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1500
Homosexual Behaviour Criminal in Britain
In the early 16th century, homosexual behaviour began being categorized "as criminal rather than simply immoral” by lawmakers in Britain (Levy, 2015). -
Period: 1500 to
Timeline of LGBTQ+ Rights
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1530
Buggery Act passed in Britain
In the 1530s, the Buggery Act was passed in Britain, which “made sexual relations between men a criminal offence punishable by death” (Levy, 2015). Sodomy remained punishable by hanging until 1861 (Levy, 2015) -
German Penal Code Paragraph 175
In the early 1870s, Germany "was integrating the civil codes of various disparate kingdoms" and included in the "final German penal code" Paragraph 175, "which criminalized same-sex male relations with punishment including prison and a loss of civil rights" (Levy, 2015). -
Amendment to Buggery Act
An amendment to the Buggery Act was passed in Britain, which "created the offence of 'gross indecency' for same-sex male sexual relations, enabling any form of sexual behaviour between men to be prosecuted" (Levy, 2015). -
The Scientific-Humanitarian Committee
Magnus Hirschfeld founded the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee in Berlin, which “published emancipation literature, sponsored rallies, and campaigned for legal reform throughout Germany” and fought unsuccessfully to “repeal of Paragraph 175 of the Imperial Penal Code” (Levy, 2015). Despite the failure, the Committee helped to begin to normalize homosexuality in Germany. -
The Society for Human Rights
Henry Gerber “founded the Society for Human Rights” the United States (Levy, 2015). -
Gay Rights Organizations of the Mid 20th Century
Many gay rights organizations were formed during the mid 20th century, including the Cultuur en Ontspannings Centrum in 1946 in Amsterdam and "the first major male organization" in the United States, the Mattachine Society in 1950-51 (Levy, 2015). -
The Sexual Offences Act
A British Commission chaired by Sir John Wolfenden issued a report “which recommended that private homosexual liaisons between consenting adults be removed from the domain of criminal law; a decade later the recommendation was implemented by Parliament in the Sexual Offences Act effectively decriminalizing homosexual relations for men age 21 or older”(Levy, 2015). -
The Stonewall Riots
A gay bar in New York City, the Stonewall Inn, was raided by police and in revolt, “nearly 400 people joined a riot that lasted 45 minutes and resumed on succeeding nights” (Levy, 2015). -
Gay Political Organizations of the 1970s/80s
Many gay political organizations in the United States and Europe appeared in the 1970s and 1980s, including the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The Transnational International Gay and Lesbian Association was also formed, which coordinated “international efforts to promote human rights and fight discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons” (Levy, 2015) -
CEDAW
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty that was "adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly" (UN Women, N.D.) and made effective in 1981. It has become relevant “in cases of discrimination against lesbian, bisexual or transgender women” (Human Rights Education Associates, 2003). -
The Convention on the Rights of the Child - Article 2
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is "is a treaty that recognizes specific rights for children" (unicef Canada, n.d.). Article 2 of the Convention “requires governments to ensure protection against discrimination. This treaty can be relevant in addressing sexual orientation discrimination of lesbian, gay or bisexual children and/or parents” (Human Rights Education Associates, 2003). -
World Conference on Human Rights
At the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria, Canada “proposed adding sexual orientation” in the agreement discussed “to a paragraph prohibiting discrimination on listed grounds” (Girard, 2007, p. 320), but the final text does not include a list. -
Toonen v. Australia
In the case of Toonen v. Australia, it was found that references to non-discrimination and equality in articles 2 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights should include sexual orientation, creating “a precedent within the UN human rights system in addressing discrimination against lesbian, gays and bisexuals” (Human Rights Education Associates, 2003). -
The Fourth World Conference on Women
At the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, “references to sexual orientation were prominently discussed and included in brackets… in the draft platform for action” (Bob, 2009, p. 65). For the first time, the UN “recognized the existence of a constituency interested in lesbian concerns and drew attention to their issues as human rights concerns” (Bob, 2009, p. 65). -
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights was proclaimed, which contains “explicit non-discrimination provisions” in relation to LGBTQ+ people (Human Rights Education Associates, 2003). -
The Yogyakarta Principles
The Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in Relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity was “agreed at an ‘experts’ meeting’ in Yogyakarta, Indonesia” in November, 2006 (Kollman & Waites, 2009, p. 5) and published in 2007. The principles “present a statement of global human rights related to sexual orientation and gender identity which are asserted as already existing international human rights law” (Kollman & Waites, 2009, p. 5). -
Joint Statement on Human Rights Violations
A Joint Statement on Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, which was “submitted to the UN’s new Human Rights Council by Norway, was finally signed by 54 states, marking an intent to pursue these issues in the Council” (Kollman & Waites, 2009, p. 5). -
The Declaration of Montreal
The Declaration of Montreal “was presented at the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights”, with proposals including “the creation of a United Nations convention on elimination of all forms of sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination” (Kollman & Waites, 2009, p. 5). -
Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Resolution
The Brazilian resolution ‘Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity’ was adopted by “the Organization of American States, with 34 active member states in North, South and Central America, and the Caribbean” (Kollman & Waites, 2009, p. 6). The resolution criticized human rights violations. -
The Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity resolution
Despite a narrow-margin vote of 23-19, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted its first resolution, the Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity resolution, “to call for an end to sexuality discrimination worldwide and to recognize it as a "priority" for the UN” (Zebley, 2011). The resolution is binding but “does not address any penalties for violating the act” (Zebley, 2011). -
Benefits to UN Employees
The UN announced that they would “extend entitlement benefits to UN employees who are in legally-recognized same-sex unions, not just those from countries where same-sex marriages are legal – which had been the standing UN policy” (Fitzgerald, 2015). -
Follow-up to the UNHRC Resolution
A follow-up to the 2011 United Nations Human Rights Council resolution was passed by a vote of 25 to 14. The resolution “expressed grave concern at acts of violence and discrimination, in all regions of the world, committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity" (United Nations Human Rights Council, 2014). -
UNHRC Independent Expert
The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution appointing an independent expert on discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender and identity, marking “a historic victory for the human rights of anyone at risk of discrimination and violence because of their sexual orientation or gender identity” (Human Rights Watch, 2016). -
Orlando Pulse Nightclub Shooting
The UN Security Council publicly condemned the Orland Pulse Nightclub shooting; the “first time that the UN’s most powerful body made an explicit reference to targeting of individuals as a result of their sexual orientation” (The Indian Express, 2016).