2009 in LGBT rights

List of years in LGBT rights (table)
… 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 …
Art Archaeology Architecture Literature Music Philosophy Science +...

This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 2009.

Events

January

• 1 – Same-sex marriage begins in Norway. ^{[1] [2]}

February

• 1 – Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir becomes prime minister of Iceland, the first openly gay head of government in the modern world. ^[3]
• 9 – Domestic Partnership Registry opens in Phoenix, Arizona. ^[4]
• 12
  • In the United States Congress, Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York and Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont reintroduce the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) (H.R.1024 & S.424). ^{[5] [6]}
  • The government of Hungary approves a new registered partnership bill which would only apply to same-sex couples, providing all of the rights of marriage except adoption and the ability to take the same surname. Registered partnership legislation was previously passed by the government in 2007, but struck down as unconstitutional 16 days before taking effect since its availability to opposite-sex couples duplicated already-existing marriage law. ^[7]
  • Hawaii civil unions bill passes the state house on a 33–17 vote. ^[8]
• 18 – All five bills called the Common Ground Initiative that would have extended LGBT rights in Utah die. ^[9]
• 19 – The North Dakota Senate votes 27 to 19 to amend the state Human Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity. ^[10]
• 20 – A bill to criminalize homosexuality dies in the Burundi Senate. ^[11]
• 23 – The Colorado House approves a domestic partner benefits bill that would make it easier for unmarried couples, including gays and lesbians, to make medical decision for incapacitated partners and leave property to their partners. ^[12]
• 24 – The Colorado Senate approves a domestic partner benefits bill that would make it easier for unmarried couples, including gays and lesbians, to make medical decision for incapacitated partners and leave property to their partners. ^[13]

March

• 2 – Argentina ends ban on gays in the military. ^[14]
• 3 – The Philippines ends ban on gays in the military. ^[15]
• 5 – The California Supreme Court meets in San Francisco to hear arguments concerning the validity of Proposition 8.
• 10
  • in Tel Aviv, Uzi Even and his life partner become the first same-sex male couple in Israel whose right of adoption is legally acknowledged. ^[16]
  • In the case of HJ and HT v Home Secretary , the Court of Appeal of England and Wales denies the asylum claims of two men, from Iran and Cameroon, stating that the men would not be subject to persecution for their sexual orientation if they concealed it (the so-called "discretion test"). ^[17]
• 20 – Denmark legalizes adoption by same-sex couples. ^[18]
• 23 – The Vermont Senate passes a bill 26 to 4 legalizing same sex marriage. ^[19]
• 26 – Serbian lawmakers give final approval with a majority of 127 votes in favor to 59 against to ban any kind of discrimination, whether based on race, religion, sexual orientation or gender or other factors. ^[20]
• 26 – The New Hampshire House votes for gay marriage 186 to 179 after first voting against it, 183 to 182. ^[21]
• 27 – Japan allows its citizens to marry same-sex foreign partners in countries where same-sex marriage is legal. ^[22]

April

• 1 – Sweden legalizes same-sex marriage effective May 1. ^[23]
• 3 – The Iowa Supreme Court rules that the state must offer same-sex marriage. ^[24]
• 7 – Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage effective September 1. ^[25]
• 9 – Colorado Governor Bill Ritter (D) signs a domestic partner benefits bill effective July 1. ^[26]
• 16 – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire signs the "everything but marriage" domestic partnership bill effective June 1. ^[27]
• 20 – Hungary's Registered Partnership Bill 2009 passes the National Assembly of Hungary effective July 1. ^[28]
• 30 – Iowa officials start issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples. ^{[29] [30]}

