This is only "by the book". While legalization on the books is generally an indication of improvement in societal attitudes as far as homosexual relationships, in some cases legalization does not mean effective legalization on the whole territory (Chechnya in Russia is an example of this, where being homosexual is still de facto illegal) and it being illegal on the books it does not mean it is de facto illegal;
This considers all types of homosexual relationships. Often lesbian relationships were legalized before gay ones, or were never officially illegal;
This considers only when homosexuality was officially legal in the whole country. In some cases, some parts did it earlier than other. Sometimes the difference is minor (East Germany in 1968 and West Germany in 1969), sometimes large (in some Swiss cantons it was legal in 1798, in the whole country in 1942; in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies it was legal before 1861, but illegal in the Kingdom of the Sardinia, and it was fully legal in Italy only in 1890; in England and Wales it was legal in 1967, in Scotland in 1981);
This considers the last time it was legalized: in some countries - such as Serbia - it was legalized, then made illegal again, and then finally legalized again;
If a country was a part of another country which made homosexuality legal, and never made it illegal afterwards, the date of legalization is considered (in Iceland it was legalized in 1940 as a part of the Kingdom of Denmark; in the Vatican in 1890 as part of the Kingdom of Italy)
I am suprised the differences between countries are this big. France and the BeNeLux are almost 2 centuries ahead of most of the other european countries
JoeFalchetto on June 29th, 2020 at 05:50 UTC »
Source
A few caveats:
This is only "by the book". While legalization on the books is generally an indication of improvement in societal attitudes as far as homosexual relationships, in some cases legalization does not mean effective legalization on the whole territory (Chechnya in Russia is an example of this, where being homosexual is still de facto illegal) and it being illegal on the books it does not mean it is de facto illegal;
This considers all types of homosexual relationships. Often lesbian relationships were legalized before gay ones, or were never officially illegal;
This considers only when homosexuality was officially legal in the whole country. In some cases, some parts did it earlier than other. Sometimes the difference is minor (East Germany in 1968 and West Germany in 1969), sometimes large (in some Swiss cantons it was legal in 1798, in the whole country in 1942; in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies it was legal before 1861, but illegal in the Kingdom of the Sardinia, and it was fully legal in Italy only in 1890; in England and Wales it was legal in 1967, in Scotland in 1981);
This considers the last time it was legalized: in some countries - such as Serbia - it was legalized, then made illegal again, and then finally legalized again;
If a country was a part of another country which made homosexuality legal, and never made it illegal afterwards, the date of legalization is considered (in Iceland it was legalized in 1940 as a part of the Kingdom of Denmark; in the Vatican in 1890 as part of the Kingdom of Italy)
Ognjenas on June 29th, 2020 at 06:18 UTC »
Damn Turkey that's early. Didn't expect that O.o
Newmovement69 on June 29th, 2020 at 07:39 UTC »
I am suprised the differences between countries are this big. France and the BeNeLux are almost 2 centuries ahead of most of the other european countries