2015 in LGBT rights
This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 2015.
- 1 – Same-sex marriage became legal in Luxembourg.
- 6 – Same-sex marriage became legal in the state of Florida.
- 12 – In the case Rosenbrahn v. Daugaard, U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier ruled that South Dakota's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.
- 14 – The Constitutional Court of Austria has ruled that same-sex couples have the same right as opposite-sex couples to adopt children.
- 18 – Irish Minister for Health Leo Varadkar comes out during an interview on morning radio, becoming the country's first openly gay government minister.
- 23 – In the case Searcy v. Strange, U.S. District Court Judge Callie V. S. Granade ruled that Alabama's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.
- 23 – Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson allowed a bill to become law that prevents any cities and counties in the state from expanding anti-discrimination ordinances beyond what the state already prohibits by refusing to sign or veto the legislation. The state's anti-discrimination laws do not include sexual orientation or gender identity.
- 2 – In Waters v. Ricketts, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Bataillon ruled that Nebraska's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.
- 3 – The Parliament of Slovenia voted to legalize marriage for same-sex couples.
- 12 – Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed a bill into law that amends existing anti-discrimination laws for housing and employment to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
- 1 – Maltese parliament accepts the Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (GIGESC) Bill, bringing the country to the forefront of progressive gender legislation.
- 13 – Chilean President Michelle Bachelet signed a law that recognizes civil unions between same-sex couples.
- 12 – Voters in the city of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, upheld an ordinance that bans sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
- 14 – The city council in Laramie, Wyoming, voted 7–2 in favor of a measure that bans sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
- 23 – Voters in the Republic of Ireland approved an amendment to their constitution to legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples. It is the first country in the world to legalize the practice by a popular vote.
- 26 – A unanimous vote by the Inatsisartut (Parliament of Greenland) ratified same-sex marriage.
- 5 – In the U.S. territory of Guam, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Frances M. Tydingco-Gatewood issued a ruling that found the territory's marriage law banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.
- 12 – In the Mexican state of Chihuahua, the governor César Duarte Jáquez announced that his administration would no longer prevent same-sex couples from marrying.
- 22 – Same-sex marriage became legal in the British Territory of Pitcairn Islands.
- 26 – Same-sex marriage was legalized in the United States of America after the Supreme Court ruled that refusing to grant marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
- 29 – Homosexuality was officially decriminalized in the African country of Mozambique.
- 29 – At the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, a resolution removing the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman was passed by the House of Bishops with 129 in favor, 26 against, and 5 abstaining.
- 29 – After the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationally in the US, the office of the presiding bishop in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America released a letter informing members that each congregation is free to marry gay and lesbian couples or to choose not to do so.
- 13 – The Pentagon announced that it will allow transgender personnel to serve openly in the US military, starting in 2016.
- 21 – The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Italy is violating human rights because neither civil unions or same-sex marriages are legal in the country.
- 10 – Nepal starts issuing passports to transgender people; the holder's sex is marked as 'O' for other, rather than male or female.
- 11 – The Mexican Supreme Court ruled that a law banning adoption by same-sex couples in the state of Campeche is unconstitutional.
- 9 – The Gender Equality Act B.E. 2558 went in effect in Thailand, criminalizing discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.
- 22 – Civil unions became legal in Chile.
- 28 – The Dutch Health Minister announced that the Netherlands would lift the lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood to replace it with a 12-month deferral period.
- 12 – The Ukrainian parliament approved an anti-discrimination law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace.
- 17 – Ireland held its first same-sex marriage.
- 9 – Same-sex unions became legal in the Republic of Cyprus.
- 18 – The Portuguese Parliament approved a bill that would provide full adoption rights, but President Anibal Cavaco Silva, who leaves office on 9 March, rejected a bill that had been passed by the country's parliament
- 21 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a proposal to replace the indefinite deferral with the one-year deferral on gay and bisexual men donating blood.
- 23 – The Greek Parliament approved a bill that recognizes civil unions between same-sex couples.