May

• 1 – Sweden's gender-neutral marriage law becomes effective. ^{[31] [32]}
• 3 – The Obama administration allows the deadline to appeal Witt v. Department of the Air Force to pass, leaving Witt as binding precedent for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. ^[33]
• 5 – New Hampshire passes the same-sex marriage bill by a Senate vote of 13–11 and a House vote of 186–179. ^[34]
• 8 – Maine Governor John Baldacci signs the End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom Act 2009 into law which legalizes same-sex marriage effective September 14, 2009. ^[35]
• 12 – New York marriage bill passes the Assembly vote by a vote of 89–52. ^[36]
• 15 – Uruguay allows gay people to serve openly in the military. ^[37]
• 15 – Finland allows same-sex couples the legal right to adopt a biological child. ^[38]
• 19 – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire signs the "everything-but-marriage" domestic partnership bill into law. ^{[39] [40]}
• 20 – The Nevada legislature passes the Domestic Partnership Responsibilities Act 2009 but Governor Jim Gibbon vetoes the bill a week later. ^{[41] [42]}
• 21 – Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signs a bill that provides health insurance and a few more entitlements for state workers that includes unmarried mixed- and same-sex couples. ^[43]
• 26 – The California Supreme Court issues its ruling in Strauss v. Horton . The court upholds Proposition 8 by a 6–1 vote but the marriages performed before the measure took effect remain legal and valid. ^[44]

June

• 1 – The Nevada legislature overrides Governor Jim Gibbons's veto; the state will provide domestic partnership effective October 1. ^[45]
• 3
  • The Canadian province of Alberta is the last province to include the words "sexual orientation" in the Human Rights Act. ^[46]
  • New Hampshire legalizes civil marriage for same-sex couples effective January 1, 2010.
  • The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary holds the first hearing ever on the Uniting American Families Act. ^[47]
• 30 – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signs the Budget Considerations And Limited Domestic Partnership Act 2009 into law. The law enumerates 43 rights for registered same-sex couples. ^[48]

July

• 1 – Colorado domestic partnership law becomes effective. ^[26]
• 2 – The Delhi High Court rules that homosexual intercourse between consenting adults is not a criminal act. ^[49]
• 3 – Delaware prohibits sexual orientation discrimination under the Delaware Code, but not gender identity.
• 6 – The District of Columbia recognizes same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.

August

• 3 – Wisconsin domestic partnership law becomes effective.

September

• 1 – Vermont same-sex marriage law becomes effective.

October

• 1 – Nevada domestic partnership becomes effective.
• 13 – Ugandan Member of Parliament David Bahati introduces the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill which would broaden the criminalization of same-sex relationships in Uganda and establish the death penalty for HIV-positive people engaging in sexual activity with people of the same sex or with those under 18. ^[50]
• 28 – United States President Barack Obama signs the Matthew Shepard Act, which expands federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, the first US federal law to extend legal protections to transgender persons. ^[51]

November

• India agrees to list eunuchs and transgender people as "others", distinct from males and females, in voting rolls and voter identity cards. ^[52]
• 3
  • Washington voters approve Referendum 71 to uphold the state's "everything but marriage" domestic partnership law with 53% of the vote. ^[53]
  • Maine voters repeal the state's marriage equality law by 53%. ^[54]
• 12 – India election authorities begin granting intersex and transsexual people the right to register as independent genders on voting lists. ^[55]
• 13 – A judge in Buenos Aires, Argentina, allows for the first same-sex marriage in Argentina and Latin America. ^{[56] [57]}
• 14 – The mayor of Montpellier, France, Hélène Mandroux, launches the Appeal of Montpellier in support of same sex marriage in France.
• 19 – The New York Court of Appeals rules that state officials have the authority to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages, although the court declines to rule on whether same-sex couples may legally marry in the state. ^[58]

December

• The Supreme Court of Pakistan orders a census of hijras, who number between 80,000 ^[59] and 300,000 in Pakistan. ^[60]
• 1 – LGBT rights in Europe, The Treaty of Lisbon come together with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union into effect. In article 21 of the Charter sexual orientation is protected.
• 18 – Washington, D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty signs the city's same-sex marriage bill into law. ^[61]
• 21 – The Legislative Assembly of the Federal District passes a bill allowing same-sex marriage and adoption 39-20. ^[62]
• 23 – Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, orders that the National Database and Registration Authority issue national identity cards to members of the community showing their "distinct" gender. ^{[60] [63]} Chaudhry asked the government to ensure that hijras can inherit property ^[52] and to be sure they are not harassed. ^[64] The court suggested that the federal government employ hijras in the recovery of loans from defaulters. ^[64]
• 29 – Mexico City's same-sex marriage bill is signed into law by Head of Government ("Mayor") Marcelo Ebrard. It will go into effect in 45 working days. ^[65]

