2015 in LGBTQ rights

none October 2020 2015 LGBTQ rights This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBTQ rights that took place in the year 2015. Events January 1 – Same-sex marriage became legal in Luxembourg.Jean Olinger and Henri Huber say 'I do' http://www.wort.lu/en/luxembourg/first-same-sex-marriage-in-luxembourg-jean-olinger-and-henri-huber-say-i-do-54a5440e0c88b46a8ce4e576 2 January 2015 1 January 2015 1 August 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170801175604/https://www.wort.lu/en/luxembourg/first-same-sex-marriage-in-luxembourg-jean-olinger-and-henri-huber-say-i-do-54a5440e0c88b46a8ce4e576 dead 6 – Same-sex marriage became legal in the state of Florida.Florida becomes 36th state to legalize gay marriage http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-florida-gay-marriage-20150106-story.html 6 January 2015 Associated Press 6 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150106151001/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-florida-gay-marriage-20150106-story.html 6 January 2015 dead 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.South Dakota Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional HuffPost http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/12/south-dakota-gay-marriage_n_6458402.html 15 January 2015 12 January 2015 14 – The Constitutional Court of Austria has ruled that same-sex couples have the same right as opposite-sex couples to adopt children.Austria lifts adoption restrictions for gay couples http://www.sunherald.com/2015/01/14/6017426_austria-lifts-adoption-restrictions.html 15 January 2015 14 January 2015 Associated Press https://archive.today/20150118164730/http://www.sunherald.com/2015/01/14/6017426_austria-lifts-adoption-restrictions.html 18 January 2015 dead 18 – Irish Minister for Health Leo Varadkar comes out during an interview on morning radio, becoming the country's first openly gay government minister.Fiach Kelly http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/analysis-leo-varadkar-interview-a-significant-moment-in-public-life-1.2070208 Leo Varadkar interview a significant moment in public life: Prominence in public coming out by leading Minister of traditionally conservative party 18 January 2015 The Irish Times 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. 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.Snow Justin Federal judge strikes down Alabama same-sex marriage ban http://www.metroweekly.com/2015/01/federal-judge-strikes-down-alabama-same-sex-marriage-ban/ 23 January 2015 Metro Weekly 23 January 2015 February 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.Lyons John Bill barring discrimination ordinances at city, county level becomes law http://arkansasnews.com/news/arkansas/updated-bill-barring-discrimination-ordinances-city-county-level-becomes-law 15 April 2026 Arkansas News 23 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150224125513/http://arkansasnews.com/news/arkansas/updated-bill-barring-discrimination-ordinances-city-county-level-becomes-law 24 February 2015 March 2 – In Waters v. Ricketts, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Bataillon ruled that Nebraska's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.Judge strikes down Nebraska's same-sex marriage ban, state appeals http://www.ketv.com/politics/judge-rules-on-nebraskas-samesex-marriage-ban/31519918?Content%20Type=Story&linkId=12636250 KETV 3 March 2015 2 March 2015 3 – The Parliament of Slovenia voted to legalize marriage for same-sex couples.Slovenian parliament votes to legalise same-sex marriage https://news.yahoo.com/slovenian-parliament-votes-legalise-same-sex-marriage-215418898.html 15 April 2026 3 March 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150307050542/https://news.yahoo.com/slovenian-parliament-votes-legalise-same-sex-marriage-215418898.html 7 March 2015 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.Jennifer Dobner Herbert signs LGBT nondiscrimination, religious freedom protections bill http://www.sltrib.com/news/2283645-155/milestone-herbert-signs-lgbt-nondiscrimination-religious 12 March 2015 The Salt Lake Tribune 12 March 2015 April 1 – Maltese parliament accepts the Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (GIGESC) Bill, bringing the country to the forefront of progressive gender legislation.https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/01/dispatches-maltas-inspiring-gender-recognition-law Dispatches: Malta's Inspiring Gender Recognition Law 1 April 2015 1 December 2016http://tgeu.org/malta-adopts-ground-breaking-trans-intersex-law/ – Malta Adopts Ground-breaking Trans and Intersex Law – TGEU Press Release April 2015 15 April 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20150405124144/http://tgeu.org/malta-adopts-ground-breaking-trans-intersex-law/ 5 April 2015 13 – Chilean President Michelle Bachelet signed a law that recognizes civil unions between same-sex couples.http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2015/04/chilean-president-signs-same-sex-civil-union-law/ Chilean president signs same‑sex civil union law 13 April 2015 1 December 2016 May 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.Elicia