1 – Crime Decree 2009[3]decriminalises in Fiji.[4] Fiji became the first Pacific Island country to formally decriminalise homosexuality.
2 – The European Court of Human Rights ruled unanimously against "a blanket exclusion of persons living in a homosexual relationship from succession to a tenancy" in Kozak v. Poland.[5][6]
4 – Mexico City's same-sex marriage and adoption laws come into effect.[7] This follows 22 couples' taking part in a symbolic marriage ceremony in Tlaxcala on February 26 to highlight the issue.[8]
9 – The first same-sex marriages are performed in the District of Columbia, with licenses having been available since March 3.[9]
31
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopts a recommendation on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.[10]
In Fields v. Smith the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin strikes down the state's "Inmate Sex Change Prevention Act". Passed in 2005, the law barred doctors in Wisconsin prisons from prescribing hormone treatment or sex reassignment surgery to transgender inmates. The court finds that denial of treatment absent a medically necessary reason constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.[11]
29 – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopts a resolution[15] and a recommendation[16] along lines similar to the March 31 recommendation of its Council of Ministers, "calling on member states to address" an array of issues related to LGBT rights.[17]
May
17 – Amid controversy, a law enabling same-sex marriage in Portugal is promulgated by president Aníbal Cavaco Silva, although adoption is ruled out.[18][19] The law comes into force on June 5, with the first marriage on June 7.
18 – Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza are convicted in a Malawian court or having committed "unnatural offenses" and "indecent practices between males" under sections 153 and 156 of Malawi's criminal code after local newspapers reported that they had participated in a public same-sex chinkhoswe, or engagement ceremony.[20] Monjeza, who identifies as male, and Chimbalanga, a transgender person who identifies as female, are each sentenced to 14 years hard labour on May 20, but are pardoned by President Bingu wa Mutharika following international pressure and an appeal from United Nations Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon.[21]
2 – United States President Barack Obama issues a memorandum ordering federal departments and agencies to extend spousal benefits to same-sex couples to the extent permitted by the Defense of Marriage Act.[22][23]
24 – In Schalk and Kopf v. Austria,[24] the European Court of Human Rights unanimously finds that a State not legislating for, or recognising, same-sex marriage is not in violation of Article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). By four votes to three, it ruled that the non-recognition of same-sex relationships was not in violation of the ECHR.[25]
7 – The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, in HJ and HT v Home Secretary,[33] ruled that the asylum claims of two men based on their fear of being persecuted in their home countries (Iran and Cameroon) because of their homosexuality may not be denied on the basis of their ability to conceal their homosexuality in the so-called "discretion test".[34]
22- The European Court of Human Rights holds, in P.B. and J.S. v. Austria, that lack of access to insurance for same-sex couple on equal terms with other marriages violates the ECHR.[41][42]
10 – The Supreme Court of Mexico ruled in quick succession that Mexico City's same-sex marriage law is constitutional,[46] that the same marriages contracted in Mexico City must be recognised throughout Mexico, although no other state is required to perform them,[47] and that it is unconstitutional to bar these married same-sex couples from adopting children.[48][49]
9 – A judge in New Mexico ruled that a marriage license issued to a lesbian couple in 2004 is valid, though she declines to rule on the broader constitutional question of same sex marriage.[50]
17 – The Federal Constitutional Court of Germany rules that the surviving partners of registered partnerships are entitled to the same inheritance tax laws as the survivors of marriages. Surviving marital partners previously paid 7–30% inheritance tax while surviving registered partners paid 17–50%.[51]
31
The Parliament of Tasmania approves legislation to recognise same-sex marriages and registered unions performed outside Tasmania.[52]
21 – New York Governor David Paterson signed a bill into law allowing unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, to adopt children. The new law also replaces the term "husband and wife" with the gender-neutral "married couple".[59]
10 – Belgrade anti-gay riot failed to prevent Pride parade in Belgrade from being carried out. Unfortunately, the riot caused serious damage to many individual businesses and to some of city infrastructure.[64]
November
2 – Voters in El Paso, Texas, pass an initiative that strips health insurance benefits from the unmarried partners of city employees.[65] Supporters say that their intention was to target gay city employees and their partners.[66]
September 22 – Tyler Clementi, American student, died by suicide after a video of his sexual encounter with a man was streamed over the internet without his knowledge.[70]