Deaths

• April 12 – Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, 58, American theorist specializing in queer studies and LGBT rights activist. ^[66]
• July 22 – Mark Leduc, 47, Canadian Olympic boxer and Toronto People with AIDS Foundation campaigner. ^[67]

See also

• LGBT 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

References

1. "Same sex marriage law passed by wide majority". Aftenposten Multimedia. June 12, 2008. Archived from the original on June 17, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
2. "Norway LGBT Laws". Pride Legal. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
3. Grew, Tony. "Iceland makes history as lesbian Prime Minister takes office". PinkNews. Archived from the original on April 6, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
4. "Phoenix domestic partnership registry opens | News Story on 365gay.com". Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
5. "H.R. 1024 - United American Families Act of 2009". Congress.gov. March 16, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
6. "Assembly Joint Resolution No. 15 CHAPTER 60 Relative to the United American Families Act". California Legislative Information. July 7, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
7. "Hungarian Government Proposes Registered Same-Sex Partnerships". PinkNews. February 12, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
8. "Hawaii civil unions bill passes state House, goes to Senate". The Honolulu Advertiser. February 13, 2009. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
9. "All 5 LGBT bills die in Utah | News Story on 365gay.com". Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
10. "LGBT protections added to ND human rights law in state senate | News Story on 365gay.com". Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
11. "Gay imprisonment bill dies in Burundi Senate | News Story on 365gay.com". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
12. "Partner bill passes Colorado house | News Story on 365gay.com". Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
13. "Colorado Senate approves partner bill | News Story on 365gay.com". Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
14. "Argentina officially ends trials for homosexual acts in military | News Story on 365gay.com". Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
15. "Philippines ends ban on gays in military | News Story on 365gay.com". Archived from the original on May 6, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
16. Edelman, Ofra (March 11, 2009). "Gay couple wins right to adopt foster son". Haaretz. Archived from the original on March 13, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
17. HJ and HT v Secretary of State for the Home Department, [2009 EWCA Civ172]( Court of Appeal of England and Wales March 5, 2009).
18. "Denmark OKs adoptions by gay couples | News Story on 365gay.com". Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
19. "Vt. senate passes gay marriage bill: Rutland Herald Online". Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
20. "Serbian lawmakers pass anti-discrimination law | News Story on 365gay.com". Archived from the original on March 30, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
21. "New Hampshire House OKs same-sex marriage". CNN. March 26, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
22. "Japan allows its citizens same-sex marriage abroad". March 27, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
23. "365gay.com". 365gay.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
24. "365gay.com". 365gay.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
25. Garrison, Jessica (April 8, 2009). "Vermont Legislature gives final OK to gay marriage". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 10, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
26. Luning, Ernest (April 29, 2009). "State House Sends Same-Sex Domestic Partner Benefits Bill to Governor's Desk". The Colorado Independent. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
27. Roesler, Richard (April 15, 2009). "House Passes "everything but marriage" Domestic Partnership Bill..." The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
28. "Constitutional Court Affirms Registered Partnership". European Commission on Sexual Orientation Law. March 23, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
29. "Gay Couples Apply for Marriage Licenses in Iowa". The Guardian. April 27, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
30. "Iowa Gay Marriages Begin as Ruling Takes Effect". NBC News. April 27, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
31. "Gender-neural marriage and Marriage Ceremonies". Government Offices of Sweden. April 30, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
32. "Sweden Votes in Favor of Legalizing Gay Marriage". Reuters. April 1, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
33. Bravin, Jess; Laura Meckler (May 19, 2009). "Obama Avoids Test on Gays in Military". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
34. "Gov. Lynch Statement Regarding Same-Sex Marriage Legislation – Gov John Lynch". Archived from the original on May 17, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
35. "UK Gay News – Gay and Lesbian Marriage, Partnership or Unions Worldwide". Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
