In 2011, there were 60 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 121 changes made and 84 in the following year. A total of 1291 legal changes were made in the 2010s.
- December 2Same-sex adoption becomes illegal.Included in Article 522 of Mali’s people and family code is a ban on adoption by gay people. This part of the article when translated to English reads: “ Under no circumstances is a homosexual allowed to adopt a child under any regime whatsoever.”
- November 30LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.Article 134A of the Criminal Code (2000), as amended by Article 3 of the Law No. 1,482 (2011) criminalises acts of discrimination based on "sexual orientation". This provision is formulated in broad terms and its scope of application necessarily applies to housing. Articles 136C(3) and 136C(4) aggravate the penalty if such acts are committed by public servants or while providing public services.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation only.Article 134A of the Criminal Code (2000), as amended by Law No. 1,482 (2011), criminalises discrimination based on "sexual orientation", while Article 136C (3) and (4) aggravate the penalty if such discrimination is committed by public servants or while providing public services. These provisions ban "sexual orientation" discrimination in broad terms and therefore apply to employment. Article 136C (6) also includes the motive of denying or restricting labour rights as an aggravating factor.
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.Sexual orientation is explicitly covered in the law. Gender Identity on the other hand, is not mentioned explicitly but is implied.
- November 7Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (1-year deferral).MSMs must wait 1 year before donating blood in Guernsey. This was aligned to the UK laws at the time.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (1-year deferral).Following an evidence-based review by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) the lifetime ban was reduced to a 1-year deferral period in England, Wales, and Scotland.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (1-year deferral).Although you can't have sex for a year.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (indefinite deferral).The Irish Blood Transfusion Service bans blood from men who have sex with men. Their policy states: "In order to assure the continued safety of the blood supply, we currently ask those people who may have a particularly high risk of carrying blood-borne viruses not to give blood. This includes men who have ever had sex with another man / men."
- November 1
- September 26Blood donations by MSMs becomes ambiguous.Usually legal according to the American Red Cross, but not legal for LGBTQ people in Djibouti.
- September 20Serving openly in military becomes legal.In 2011, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed by the Obama Administration. Former President Obama allowed members who were dishonorably discharged under DADT, to receive an honorable discharge.
- September 1Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).In 2011, Liechtenstein approved registered partnerships following a referendum.
- July 22Same-sex marriage becomes ambiguous.There has been an officially recognised female-female marriage
- July 17Same-sex adoption becomes second parent adoption only.On June 16, 2011, the Slovenia National Assembly voted 43 to 38 in favor of repealing the previous law that prevented same-sex couples from adopting children. The new Family Code was supposed to allow stepchild adoption but it was rejected on referendum held on March 25, 2012. The right to step-parent adoption for same-sex couples was recognised by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities on July 17, 2011, (by allowing a woman to adopt her same-sex partner's biological child) on the basis of the Law on Marriage and Family Relations (1976). This is despite the fact that Article 135 stipulates that adopters must be married. This raised the possibility that such an adoption would be possible even if the 2011 Family Code were to be repealed in a referendum.
- July 9LGBT housing discrimination becomes no protections.
- Serving openly in military becomes illegal.No protection granted as homosexuality is illegal
- LGBT discrimination becomes no protections.No protection is granted as homosexuality is illegal
- Homosexual activity becomes illegal (imprisonment as punishment).Up to 10-14 years in prison and a fine. Not enforced.
- July 8Same-sex marriage becomes banned.As homosexuality is a punishable offense, same sex marriage is also not legal
- June 24Same-sex marriage becomes legal.Marriage Equality Act was signed into law by Former Governor Cuomo on June 24, 2011, allowing same-sex couples to marry legally in New York for the first time. The New York City Clerk started issuing Marriage Licenses and performing civil marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples on July 24, 2011. The USA also followed later in 2015 with the Marriage Equality Act (2015)
- May 25Same-sex marriage becomes n/a.
- May 13LGBT discrimination becomes illegal.Discrimination is prohibited on the grounds of "sexual orientation"
- May 5
- April 18Same-sex adoption becomes ambiguous.While same-sex adoption is legal in Arizona, 2011 Ariz Legis Serv. 147 (S.B. 1188) gives preference to "a married man and woman" over an individual. Thus, the preference for married individuals not only discriminates against unwed individuals of all orientations, but the wording also carries allows for discrimination against LGBT couples. Second parent adoption is not permitted for same-sex couples.
- April 9Equal age of consent becomes equal.On 8 April 2011, the Supreme Court of Gibraltar ruled that a higher age of consent of 18 for all gay sex was deemed unconstitutional, and thus mandated an equal age of consent of 16. Also at the same time decriminalised heterosexual anal sex and set the age of consent at 16 for that as well.
- April 7
- Same-sex adoption becomes legal.Originally banned in a measure on a ballot, but Arkansas Supreme Court Overruled. Any unmarried individual may petition for adoption, and any married individuals must petition jointly before the court. While the Supreme Court of Arkansas has struck down bans to limit same-sex adoption on privacy grounds, all adoption cases are handled on a case by case basis before a lower court judge. Lower courts have a history of hostile rulings for same-sex adoptive parents as displayed in Larson v. Larson, 902 S.W.2d 254 (App. 1995).
- April 6Same-sex marriage becomes civil unions (marriage rights).Civil Partnerships were introduced by the Civil Partnership Act 2011.
- April 1Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (6-month deferral).Red Cross Japan reduces deferral for high HIV risk individual from 12 months to 6 months.
- March 15Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.Individuals in Portugal can legally change their gender and name on their birth certificate.
- January 4Blood donations by MSMs becomes legal.
