trans people, their local groups and organizations on a national level. To this end, we are also happy to assist…Trans-Ident e.V.
Trans-Ident e.V. is a non-profit association that has set itself the goal of supporting and caring for transident people and their relatives as well as being the association of…Ambasada PINK
Ambasada PINK works for the protection and advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people in Albania.LGBT Forum Progress
Gathers LGBTIQ people in Montenegro and stands for respect and protection of their human rights and equality in society.Transgender Education Network of Texas
TENT is an organization dedicated to furthering gender-diverse equality in Texas. We work to accomplish this through education and networking in both public and private forums.…Youth Voices Count (YVC)
Youth Voices Count is a regional network in the Asia-Pacific region mobilizing, building capacity, and empowering young people of diverse SOGIESC in the region to advocate for…