2013 in LGBTQ rights

This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBTQ rights that took place in the year 2013.

Events

January

• 1 - Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the U.S. state of Maryland. ^[1]

February

• 2 - The National Assembly of France approves Article 1 of the same-sex marriage bill by a 249-to-97 vote. ^[2]
• 5 - The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, which would legalize same-sex marriage for couples in England and Wales, passes 400–175 in the Second Reading in the House of Commons. ^[3]
• 19:
  • In Austria, step-child adoption (of one's partner's biological child) becomes legal after ECtHR rules in favour of a lesbian couple. ^[4]
  • In Germany, successive adoption becomes legal after the Constitutional Court rules in favor of a lesbian couple. Previously, only the adoption of the biological child of one's partner was allowed. ^[5]

April

• 23 - The National Assembly of France legalizes, in a second voting, same-sex marriage and adoption. ^[6]
• 29 - NBA free agent Jason Collins becomes the first active male professional athlete in North America to acknowledge his homosexuality in an article written for Sports Illustrated . ^[7]

May

• 1 - Civil unions become legal in the U.S. state of Colorado. ^[8]
• 14 - Brazil legalizes same-sex marriage after the National Council of Justice ruled that orders all civil registers of the country to license and perform same-sex marriages and convert any existing stable unions into marriages if the couples so desire. The ruling was published on May 15 and took effect on May 16, 2013. ^[9]
• 17 - LGBT-rights activists gather in Tbilisi, Georgia, for the first anti-homophobic rally, despite large opposition. ^[10]
• 30 - The Nigerian parliament passes a law banning same-sex marriage. ^[11]
• 22 - Health Canada lifts ban on men who have sex with men donating blood with a deferral period of five years. ^[12]
• 31 - Guy Erwin becomes the first openly gay bishop to be elected in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; he was elected to the Southwest California Synod of the ELCA. ^[13]

June

• 19 - Exodus International, an organization devoted to the "re-orientation" of homosexual desires, shuts down. ^[14]
• 25 - The Russian Parliament approves a ban on "gay propaganda" in two bills. The bill would impose jail terms for those who are deemed to be promoting homosexual "propaganda" to minors and for those who offend religious believers. At the same time, proponents staged a "kissing protests" while opponents attacked them. ^[15]
• 26 - The Supreme Court of the United States ruled Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional in United States v. Windsor , requiring federal recognition of same-sex marriages performed in states. The also court dismisses an appeal in Hollingsworth v. Perry , effectively invalidating Proposition 8 and restoring same-sex marriage in California.
• 28 - The granting of same-sex marriages resumes in California. ^[16]
• 30 - In Russia, President Vladimir Putin signs into law a bill banning "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors" after it was unanimously passed by the State Duma. ^[17]

July

• 1 - Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the U.S. state of Delaware. ^[18]

August

• 1 - Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the U.S. states of Rhode Island and Minnesota. ^{[19] [20]}
• 5 - Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Uruguay ^[21] after it was passed on 10 May by the Chamber of Deputies of Uruguay with 71 affirmative votes out of 92 in its second reading, ^[22] making Uruguay the second country in Latin America, after Argentina, and twelfth overall, to legalize same-sex marriage. The law was previously passed by the Senate on 2 April by a 23–8 vote. ^[23]
• 19 - In New Zealand, same-sex marriage becomes legal after Royal Assent is granted by the Governor-General Jerry Mateparae, following its passing in a third reading in parliament of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill. ^{[24] [25]}
• 21 - In the U.S. state of New Mexico, Doña Ana County begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses. ^[26]
• 23 - In the U.S. state of New Mexico, Santa Fe County begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses following an order by a state district court judge in Hanna v. Salazar . ^[27]
• 27 - In the U.S. state of New Mexico, Bernalillo County begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses following an order by a state district court judge in Griego v. Oliver . ^[28] San Miguel and Valencia counties also begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Taos County announces it will begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses the next day following an order by a state district court judge in Stark v. Martinez . ^[29]

September

• 4 - In the U.S. state of New Mexico, Los Alamos County begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses following an order by a state district court judge in Newton v. Stover. ^[30]
• 9 - In the U.S. state of New Mexico, Grant County begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses following an order by a state district court judge in Katz v. Zamarripa. ^[31]

December

• - A trans woman was able to apply for the Tamil Nadu civil services exam after a court order allowed her to under a self-described gender choice category. Tamil Nadu is the first province of India to offer the option of gender choice instead of the ubiquitous "third gender". ^[32]
• 4 - Xavier Bettel is appointed prime minister of Luxembourg, making him the third head of government in the world to be LGBT, after Iceland's Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and Belgium's Elio Di Rupo, respectively. His deputy, Etienne Schneider, is also LGBT. ^[33]
• 11 - The Supreme Court of India overrules the Delhi Court in re-establishing the primacy of section 377 of the Indian penal code that makes homosexual activity illegal. ^[34]
• 12 - The High Court of Australia overrules the Australian Capital Territory's law allowing same-sex marriage in contravention of the Marriage Act saying the federal parliament alone could set such laws. The ruling annuls weddings that have taken place already. ^[35]
• 17 - The Parliament of Uganda approves the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which originally proposed the death penalty for homosexuality but now contains life in prison for "aggravated homosexuality." ^[36] The bill must be signed by the President of Uganda before becoming law.
• 19 - The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the state must issue marriage licenses to couples without respect to gender. ^[37]
• 20 - In Kitchen v. Herbert , U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby ruled that the Utah's ban on gay marriage violates the due process and equal protection under the 14th Amendment for gay and lesbian couples. ^[38]
• 23 - In Obergefell v. Wymyslo, Federal Court Judge Timothy Black ruled that Ohio's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. However, his ruling only applies to death certificates. ^[39]

