Why IDAHOBIT Matters: a Timeline of LGBTQIA+ Discrimination in South Australia

May 17 is IDAHOBIT, the International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination. (International Day Against HOmophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia, Transphobia)

We've created a timeline of local history to help understand why this day is so important, starting with the May 1972 drowning death of Dr George Duncan. 

A special thank you to SARAA's list of LGBTQIA+ Milestones in South Australia as a great starting document!

Key: 

Red: discrimination occurs or is introduced

Green: Legal progress

Yellow: LGBTQIA+ founded progress

Sources: 

July 1972 – private members bill introduced to parliament to decriminalize homosexuality, the first attempt in Australia. https://dhs.sa.gov.au/how-we-help/lgbtiqa/anniversary-of-the-decriminalisation-of-homosexuality

15 September 1973 – The Proud Parade, Adelaide’s first pride parade held https://www.naa.gov.au/students-and-teachers/learning-resources/learning-resource-themes/society-and-culture/gender-and-sexuality/gay-pride-march-adelaide

1974 – Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people banned from serving in the Australian Defence Force https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/lgbdefence

27 August 1975 – SA becomes first state to fully decriminalise homosexual acts, and creates an equal age of consent for all sexual acts https://dhs.sa.gov.au/how-we-help/lgbtiqa/anniversary-of-the-decriminalisation-of-homosexuality

2 October 1975 – Laws decriminalising homosexual acts take effect https://www.centreofdemocracy.sa.gov.au/explore/timeline/?tdetails=1&irn=373&appid=1722221449

1984 – SA Equal Opportunity Act makes discrimination against a person’s sexual orientation illegal https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/sa/consol_act/eoa1984250/

1984 – Formation of AIDS Council of South Australia https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-30/health-programs-to-continue-despite-aids-council-closure-in-sou/4852092

15 November 1988 – SA Sexual Reassignment Act passed, making gender recognition after surgery legal https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/sa/repealed_act/sra1988229/

1989 – First Picnic in the Park held https://www.experienceadelaide.com.au/visit/things-to-do/heritage/pride-walk/ 

1 August 1990 – Equal Opportunity Act South Australia amended to add sexuality, including what was then known as “transsexuality”, as a protected group https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/sa/num_act/eoaaa25o1990397/

23 November 1992 – Lesbian, gay and bisexual people allowed to serve in the Australian Defence Force https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/lgbdefence

1995 – Bfriend support service created https://elmplace.org.au/portfolio/bfriend/

1996 – South Australian Gender Dysphoria Unit created https://auspath.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AusPATH-Report-on-trans-health-care-history.pdf

1997 – First annual Feast Festival held https://feast.org.au/about-us/

 7 November 2003 – Second Pride March is held, becomes an annual event https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-11-08/first-gay-pride-march-staged-in-adelaide-in-30/1506048

2004 – Marriage act amended to define marriage as between a man and a woman https://humanrights.gov.au/resource-hub/by-resource-type/guides/rights-and-freedoms/marriage-legislation-amendment-bill-2004

2006 – SA Police establish Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer Network https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-12-12/police-introduce-gay-lesbian-liaison-positions/2152302

2009 – Federal law recognizes same-sex couples in de facto relationships https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A00275/2009-03-01/text

13 September 2010 – Trans people allowed to openly serve and transition while in the Australian Defence Force https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/lgbdefence

2013 – The Spent Convictions Act South Australia allows pre-1973 homosexual offences to be expunged https://www.moadoph.gov.au/explore/stories/history/8-hard-won-rights-for-lgbti-australians

8 September 2016 – Statutes Amendment (Gender Identity and Equity) Act South Australia passed, which changes language throughout South Australian law to remove gender bias and be more gender and sexuality inclusive. https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/_legislation-documents/lz/b/archive/statutes-amendment-gender-identity-and-equity-bill-2016/b_as-introduced-in-ha/statutes-and-equity-bill-2015.un.rtf

2016 – City of Adelaide Pride Walk Installed https://www.experienceadelaide.com.au/visit/things-to-do/heritage/pride-walk/

January 2017 – All South Australian public schools required to allow students to use the toliets of the gender they identify with, call students by their preferred name and allow students to wear the uniform of the gender they identify with https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-06/sa-schools-introduce-transgender-intersex-policy/8163790?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link

17 February 2017 – Adoption Act 1988 South Australia amended to allow same-sex couples to adopt https://www.moadoph.gov.au/explore/stories/history/8-hard-won-rights-for-lgbti-australians

21 March 2017 – Same-sex couples granted equal access to assisted reproductive technology and altruistic surrogacy https://hrlc.squarespace.com/news/2017/2/28/same-sex-couples-in-south-australia-to-have-access-to-ivf-and-unpaid-surrogacy#:~:text=Today%20the%20South%20Australian%20Parliament%20has%20passed,intersex%20and%20queer%20(LGBTIQ)%20people%20from%20the

23 May 2017 – laws updated to remove that trans people must undergo sex reassignment surgery before legally changing their gender identity, instead they must have a statement from a medical professional or psychologist. People can also use an X gender marker. https://www.centreofdemocracy.sa.gov.au/explore/timeline/?tdetails=1&irn=423&appid=1722221449

November-December 2017 – Same sex marriage becomes legal as after the national non-binding voluntary postal survey was held, asking Australians if same-sex couples should be allowed to marry https://www.ag.gov.au/families-and-marriage/marriage/marriage-equality-australia

1 April 2021 – SA becomes the last state to repeal the “gay panic” defence https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/lz?path=/V/A/2020/Statutes%20Amendment%20(Abolition%20of%20Defence%20of%20Provocation%20and%20Related%20Matters)%20Act%202020_43

25 November 2021 – Passing of the Sentencing (Hate Crimes) Amendment Act 2021 means courts must consider if a crime was motivated by hate or prejudice when sentencing https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/lz?path=/v/a/2021/sentencing%20(hate%20crimes)%20amendment%20act%202021_46

December 2024 - Australian Bureau of Statistics releases first estimates of LGBTIQ populations. https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/abs-releases-first-ever-estimates-lgbti-australians

1 April 2025 – Laws banning conversion practices take effect. https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/lz?path=/c/a/conversion%20practices%20prohibition%20act%202024

July 14 2025 – Lifeblood removes exclusions against men who have sex with men from donating blood and plasma, instead asking all donors about their recent sexual history to determine if they can donate blood and allowing plasma donation from anyone regardless of their answer. https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2025/06/gay-and-bisexual-men-will-soon-be-able-to-donate-blood-and-plasma

20 April 2026 – Lifeblood introduces gender-neutral assessments for blood and platelet donations – finally allowing gay and bisexual men, along with trans people, to be able to donate. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-20/lifeblood-gender-neutral-assessment-for-blood-donation/106578630

Largely adapted from: https://www.saraa.org.au/awareness/historical-milestones-for-lgbtiqa-south-australia/