200 Years of LGBTQIA+ History

From Shadows to Pride — UK & Global Timeline

Source Record

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996

Why this source is used

Official South African Government constitution record used for the post-apartheid equality framework and sexual-orientation discrimination protection.

Start with the answer

Start with the answer 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. Read the topic guide International Decriminalisation and Recognition International LGBTQ+ legal change moved from decriminalisation rulings to partnership recognition, constitutional protection and marriage equality.

Source Status

Publisher
South African Government
Type
legal
Reliability
high
Cited by
3 pages

Source Links

Open original source https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution/constitution-republic-south-africa-04-feb-1997 Accessed 2 June 2026 Open archived copy https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution/constitution-republic-south-africa-04-feb-1997

Used by Topics

International Decriminalisation and Recognition

Used by Questions

How did international law change LGBTQ+ rights?

Used by Timeline Events

10 December 1996 LegalInternational

South Africa's Constitution Bans Sexual Orientation Discrimination

South Africa's new post-apartheid Constitution came into force, becoming the first in the world to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Section 9(3) of the Bill of Rights lists sexual orientation alongside race, gender, and religion as protected grounds. This was the result of deliberate advocacy by LGBTQ+ activists during the constitutional negotiations, supported by the ANC.