LGBTI Milestones in Finland

1889 Homosexuality is considered a crime in the new penalty code, and punishable by a maximum of two years imprisonment

1969 The first gay rights organization in Finland, Psyke ry, is founded

1971 Homosexuality is decriminalized; however its "promotion" remains illegal

1974 Seta ry is founded

1981 Homosexuality is removed from the illness classification list

1986 Seta founds the Hiv foundation and its Aids support centres around the country

1991 Seta is transformed into a central organisation of LGBT associations. Local Seta associations are founded in different parts of Finland.

1994 The Trans Support Centre is founded

1995 Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited

1999 The Criminal Code is revised, setting the age of consent equal for same-sex and straight sexual relations. The prohibition of "promotion of homosexuality" is finally removed.

2001 The law on "registered partnership" is adopted. The law is similar to the law on marriage, with exception for thethe rights to take the spouse's surname and to adopt children.

2002 The law on gender confirmation for transsexual persons comes into force.

2004 The new Equality Act is adopted, prohibiting direct and indirect discrimination and harassment based on age, ethnic or national origin, citizenship, language, religion, belief, opinion, health, disability, sexual orientation or any other ground in connection to the person.

2005 The new act on gender equality comes into force. The act applies also for discrimination faced by trans people.

2006 The law on assisted insemination is passed in the parliament. The law allows treatments also for single women and female couples. Before the law a number of clinics have provided treatments for female couples. Surrogacy is illegal.

2009 Internal adoption for same-sex couples is legalized

2011 Transvestism as a diagnosis is removed from the Finnish version of ICD-10