2016 in LGBTQ rights

This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBTQ rights that took place in the year 2016.

Events

January

February

  • 2
    • The Lewisburg City Council unanimously passes Ordinance 254, an ordinance which banned sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in public and private employment and public accommodations.[7]
    • The Supreme Court of India decides to review criminalization of homosexuality under Section 377 of the IPC.
  • 10 – Step-child and joint adoption by same-sex couples become legal in Portugal.[8]
  • 22 – The Charlotte City Council passes, by a 7–4 vote, an amendment with a non-discrimination ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in public accommodations, passenger vehicle for hire, and city contractors. It took effect on 1 April.[9]
  • 25 – The Italian Senate approves a Civil Union bill in a 173–71 vote.[10]

March

April

May

  • 11 – The Chamber of Deputies of Italy approves the Civil Union bill in a 372–51 vote.[15]
  • 12
    • Same-sex sexual activity is decriminalized in Nauru.[16][17]
    • Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the Mexican state of Jalisco[18] following the Congress of Jalisco complying with the Mexican Supreme Court ruling by amending the state civil code.
  • 17 – Same-sex sexual activity is officially decriminalized in Seychelles.[19]
  • 20 – Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the Mexican state of Campeche.[20]
  • 28 – The Conservative Party of Canada votes 1,036–462 to change the party's political platform from defining marriage as "a union between one man and one woman" to a neutral stance.

June

  • 28 – Czech Constitutional Court struck down a ban which forbade people living in registered partnerships from adopting children as individuals.[21] However, joint adoption and stepchild adoption still remain illegal.

July

August

September

October

December

References

  1. ↑ "Estonia: Gay civil partnerships now legal but couples told to wait". Gay Star News. 2 January 2016. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "Jennifer Pritzker's Foundation Gives $2 Million for Transgender Studies at Canadian University". Tablet Magazine. 21 January 2016. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  3. ↑ Campaign, Human Rights. "MT Governor Signs Executive Order Protecting LGBT State Employees – Human Rights Campaign". Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  4. ↑ "Gender Identity Discrimination Regulations". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "New York Finalizes Ban On Transgender Discrimination". CBS News. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Trauung auch für Eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaften". EKiR.de (in German). Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  7. ↑ Kline, Jared (2 February 2016). "Lewisburg passes non-discrimination ordinance". Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  8. ↑ "Portugal parliament overturns presidential veto on gay adoption". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 12 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  9. ↑ "Council approves changes to Non-Discrimination Ordinance". charmeck.org. 22 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  10. ↑ Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (25 February 2016). "Italian senate passes watered-down bill recognising same-sex civil unions". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  11. ↑ webmasters, NC General Assembly. "North Carolina General Assembly – House Bill 2 Information/History (2016 Second Extra Session)". Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  12. ↑ "Same sex couples can now officially marry in Greenland". PinkNews. April 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  13. ↑ Zeitung, Badische (23 April 2016). "Landeskirche genehmigt gleichgeschlechtliche Trauungen". Badische Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "Homo-Ehe in der Kirche: Trauung für alle in Berlin erlaubt". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). ISSN 1865-2263. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  15. ↑ Povoledo, Elisabetta (11 May 2016). "Italy Approves Same-Sex Civil Unions". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  16. ↑ "Nauru decriminalises homosexuality". RNZ. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  17. ↑ "RONLAW – Nauru's Online Legal Database – Crimes Act 2016 in force". Ronlaw. Archived from the original on 7 June 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  18. ↑ "Mexicans march against president's proposal to allow gay marriage". Reuters. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  19. ↑ Duffy, Nick (18 May 2016). "Seychelles repeals colonial-era law banning gay sex". Pink News. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  20. ↑ ReporDig5 (20 May 2016). "Entra en vigor la Ley de Matrimonios Igualitarios". Telemar Campeche TV. Archived from the original on 22 May 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ "Czech court strikes down ban on gay people adopting children". PinkNews. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  22. ↑ O'Toole, Kevin (25 May 2016). "Gov. Shumlin signs law banning conversion therapy in Vermont". NEWS10 ABC. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "Massachusetts governor signs sweeping transgender rights bill". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  24. ↑ "Anglicans to allow same-sex marriage after vote recount". CBC News. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  25. ↑ "Gay marriage bill on course to be law". Manx Radio. 9 July 2016. Archived from the original on 9 July 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  26. ↑ Humes, Aaron (10 August 2016). "Supreme Court rules Section 53 unconstitutional". Breaking Belize News. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  27. ↑ Canada, Health (20 June 2016). "Statement from the Minister of Health on one year blood donor deferral period for MSM". gcnws. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  28. ↑ McDonald, Henry (2 June 2016). "Northern Ireland to lift ban on gay men donating blood". the Guardian. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  29. ↑ "Military lifts transgender ban". mcclatchydc. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  30. ↑ The Marriage Ordinance 2016
  31. ↑ "Review of British Antarctic Territory legislation: changes to the marriage and registration ordinances – Publications – GOV.UK". Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  32. ↑ "Malta just became the first country in Europe to ban 'gay cure' therapy · PinkNews". 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  33. ↑ Monitor, The Christian Science (14 December 2016). "Pittsburgh becomes the latest city to approve a ban on conversion therapy". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  34. ↑ "Civil Marriage Amendment Act 2016 [No. 22 of 2016]" (PDF). 1 November 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2016.
  35. ↑ "GBC - Gibraltar News - GBC TV and Radio Gibraltar". 17 December 2016. Archived from the original on 17 December 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
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