Dover Eureka Springs voters uphold anti-discrimination ordinance http://www.katv.com/story/29047780/eureka-springs-voting-on-anti-discrimination-ordianance 14 May 2015 KATV 12 May 2015 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.Ben Neary Laramie passes measure to protect gays, lesbians http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2d45feb61e914cc8ba60947c055bf952/laramie-leads-wyoming-moving-protect-gays-lesbians 14 May 2015 Associated Press 14 May 2015 16 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150516220946/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2d45feb61e914cc8ba60947c055bf952/laramie-leads-wyoming-moving-protect-gays-lesbians dead 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.Shawn Pogatchnik 'Bold' Ireland votes to legalize gay marriage in landslide http://bigstory.ap.org/article/473ff0dcc431453e946f73c54d642633/yes-side-joyous-count-starts-irish-gay-marriage-vote 23 May 2015 Associated Press 23 May 2015 24 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150524090754/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/473ff0dcc431453e946f73c54d642633/yes-side-joyous-count-starts-irish-gay-marriage-vote dead 26 – A unanimous vote by the Inatsisartut (Parliament of Greenland) ratified same-sex marriage.da 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. https://web.archive.org/web/20160313091931/http://inatsisartut.gl/samlingerhome/oversigt-over-samlinger/samling/dagsordener/dagsorden.aspx?dagsorden=29656&day=26-05-2015 13 March 2016 June 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.Grace Bordallo Guam becomes first US territory to recognize gay marriage after federal judge's decision https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2015/06/05/guam-becomes-first-us-territory-to-recognize-gay-marriage 12 June 2015 Associated Press 5 June 2015 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.Michael Lavers Mexican state to allow same-sex marriage http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/06/12/mexican-state-to-allow-same-sex-marriage/ 12 June 2015 Washington Blade 12 June 2015 22 – Same-sex marriage became legal in the British Territory of the Pitcairn Islands.Pacific's tiny Pitcairn Island legalises same-sex marriage https://news.yahoo.com/pacifics-tiny-pitcairn-island-legalises-same-sex-marriage-054000020.html 22 June 2015 15 April 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20150626190954/https://news.yahoo.com/pacifics-tiny-pitcairn-island-legalises-same-sex-marriage-054000020.html 26 June 2015 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.Pete Williams Landmark: Supreme Court Rules Same-Sex Marriage Legal Nationwide https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/same-sex-marraige-legal-nationwide-supreme-court-rules-n375551 26 June 2015 NBCNews 26 June 2015 29 – Homosexuality was officially decriminalized in the African country of Mozambique.http://www.ibtimes.com/mozambique-decriminalize-homosexuality-june-29-southeast-african-nation-latest-1948203#. Mozambique To Decriminalize Homosexuality 29 June: Southeast African Nation Is Latest Country in Africa To Legalize Being Gay International Business Times 2 June 2015 1 December 2016 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.7 July 2015 General Convention wrap-up: Historic actions, structural changes https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2015/07/07/general-convention-wrap-up-historic-actions-structural-changes/ 15 April 2026 Episcopal News Service en-US LGBTQ 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.http://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7759 ELCA presiding bishop offers letter on Supreme Court marriage ruling www.elca.org 15 April 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20150705144342/http://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7759 5 July 2015 July 13 – The Pentagon announced that it will allow transgender personnel to serve openly in the US military, starting in 2016.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/pentagon-to-allow-transgender-members-to-serve-openly/2015/07/13/fe9b054a-298d-11e5-a5ea-cf74396e59ec_story.html Military to allow transgender members to serve openly The Washington Post 1 December 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.http://www.advocate.com/italy/2015/07/21/breaking-european-court-rules-italys-same-sex-marriage-ban-human-rights-violation European Court Rules Italy's Same-Sex Marriage Ban a Human Rights Violation 21 July 2015 1 December 2016 August 10 – Nepal starts issuing passports to transgender people; the holder's sex is marked as 'O' for other, rather than male or female.LGBT Nepal http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/nepal-issues-first-transgender-passport-1205801 11 July 2015 28 May 2015 11 – The Mexican Supreme Court ruled that a law banning adoption by same-sex couples in the state of Campeche is unconstitutional.Michael Lavers Mexican Supreme Court strikes down gay adoption ban http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/08/11/mexican-supreme-court-strikes-down-gay-adoption-ban/ 12 August 2015 11 August 2015 September 9 – The Gender Equality Act B.E. 2558 went in effect in Thailand, criminalizing discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation. 