- "Jean Olinger and Henri Huber say 'I do'". 1 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- "Florida becomes 36th state to legalize gay marriage". Associated Press. 6 January 2015. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
- "South Dakota Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional". 12 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- "Austria lifts adoption restrictions for gay couples". Associated Press. 14 January 2015. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- Kelly, Fiach (18 January 2015). "Leo Varadkar interview a significant moment in public life: Prominence in public coming out by leading Minister of traditionally conservative party". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
Now the most prominent gay figure in Irish public life ... Today, a significant moment in one man’s private life, is also a seminal moment in Irish public life.
- Snow, Justin (23 January 2015). "Federal judge strikes down Alabama same-sex marriage ban". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- Lyons, John (23 January 2015). "Bill barring discrimination ordinances at city, county level becomes law". Arkansas News. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- "Judge strikes down Nebraska's same-sex marriage ban, state appeals". KETV. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- "Slovenian parliament votes to legalise same-sex marriage". 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- Dobner, Jennifer (12 March 2015). "Herbert signs LGBT nondiscrimination, religious freedom protections bill". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- "Dispatches: Malta's Inspiring Gender Recognition Law". 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- "– Malta Adopts Ground-breaking Trans and Intersex Law – TGEU Press Release". Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- "Chilean president signs same‑sex civil union law". Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- Dover, Elicia (12 May 2015). "Eureka Springs voters uphold anti-discrimination ordinance". KATV. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- Neary, Ben (14 May 2015). "Laramie passes measure to protect gays, lesbians". Associated Press. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- Pogatchnik, Shawn (23 May 2015). "'Bold' Ireland votes to legalize gay marriage in landslide". Associated Press. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- (in Danish) Inatsisartut decision to the Government of Greenland acceding the Ordinance on the law entering into force for Greenland of the parts of the law amending the law on marriages and dissolution, the Act on legal effects of marriage and Justice Act and repealing the Act on registered partnership. Archived 13 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- Bordallo, Grace (5 June 2015). "Guam becomes first US territory to recognize gay marriage after federal judge's decision". Associated Press. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- Lavers, Michael (12 June 2015). "Mexican state to allow same-sex marriage". Washington Blade. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- "Pacific's tiny Pitcairn Island legalises same-sex marriage". 22 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
- Williams, Pete (26 June 2015). "Landmark: Supreme Court Rules Same-Sex Marriage Legal Nationwide". NBCNews. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
- "Mozambique To Decriminalize Homosexuality 29 June: Southeast African Nation Is Latest Country in Africa To Legalize Being Gay". 2 June 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- EpiscopalNewsService: Marriage equality
- "ELCA presiding bishop offers letter on Supreme Court marriage ruling". www.elca.org. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- "Military to allow transgender members to serve openly". Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- "European Court Rules Italy's Same-Sex Marriage Ban a Human Rights Violation". 21 July 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- "LGBT Nepal". 28 May 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- Lavers, Michael (11 August 2015). "Mexican Supreme Court strikes down gay adoption ban". Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- Stern, Mark Joseph (17 September 2015). "Argentina Abolishes Gay Blood Ban". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- "Nepal lawmakers approve first LGBTI protections in new constitution – Gay Star News". Gay Star News. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- "Chile civil union law comes into force – BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- "Ban lifted on gay male blood donations; Advocates critical of new restrictions". NL Times. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- "Les homosexuels pourront donner leur sang, c'est un symbole fort". Libération.fr. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- "Colombia lifts same-sex adoption limits – BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- "Ukraine finally passes anti-bias law, a prerequisite for visa-free travel to EU". KyivPost. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- "First same-sex marriages take place". RTE.ie. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- Civil unions become law Archived 27 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- "Parlamento – Votação final: 17 deputados do PSD votaram a favor da adoção plena – Portugal – DN". DN (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- "Portugal's outgoing president vetoes gay adoption bill – Gay Star News". Gay Star News. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- Commissioner, Office of the. "Press Announcements – FDA updates blood donor deferral policy to reflect the most current scientific evidence and continue to ensure the safety of the U.S. blood supply". www.fda.gov. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- "Same-sex couples will have equal rights with heterosexual couples with cohabitation agreements". Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- Greece, HuffPost (23 December 2015). "Great News For Greece's LGBT Community". Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- Queer.de: Griechenland gibt Homo-Paaren die "Ehe light" (German language)
- Media related to LGBT history in 2015 at Wikimedia Commons