1997 in LGBT rights

Events

 * Sodomy is decriminalized in People's Republic of China.
 * Fiji's becomes the second country in the world whose constitution explicitly protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation, although the Fijian Government does not invalidate or repeal its sodomy laws.

April

 * Ellen DeGeneres' character, Ellen Morgan, comes out on TV, seen by 42 million viewers.

October

 * In the United Kingdom, Home Office minister Mike O'Brien announced that same-sex partners were eligible for British residency, based on a 4 year relationship akin to marriage.

December

 * Annise Parker is elected as an at-large member of the Houston City Council alongside mayoral candidate Lee P. Brown.

Births

 * Christian Frates (February 18): American bisexual voice actor with autism
 * Bella Thorne (October): American pansexual actress