16 Argentina abolishes the ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood. Argentina Abolishes Gay Blood Ban http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/09/17/argentina_gay_blood_ban_it_s_abolished.html Slate 2015-09-17 2015-12-29 1091-2339 en-US Mark Joseph Mark Joseph Stern Stern The Nepalese Constituent Assembly approved a new constitution that included several provisions pertaining to the rights of LGBT people. Nepal lawmakers approve first LGBTI protections in new constitution – Gay Star News http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/nepal-lawmakers-approve-first-lgbti-protections-in-new-constitution/#gs.2ZzVAWw Gay Star News 15 September 2015 2015-12-29 13 December 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191213214933/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/nepal-lawmakers-approve-first-lgbti-protections-in-new-constitution/#gs.2ZzVAWw dead October 22 – Civil unions became legal in Chile. Chile civil union law comes into force – BBC News BBC News 22 October 2015 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34602629 2015-12-30 en-GB 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. Ban lifted on gay male blood donations; Advocates critical of new restrictions http://www.nltimes.nl/2015/10/28/ban-lifted-on-gay-male-blood-donations-advocates-critical-of-new-restrictions/ https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20161018142540/http://www.nltimes.nl/2015/10/28/ban%2Dlifted%2Don%2Dgay%2Dmale%2Dblood%2Ddonations%2Dadvocates%2Dcritical%2Dof%2Dnew%2Drestrictions/ dead 18 October 2016 NL Times 2015-12-29 November 4 The French Health Minister has announced that from spring 2016, gay and bisexual men will be able to donate blood following a one-year deferral. Les homosexuels pourront donner leur sang, c'est un symbole fort http://www.liberation.fr/societe/2015/04/04/les-homosexuels-pourront-donner-leur-sang-c-est-un-symbole-fort_1235022 Libération.fr 2015-12-29 The Constitutional Court of Colombia ruled 6–2 in favour of full adoption rights for same-sex couples. Colombia lifts same-sex adoption limits – BBC News BBC News 5 November 2015 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34729490 2015-12-30 en-GB 12 – The Ukrainian parliament approved an anti-discrimination law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace. Ukraine finally passes anti-bias law, a prerequisite for visa-free travel to EU http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv-post-plus/ukrainian-finally-passes-anti-bias-law-a-prerequisite-for-visa-free-travel-to-eu-401906.html KyivPost 12 November 2015 2015-12-30 17 – Ireland held its first same-sex marriage. First same-sex marriages take place http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/1117/742465-same-sex-couple-marriage/ RTE.ie 17 November 2015 2015-12-30 December 9 – Same-sex unions became legal in the Republic of Cyprus.Civil unions become law https://web.archive.org/web/20151127055351/http://in-cyprus.com/civil-unions-become-law/ 27 November 2015 18 – The Portuguese Parliament approved a bill that would provide full adoption rights, Parlamento – Votação final: 17 deputados do PSD votaram a favor da adoção plena – Portugal – DN https://www.dn.pt/portugal/interior/votacao-final-17-deputados-do-psd-votaram-a-favor-da-adocao-plena-4943871.html DN 2015-12-29 pt-PT but President Anibal Cavaco Silva, who leaves office on 9 March, rejected a bill that had been passed by the country's parliament Portugal's outgoing president vetoes gay adoption bill – Gay Star News http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/portugals-outgoing-president-vetoes-gay-adoption-bill/#gs.2=sl=_s Gay Star News 26 January 2016 15 April 2026 en-GB 27 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160127091503/http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/portugals-outgoing-president-vetoes-gay-adoption-bill/#gs.2=sl=_s 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. 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 https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm478031.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20151221215620/http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm478031.htm dead 21 December 2015 www.fda.gov 2015-12-29 Office of the Commissioner 23 – The Greek Parliament approved a bill that recognizes civil unions between same-sex couples.http://www.grreporter.info/en/samesex_couples_will_have_equal_rights_heterosexual_couples_cohabitation_agreements/13711 Same-sex couples will have equal rights with heterosexual couples with cohabitation agreements 1 December 2016http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/greece-gay-civil-partnerships_us_567ab87de4b06fa6887f815f Great News For Greece's LGBT Community HuffPost Greece HuffPost 23 December 2015 1 December 2016Griechenland gibt Homo-Paaren die "Ehe light" https://www.queer.de/detail.php?article_id=25285 15 April 2026 queer.de de-DE References External links Category:2010s in LGBTQ rights