36. "Assembly Passes Marriage Equality Bill". Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. May 12, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
37. "Uruguay Lifts Ban On Gays In The Military". The Huffington Post. May 15, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
38. "Finland allows gay couples to adopt partner's children". PinkNews. Archived from the original on July 19, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
39. "Gov. Gregoire signs legislation to expand rights to domestic partners". Governor.wa.gov. May 18, 2009. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
40. "SB 5688 – 2009–10". Apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
41. "Nevada State Legislature Approves Domestic Partnership Legislation". Human Rights Campaign. May 20, 2009. Archived from the original on September 25, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
42. "Nevada Approves Domestic Partnership; Governor Threatens Veto". Out Alliance. May 20, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
43. "Gov. signs Colo. benefits bill | News Story on 365gay.com". Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
44. "HRC | California Supreme Court Takes Step Back from Equality". Archived from the original on August 27, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
45. "Nevada lawmakers reject veto of partnership bill | News Story on 365gay.com". Archived from the original on June 23, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
46. "Legislative Assembly of Alberta". Assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
47. "View a Hearing or Meeting". Judiciary.senate.gov. July 8, 2010. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
48. Pitsch, Mark (June 29, 2009). "Doyle signs budget, vetoes binding referendum on RTA tax". The Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
49. "Gay sex decriminalised in India". BBC News. July 2, 2009. Archived from the original on July 3, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
50. Geen, Jessica (October 15, 2009). "Ugandan MP proposes that gays should be executed". Pink News. Archived from the original on October 17, 2009. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
51. "Obama Signs Defense Policy Bill That Includes 'Hate Crime' Legislation". Fox News. October 29, 2009. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
52. "Pakistani eunuchs to have distinct gender". BBC News. December 23, 2009. Archived from the original on December 24, 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
53. Yardley, William (November 4, 2009). "Early Vote Favors Domestic Partner Law". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 6, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
54. Susan M. Cover (November 4, 2009). "Mainers vote down gay marriage law". Portland Press Herald . Archived from the original on November 7, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
55. "India's third gender gets own identity in voter rolls". CNN. November 12, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
56. "Buenos Aires OKs first gay marriage in Latin America – INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos". Newsinfo.inquirer.net. November 14, 2009. Archived from the original on September 24, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
57. "Argentine judge allows gay wedding in legal first". Reuters. November 13, 2009. Archived from the original on November 16, 2009. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
58. Nichols, Michelle. "NY court OKs out-of-state gay marriage benefits". Reuters. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
59. "People defaulting on bank loans? Use eunuchs to recover: Pak SC". The Economic Times. India: Bennett Coleman. December 24, 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
60. Haider, Zeeshan (December 23, 2009). "Pakistan's transvestites to get distinct gender". Reuters. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
61. Gresko, Jessica (March 3, 2010). "Same-sex marriage becomes legal in DC". Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 3, 2010. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
62. "Mexico City 1st in region to approve gay marriage". Associated Press. December 21, 2009. Archived from the original on December 25, 2009. Retrieved December 21, 2009.
63. Masood, Salman (December 23, 2009). "Pakistan: A Legal Victory for Eunuchs". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
64. Khan, Sohail (December 24, 2009). "SC advises govt to hire eunuchs for loan recovery". The News International. Archived from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
65. Wilkinson, Tracy (December 29, 2009). "Gay marriage closer to reality in Mexico". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 1, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
66. Garcia, Michelle (April 13, 2009). "Educator, Author Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick Dies at 58". Advocate.com. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
67. Wong, Danielle (July 24, 2009). "Mark Leduc, 47: Gay athlete, Olympic medallist". The Star. Toronto. Archived from the original on July 27, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.