- (date unknown)Gender-affirming care becomes legal.In 2011, Cape Verde 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 2011, Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
- January 1LGBT housing discrimination becomes ambiguous.The Law on Prohibition of Discrimination from 2010 prohibited discrimination in Housing, but sexual orientation and gender identity were not explicitly mentioned as grounds.
- (date unknown)Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires surgery.In 2011, new guidelines were established and allowed change to identity documents only after sex reassignment surgery, physical and psychiatric medical examinations, hormone therapy and sterilization. Additionally, people under 21 are not allowed to change their gender on their official identity documents.
- Same-sex adoption becomes legal.The Civil Partnership Act 2011 enabled adoption for same-sex couples.
- Legal recognition of non-binary gender becomes recognized.Australia does have recognition of nonbinary gender through the X marker on passports since 2011, making it one of the first countries to offer it. However, for other IDs, the availability of the X gender marker varies by states. It's not recognised in New South Wales, for example.
- January 1
- (date unknown)
- January 1LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Under the Constitution.
- Same-sex marriage becomes foreign same-sex marriages recognized only.Required legalization. Gay Marriage and Gay Unions pending. Under the 2018 IACHR Ruling.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Under the Constitution.
- Same-sex adoption becomes legal.
- Same-sex marriage becomes legal.
- Blood donations by MSMs becomes banned (less than 6-month deferral).As of 2011, a 3 month deferral is applied after same-sex intercourse. Meaning, the couple must wait 3 months after intercourse to donate blood.
- (date unknown)Right to change legal gender becomes legal, but requires medical diagnosis.Following the amendment of the Act on the Amendment of Names and Sex Determination in Special Cases, known as the Law on Transsexuality (1981) by Judgment No. 1 BvR 3295/07 (2011) of the Federal Constitutional Court, the criteria for changing the name or both the name and the gender marker were unified. Currently, the law requires applicants to (i) prove that "due to their transsexual status, they do not feel comfortable with their sex registered at birth", (ii) they have lived for at least three years "in accordance with the gender they identify with" and (iii) that their "situation of transexuality is foreseeably stable". This procedure is carried out before a municipal judge, which has to verify that these requirements are met by subjecting the applicant to an examination carried out by two expert witnesses "specialised in transsexualism". (ILGA) In 2017, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSJ) commissioned the Humboldt University in Berlin to prepare an expert opinion on the "need for regulation and reform for transgender people". It found that the current assessment procedure is in many cases characterized by disproportionate time and expense as well as degrading and discriminatory experiences and violates the fundamental rights of the applicants. The non-governmental organization Deutsche Gesellschaft für Transidentität und Intersexualität e.V. (dgti) issues a supplemental ID card which contains one's self-chosen first names, pronouns and gender before a legal name change has taken place. It is known and accepted by German ministries, the police, and many authorities. The supplemental ID card is often a condition to correct one's name at, among others, schools, universities, banks and insurance companies. In five German states, references to the ID have been included in coronavirus ordinances and associated explanations to recognize it as an identification document, e.g., together with vaccination certificates. It has a special status of recognition in Germany. The legal basis of the supplemental ID card is the implementation of the request of the European Parliament, communicated in the 11th legislative period of the German parliament. When the Self-Identification law was introduced, people who went through this old process could apply for a monetary compensation.
- LGBT housing discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Article 5 of the Law for the Regulation and Control of Housing Leasing, enacted in 2011, bans discrimination and provides protection to those who are especially vulnerable, or vulnerable to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, among others.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.Legal protections from discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identification exist.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.State law provides for protections against employment discrimination in regards to both sexual orientation and gender identification.
- LGBT employment discrimination becomes sexual orientation and gender identity.State law provides for protections against employment discrimination in regards to both sexual orientation and gender identification.
- JanuaryBlood donations by MSMs becomes banned (1-year deferral).In 2011 the rules were relaxed from a lifetime ban to a year ban.
- January 1
- LGBT discrimination becomes illegal in some contexts.In all Federal positions, discrimination based on sexual orientation is against the law in instances related to work and employment. In non-federal government jobs, it is based on the state's laws as no federal protections currently exist for non-employees. Additionally, even federal employees could face discrimination unrelated to work in areas of life such as housing, health care, etc. In fact, many groups are advocating the repeal of protections or the introduction of laws to permit discrimination.
LGBT Organizations Founded in 2011
Equality Louisiana
Equality Louisiana is a coalition of LGBT and allied organizations from all over Louisiana committed to full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.Akahat
AKAHATCommunity Business
GlobalCreator of Hong Kong and Asia's first Diversity and Inclusion Index, which is now done annually for corporates that are LGBTQ inclusive.Pride Legal
GlobalThe most trusted network of independent attorneys for the LGBTQ community in California.Colour Youth
Colour Youth is an LGBTQ group, which aims to create a strong community of young people, support its members and claim its rights!CAN-Myanmar
Civil Authorize Negotiate Organization (C.A.N-Myanmar) is an LGBTIQ people-led a Non-Governmental Organization established on May 10, 2011, in Mandalay for Myanmar Society…Irca Casa Abierta
Eng: Focused on migratory assistance & the establishment process on the country, for LGBTQIA people who has left their original country for this…Okvir
Promotion and protection of culture, identity and human rights of LGBTIQA persons.Beograd Prajd
Organization of the pride parade in Belgrade, Serbia.Pro LGBT
Promotion and advocacy for the improvement of LGBT rights in Albania.Egal
The organization stands against discrimination, stigmatization, acts of violence and all forms of human rights violations.Campaign For Southern Equality
The Campaign for Southern Equality is working to build a South where LGBTQ people are equal in every part of life. A South where your zip code doesn’t determine your rights.…SPoD
Founded in 2011 with the dream of a fair, equal, and free world under the rainbow, SPoD provides legal, social, and psychological counseling to LGBTI+ people. In addition to…