1993 in LGBTQ rights

This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 1993.

Events

• Sodomy laws in the Republic of Ireland are repealed.
• Minnesota bans private-sector discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, becoming the first U.S. state to enact a law addressing transgender civil rights. ^[1]

January

• 15 – In U.S. state of Colorado, district court judge Jeffrey Bayless issues a temporary injunction in Romer v. Evans , preventing Amendment 2 from becoming part of the state constitution.

April

• 25 – Third gay rights march on Washington, D.C., the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation draws an estimated 1,000,000 participants. ^{[2] [3]}

• 29 - Russia decriminalized homosexual relationships. ^{[4] [5]}

May

• 5 – In Baehr v. Lewin , the Hawaii Supreme Court rules that denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples constitutes discrimination based on sex under the Hawaii Constitution. The court remands the case to the trial court to determine whether the state had a "compelling" state interest in barring such marriages. ^{[6] [7]}

July

• 19 – Colorado's Supreme Court upholds an injunction issued by a district court in January against Amendment 2 and sends it back to the district court to be scrutinized.

August

• 10 - New Zealand passes their Human Rights Act. ^{[8] [9]}

September

• 19 – The Hamilton Square Baptist Church protests break out in San Francisco. ^[10]

October

• 1 – A court orders the federal government of Canada to grant a gay federal worker spousal and bereavement benefits equal to those heterosexual employees receive.
• 7 – In the United States, the AFL–CIO labor union passes a resolution to oppose the repeal of gay rights laws.

November

• 2 – Voters in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lewiston, Maine, repeal bans on discrimination based on homosexual orientation. ^{[11] [12]}
• 30 – Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass policy goes into effect in the United States armed forces. ^[13]

December

• 3 – The state senate of Massachusetts passes a bill that protects the civil rights of lesbian and gay students in public schools.
• 14 – In Colorado, district court judge Jeffrey Bayless rules Amendment 2 unconstitutional. ^[14]

See also

• LGBTQ portal

• Timeline of LGBT history – timeline of events from 12,000 BCE to present
• LGBT rights by country or territory – current legal status around the world
• LGBT social movements

Notes

1. "Current Issues". American Counseling Association. Archived from the original on 3 October 2008.
2. Schmaltz, Jeffrey (April 26, 1993). "March for gay rights; gay marchers throng mall in appeal for rights". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
3. "30 years after LGBTQ march on Washington: we are still fighting for freedom". Speak Out Socialists. April 24, 2023. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
4. Dahlburg, John-Thor (May 29, 1993). "Russia revokes law punishing gay sex". The LA Times. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
5. "The facts on LGBT rights in Russia". The Council for Global Equality. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
6. Eskridge, p. 5
7. Baehr v. Lewin ,852P.2d44(Hawaii Supreme Court1993-05-05).
8. "Human Rights Act 1993". New Zealand Legislation. August 10, 1993. Archived from the original on October 21, 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
9. "Rights of Sexual and Gender Minorities". Human Rights Commission.
10. "San Francisco: Baptist Church Becomes Target in the Culture Wars". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
11. Walsh, Edward (October 29, 1993). "Challenge to gay rights". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
12. Harrison, Dick (November 1993). "Non-discrimination statute repealed by voters". Communique. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
13. "A brief history of civil rights in the United States: the 1990s, "don't ask, don't tell", and DOMA". Howard University. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
14. Gallagher, John (1994-02-08). "Battle without end?". The Advocate . p. 24. Retrieved 2010-07-28.

References

• Eskridge, Jr., William N. (1996). The Case for Same-Sex Marriage: From Sexual Liberty to Civilized Commitment. New York City, The Free Press, a Division of Simon & Schuster. ISBN   0-684-82404-3.