Homosexuality
Homosexuality is decriminalized in the Australian state of New South Wales.
In context
- When
- Friday, June 8 198442 years ago
- Category
- Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
- Era
- 20th century · 1980s
- Recorded from
- Wikipedia “On this day” feed
At a glance
Dates: From 1984.
What came beforeAI-assisted
New South Wales had criminalized homosexual acts under colonial laws inherited from Britain. Male homosexuality was prosecuted under indecency statutes that carried severe penalties, including imprisonment.
Catalyst / how it startedAI-assisted
The decriminalization followed years of advocacy by LGBTQ+ activists and civil rights organizations. The NSW Parliament passed legislation removing homosexual conduct from the crimes it punished.
Who was involvedAI-assisted
LGBTQ+ activists and advocacy groups campaigned for legal reform throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. NSW Parliament members voted to pass the decriminalization legislation.
TimelineAI-assisted
June 8, 1984: New South Wales decriminalized homosexuality, becoming the first Australian state to do so. Other Australian states and territories followed over the subsequent decades.
What happened
Homosexuality is decriminalized in the Australian state of New South Wales.
June 8 through the years
Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.
Also in 1984
- March 14Gerry AdamsGerry Adams, leader of Sinn Féin, was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt by Ulster Freedom Fighters in central Belfast, Northe…
- September 14Joseph KittingerJoe Kittinger becomes the first person to fly a gas balloon alone across the Atlantic Ocean.
- September 5STS-41-DSTS-41-D: The Space Shuttle Discovery lands after its maiden voyage.
- September 5Western AustraliaWestern Australia becomes the last Australian state to abolish capital punishment.
- October 20Sinking of the Spanish trawler SoniaThe Spanish trawler Sonia sank in British waters after a five-hour chase by the Irish Naval Service patrol vessel Aisling, during which a…
- November 27Brussels Agreement (1984)Under the Brussels Agreement signed between the governments of the United Kingdom and Spain, the former agrees to enter into discussions…
- July 5Supreme Court of the United StatesThe United States Supreme Court gives its United States v. Leon decision providing a good-faith exception from the Fourth Amendment exclu…
- December 10United Nations General AssemblyUnited Nations General Assembly recognizes the Convention against Torture.
Sources
- Wikipedia article (text, CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 for adapted text · how we source this
Cite this page
“Homosexuality”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/homosexuality-1984-june-8, accessed October 25, 2026.
Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.
Questions about this entry
When did Homosexuality happen?
June 8 1984 — 42 years ago, on a Friday.
Where does this text come from?
Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints. Panels marked AI-assisted were filled where the sources left a heading empty.
How do I cite this page?
Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.
One entry a day, by email
The standout entry each morning. Kept for this site only.
Text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0 and from Wikidata (CC0). Images come from Wikimedia Commons; credit and licence are shown with each image. Editorial entries are © What's On This Date. Sources & licensing · How this site works.