Denmark becomes the first country in the world to give legal recognition to same-sex partnerships
The World Health Organisation declassified same-sex attraction as a mental illness
1990 1988
The Admiral Duncan pub in Soho is bombed by a former BNP member, killing 3 people and wounding 70
1996 1992
Justin Fashanu becomes the first professional footballer to come out as gay. He later dies by suicide
1999
P v S and Cornwall – landmark case law that found the employee was unlawfully dismissed for about to undergo gender reassignment
The UK Government lifts the ban on lesbians, gay men and bi people serving in the armed forces
Sexual Offences Act 2000 lowers the age of consent for same-sex relations between men to 16
2000 2000
2003 2001
Section 28 repealed in Scotland, but remains in place in England and Wales
Section 28 is repealed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, lifting the ban on local authorities from the teaching of the acceptability of homosexuality
Employment Equality Regulations becomes UK law, making it illegal to discriminate against lesbians, gay and bi people in the workplace
Gender Recognition Act is passed giving trans people full legal recognition in their appropriate gender, including the right to acquire a new birth certificate
2004 2003
2007 2004
Civil Partnerships Act is passed, giving samesex couples the same rights and responsibilities as married straight couples in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales
The Equality Act (SO) Regulations 2007 outlawed the discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities, services, education and public functions on the grounds of sexual orientation
David Cameron apologises on behalf of the Conservative Party for Section 28
The Equality Act 2010 officially adds gender reassignment as a protected characteristic
2009 2009
2011 2010
Gareth Thomas comes out as gay
The DoH lifts the lifetime ban on gay and bi men donating blood, although a 12 month celibacy clause is still in place
Ruth Davidson is elected to lead the Scottish Conservatives. She is the first openly gay leader of a political party
Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act is passed in England and Wales, coming into force in March 2014
2012 2011
2013 2013
Protection of Freedoms Act is passed in the UK allowing for historic convictions for consensual sex between men to be removed from criminal records
Alan Turing is given a posthumous royal pardon for his conviction of ‘gross indecency’ which resulted in him being chemically castrated and later committing suicide
North Carolina introduced a new law, HB2, forcing people to use public toilets that correspond with the gender they were assigned at birth
In the UK, gay men are restricted from joining the trial to search for a treatment for COVID-19 because of the blood donation restrictions
The DoH reduces the deferral period for gay and bi men wishing to donate blood from 12 months to three
2016 2016
2019 2017
49 people are killed and 53 injured after a gunman opens fire in the LGBT nightclub Pulse in Florida
2020
Brunei and Uganda enact the death sentence and corporal punishment for gay sex