2002 in LGBTQ rights

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This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBTQ rights that took place in the year 2002.

Events

Sweden legalizes adoption for same-sex couples, making Sweden's registered partnership nearly identical to marriage, with the exception of the right to marriage in a church.
US state of New York bans sexual orientation discrimination in the private sector.^[1]
Tony Knowles, governor of the U.S. state of Alaska, issues an executive order banning sexual orientation discrimination in the public sector.^[2]

28 – Homosexuality is decriminalized in the People's Republic of China, as the newly amended Marriage Law avoids this topic.

6 – Openly gay Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn is assassinated by Volkert van der Graaf.
10 – In Marc Hall v. Durham Catholic School Board, Canadian gay teenager Marc Hall wins an injunction permitting him to bring his boyfriend to his prom.
17 – In Germany, the Bundestag passes a supplement to the Act of Abolition of National Socialism (NS-Aufhebungsgesetzes), vacating Nazi-era convictions of homosexuals.^[3]

The United Nations Human Rights Committee in case Joslin et al. v. New Zealand concludes that ICCPR does not foresee a right to same-sex marriage.^[4]
25 – In Satchwell v President of the Republic of South Africa, the Constitutional Court of South Africa rules that the same-sex partner of a High Court judge is entitled to the same financial benefits that the spouse of a judge would receive.^[5]

Austria's Article 209 of the Penal Code was removed equalising the age of consent at 14.

4 – In Hungary, the Constitutional Court repeals §199 of the penal code, equalising the age of consent for both heterosexual and homosexual activity at 14.
10 – In Du Toit v Minister of Welfare and Population Development, the Constitutional Court of South Africa rules that same-sex couples must be allowed to adopt children jointly.^[6]
22 – In Switzerland, voters in the canton of Zurich vote 63% to 37% to give same-sex couples the same legal rights as married opposite-sex couples. This includes tax, inheritance, and social security benefits. These rights are only given to same-sex couples who live in Zurich canton and who register with the government, promising to live together and support each other for six months.

18 – In South Africa, in the case of Fourie v Minister of Home Affairs, the Transvaal Provincial Division of the High Court dismisses an application by a lesbian couple to require the government to recognise their partnership as a marriage.^[7] The decision is appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal.

October 24 – Harry Hay, 90, leader in the early gay rights movement in the United States, co-founder of the Mattachine Society and the Radical Faeries.

^ "Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA)". Archived from the original on June 17, 2007. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
^ "Lambda Legal: Alaska". Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2007.
^ (in German) Entwurf des Änderungsgesetzes zum NS-Aufhebungsgesetz – Bundestagdrucksache 14/8276 (archived)
^ UN HRC views in case No. 902/1999
^ "ConCourt rules in favour of gays". News24. SAPA. July 25, 2002. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
^ "Lesbians, gays can adopt children". News24. September 10, 2002. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
^ "High court dismisses gay marriage bid". Pretoria News. October 18, 2002. Retrieved December 11, 2011.