December 1917
First Soviet Decriminalisation
International Legal
After the Russian Revolution, the new Soviet regime briefly removed criminal penalties for homosexuality by abolishing the Tsarist penal code. This progressive policy was short-lived, however, as Stalin recriminalised homosexuality in 1933, ushering in decades of persecution that would endure throughout the Soviet era.
Impact & Significance
Illustrated how revolutionary political shifts can temporarily open space for LGBTQIA+ rights before authoritarian retrenchment.
Reference Record
- Date
- December 1917
- Era
- 1900-1949
- Sources
- 2
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Questions This Event Helps Answer
Q How did international law change LGBTQ+ rights? International law changed LGBTQ+ rights by challenging criminalisation, creating partnership recognition, protecting sexual orientation in constitutions and opening marriage equality. Q How did LGBTQ+ asylum protection develop? LGBTQ+ asylum protection developed as refugee law recognised persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity, then tested whether asylum systems treated claimants safely and fairly. Q Which global LGBTQ+ legal wins changed rights? Major wins included decriminalisation in Mozambique, Belize, India, Botswana, Angola and Singapore, plus Thailand's marriage-equality law.
