2015 in LGBT rights explained

This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 2015.

Events

January

• 1 – Same-sex marriage became legal in Luxembourg.^[1]
• 6 – Same-sex marriage became legal in the state of Florida.^[2]
• 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.^[3]
• 14 – The Constitutional Court of Austria has ruled that same-sex couples have the same right as opposite-sex couples to adopt children.^[4]
• 18 – Irish Minister for Health Leo Varadkar comes out during an interview on morning radio, becoming the country's first openly gay government minister.^[5]
• 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.^[6]

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.^[7]

March

• 2 – In Waters v. Ricketts, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Bataillon ruled that Nebraska's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.^[8]
• 3 – The Parliament of Slovenia voted to legalize marriage for same-sex couples.^[9]
• 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.^[10]

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.^{[11] [12]}
• 13 – Chilean President Michelle Bachelet signed a law that recognizes civil unions between same-sex couples.^[13]

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.^[14]
• 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.^[15]
• 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.^[16]
• 26 – A unanimous vote by the Inatsisartut ratified same-sex marriage.^[17]

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.^[18]
• 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.^[19]
• 22 – Same-sex marriage became legal in the British Territory of the Pitcairn Islands.^[20]
• 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.^[21]
• 29 – Homosexuality was officially decriminalized in the African country of Mozambique.^[22]
• 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.^[23]

• 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.^[24]

July

• 13 – The Pentagon announced that it will allow transgender personnel to serve openly in the US military, starting in 2016.^[25]
• 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.^[26]

August

• 10 – Nepal starts issuing passports to transgender people; the holder's sex is marked as 'O' for other, rather than male or female.^[27]
• 11 – The Mexican Supreme Court ruled that a law banning adoption by same-sex couples in the state of Campeche is unconstitutional.^[28]

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.^[29]
  • The Nepalese Constituent Assembly approved a new constitution that included several provisions pertaining to the rights of LGBT people.^[30]

October

• 22 – Civil unions became legal in Chile.^[31]
• 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.^[32]

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.^[33]
  • The Constitutional Court of Colombia ruled 6–2 in favour of full adoption rights for same-sex couples.^[34]
• 12 – The Ukrainian parliament approved an anti-discrimination law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace.^[35]
• 17 – Ireland held its first same-sex marriage.^[36]

December

• 9 – Same-sex unions became legal in the Republic of Cyprus.^[37]
• 18 – The Portuguese Parliament approved a bill that would provide full adoption rights,^[38] but President Anibal Cavaco Silva, who leaves office on 9 March, rejected a bill that had been passed by the country's parliament^[39]
• 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.^[40]
• 23 – The Greek Parliament approved a bill that recognizes civil unions between same-sex couples.^{[41] [42] [43]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jean Olinger and Henri Huber say 'I do'. 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.
2. News: Florida becomes 36th state to legalize gay marriage. 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.
3. Web site: South Dakota Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional. . 15 January 2015. 12 January 2015.
4. News: Austria lifts adoption restrictions for gay couples. 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.
5. News: Fiach. Kelly. 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..
6. News: Snow. Justin. Federal judge strikes down Alabama same-sex marriage ban. 23 January 2015. Metro Weekly. 23 January 2015.
7. News: Lyons. John. Bill barring discrimination ordinances at city, county level becomes law. 24 January 2015. Arkansas News. 23 January 2015.
8. News: Judge strikes down Nebraska's same-sex marriage ban, state appeals. KETV. 3 March 2015. 2 March 2015.
9. Web site: Slovenian parliament votes to legalise same-sex marriage. 3 March 2015. 3 March 2015.
10. News: Jennifer. Dobner. Herbert signs LGBT nondiscrimination, religious freedom protections bill. 12 March 2015. The Salt Lake Tribune. 12 March 2015.
11. Web site: Dispatches: Malta's Inspiring Gender Recognition Law. 1 April 2015. 1 December 2016.
12. Web site: – Malta Adopts Ground-breaking Trans and Intersex Law – TGEU Press Release. April 2015. 1 December 2016.
13. Web site: Chilean president signs same‑sex civil union law. 1 December 2016.
14. News: Elicia. Dover. Eureka Springs voters uphold anti-discrimination ordinance. 14 May 2015. KATV. 12 May 2015.
15. News: Ben. Neary. Laramie passes measure to 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.
16. News: Shawn. Pogatchnik. 'Bold' Ireland votes to legalize gay marriage in landslide. 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.
17. 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.
18. News: Grace. Bordallo. Guam becomes first US territory to recognize gay marriage after federal judge's decision. 12 June 2015. Associated Press. 5 June 2015.
19. News: Michael. Lavers. Mexican state to allow same-sex marriage. 12 June 2015. Washington Blade. 12 June 2015.
20. Web site: Pacific's tiny Pitcairn Island legalises same-sex marriage. 22 June 2015. 26 June 2015.
21. News: Pete. Williams. Landmark: Supreme Court Rules Same-Sex Marriage Legal Nationwide. 26 June 2015. NBCNews. 26 June 2015.
22. Web site: Mozambique To Decriminalize Homosexuality 29 June: Southeast African Nation Is Latest Country in Africa To Legalize Being Gay. . 2 June 2015. 1 December 2016.
23. https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2015/07/07/general-convention-wrap-up-historic-actions-structural-changes/ EpiscopalNewsService: Marriage equality
24. Web site: ELCA presiding bishop offers letter on Supreme Court marriage ruling. www.elca.org. 2016-08-21.
25. News: Military to allow transgender members to serve openly. . 1 December 2016.
26. Web site: European Court Rules Italy's Same-Sex Marriage Ban a Human Rights Violation. 21 July 2015. 1 December 2016.
27. Web site: LGBT Nepal . 11 July 2015. 28 May 2015.
28. News: Michael. Lavers. Mexican Supreme Court strikes down gay adoption ban. 12 August 2015. 11 August 2015.
29. News: Argentina Abolishes Gay Blood Ban. Slate. 2015-09-17. 2015-12-29. 1091-2339. en-US. Mark Joseph. Stern.
30. Web site: Nepal lawmakers approve first LGBTI protections in new constitution – Gay Star News. 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.
31. News: Chile civil union law comes into force – BBC News. BBC News. 22 October 2015. 2015-12-30. en-GB.
32. Web site: 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.
33. Web site: Les homosexuels pourront donner leur sang, c'est un symbole fort. Libération.fr. 2015-12-29.
34. News: Colombia lifts same-sex adoption limits – BBC News. BBC News. 5 November 2015. 2015-12-30. en-GB.
35. Web site: Ukraine finally passes anti-bias law, a prerequisite for visa-free travel to EU. KyivPost. 12 November 2015. 2015-12-30.
36. Web site: First same-sex marriages take place. RTE.ie. 17 November 2015. 2015-12-30.
37. http://in-cyprus.com/civil-unions-become-law/ Civil unions become law
38. Web site: Parlamento – Votação final: 17 deputados do PSD votaram a favor da adoção plena – Portugal – DN. DN. 2015-12-29. pt-PT.
39. Web site: Portugal's outgoing president vetoes gay adoption bill – Gay Star News. Gay Star News. 26 January 2016. 2016-02-13. en-GB.
40. Web site: 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. 2015-12-29. Office of the. Commissioner.
41. Web site: Same-sex couples will have equal rights with heterosexual couples with cohabitation agreements. 1 December 2016.
42. Web site: Great News For Greece's LGBT Community. HuffPost. Greece. . 23 December 2015. 1 December 2016.
43. http://www.queer.de/detail.php?article_id=25285 Queer.de: Griechenland gibt Homo-Paaren die "Ehe light"