Deaths

• 8 January - Jeanne Manford, founder of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), unknown (declining health). ^[40]

See also

• LGBTQ portal

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

References

1. "Maryland Rings in New Year With Marriage Equality". The Advocate.
2. "French MPs endorse gay marriage". 2 February 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
3. "Gay marriage: MPs back bill despite Conservative backbench opposition". BBC News. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
4. "Austria: Reform needed after European Court adoption victory for lesbian couple". Amnesty International. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
5. "German Court Strengthens Gay and Lesbian Adoption Rights". Der Spiegel. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
6. Advocate:France approves marriage equality bill
7. "NBA player announces he is gay" . Retrieved 7 July 2013.
8. Moreno, Ivan (21 March 2013). "Civil unions signed into law in Colorado". Associated Press Big Story. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
9. "Brazil judicial panel clears way for gay marriage". France 24. 14 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
10. "LGBT Supporters Rally in Tbilisi, Despite Fears of Violence". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
11. "Nigerian parliament bans same-sex marriage". BBC. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
12. Branswell, Helen (22 May 2013). "Canada lifts ban on gay men donating blood; must be abstinent for 5 years". CTVNews. Archived from the original on 7 September 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
13. Raushenbush, Paul (31 May 2013). "Rev. Guy Erwin: First Openly Gay Lutheran Bishop Elected To ELCA Southwest California Synod". HuffPost. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
14. Melissa Steffan (21 June 2013). "Alan Chambers Apologizes to Gay Community, Exodus International to Shut Down". Christianity Today. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
15. "Russia legislators pass 'gay propaganda' ban". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
16. Dolan, Maura; York, Anthony; LaGanga, Maria (28 June 2013). "To cheers, same-sex marriages resume in California". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
17. "U.S. Should Press Russia on Anti-Homosexuality Law". Human Rights First. 2 August 2013. Archived from the original on 6 August 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
18. Byrne, Tom (7 May 2013). "Delaware becomes 11th state to approve same-sex marriage". WDDE. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
19. Klepper, David (2 May 2013). "RI Now 10th State to Allow Gay Marriage". ABC News. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
20. "Marriage equality in Minnesota: A gay-rights victory in the Midwest". 13 May 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
21. Pastor, Lucia (29 July 2013). "Matrimonio igualitario: las parejas homosexuales podran casarse a partir del 5 de agosto" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
22. "La Camara de Diputados aprobo ley de matrimonio gay poir 71 votos en 92". El Pais (in Spanish). 10 April 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
23. "Senado aprobo ley de matrimonio igualitario: 23 a favor, 8 en contra". Iglesia Catolica Conferencia Episcopal del Uruguay (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
24. Schwartz, Dominique (17 April 2013). "NZ legalises same-sex marriage". ABC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013.
25. "MPs vote to legalise same sex marriage". TVNZ. 17 April 2013. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013.
26. Soular, Diana Alba (21 August 2013). "Same-sex couples apply for marriage licenses in Doña Ana County". Las Cruces Sun-News. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
27. Pearce, Matt (23 August 2013). "Second New Mexico county now issuing same-sex marriage licenses". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
28. Clausing, Jeri (26 August 2013). "New Mexico Judge Declares Same-Sex Marriage Legal". HuffPost. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
29. "3 more NM counties to issue gay marriage licenses". KOAT. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
30. "Judge rules in favor of Los Alamos same-sex couplecense.html". Albuquerque Journal. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
31. Gordon, Jefferey. "Grant County to start issuing same-sex marriage licenses". KOB. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
32. Shanker, V Prem (11 December 2013). "Indian transgender passes test before exam - Features - Al Jazeera". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 December 2013. A few days ago Swapna was allowed to sit for the provincial Tamil Nadu civil services exam – thanks to a court order which allowed her to choose a sex of her choice when applying for the exam, an unprecedented victory for transgenders who have routinely been subject to endless discrimination.
33. "Luxembourg gets first openly gay PM". Al Jazeera. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.
34. "Indian top court says gay sex is an offence". Aljazeera. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
35. "Australian court strikes down gay marriage".
36. "Uganda MPS approve anti-gay law". Aljazeera. 21 December 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
37. "Gay marriage ruled legal by New Mexico's high court". USA Today. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
38. Johnson, Luke (20 December 2013). "Gay Marriage Ban Struck Down in Utah". HuffPost.
39. "The San Diego Union-Tribune - San Diego, California & National News".
40. Garcia, Michelle (8 January 2013). "PFLAG Founder Jeanne Manford Dies at 92". advocate.com. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

External links

• Media related to LGBT history in 2013 at Wikimedia Commons