LGBTQ rights in the Americas | |
|---|---|
Status of same-sex marriage and other types of same-sex partnerships in the Americas. Same-sex marriage1 Other type of registered partnership1 Limited domestic recognition1 Foreign marriages recognized for residency only Unrecognized Constitution restricts marriage to opposite-sex couples Unenforced ban on same-sex sexual activity 1May include recent laws or court decisions which have created legal recognition of same-sex relationships, but which have not entered into effect yet. | |
| Legal status | Legal in 30 out of 35 states; equal age of consent in 27 out of 35 states Legal in all 21 territories; equal age of consent in 16 out of 21 territories |
| Gender identity | Legal in 14 out of 35 states Legal in 8 out of 21 territories |
| Military | Allowed to serve openly in 14 out of 29 states that have an army Allowed in all 21 territories |
| Discrimination protections | Protected in 23 out of 35 states Protected in 14 out of 21 territories |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | Recognized in 12 out of 35 states Recognized in 18 out of 21 territories |
| Restrictions | Same-sex marriage constitutionally banned in 7 out of 35 states |
| Adoption | Legal in 8 out of 35 states Legal in 13 out of 21 territories |
Laws governing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) rights are complex and diverse in the Americas, and acceptance ofLGBTQ persons varies widely.
Same-sex marriages are currently legal inArgentina,Brazil,Canada,Chile,Colombia,Costa Rica,Cuba,Ecuador,Mexico,United States andUruguay. Free unions that are equivalent to marriage have begun to be recognized inBolivia. Among non-independent states, same-sex marriage is also legal inGreenland, theBritish Overseas Territories of theFalkland Islands andSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, all French territories (Guadeloupe,Martinique,Saint Barthélemy,French Guiana,Saint Martin, andSaint Pierre and Miquelon), and in theCaribbean Netherlands,Aruba, andCuraçao, while marriages performed in theNetherlands are recognised inSint Maarten. More than 800 million people live in nations or sub-national entities in the Americas where same-sex marriages are available.
On 9 January 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued an advisory opinion that states party to the American Convention on Human Rights should grant same-sex couples accession to all existing domestic legal systems of family registration, including marriage, along with all rights that derive from marriage.[1] The Supreme Courts of Honduras,[2] Panama,[3] Peru[4] and Suriname[5] have rejected the IACHR advisory opinion, while the Supreme Courts of Costa Rica and Ecuador adhered to it.Argentina,Brazil,Colombia, andUruguay are also under the court's jurisdiction, but already had same-sex marriage before the ruling was handed down.
However, five other nations still have unenforced criminal penalties for "buggery" on their statute books.[6] These areGrenada,Guyana,Jamaica,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, andTrinidad and Tobago of which Guyana is on mainland South America, while the rest areCaribbean islands. They are all former parts of theBritish West Indies. In addition, inAnguilla,the Bahamas,the Cayman Islands,Paraguay,Montserrat,Suriname andthe Turks and Caicos Islands, the age of consent is higher for same-sex sexual relations than for opposite-sex ones, and inBermuda, the age of consent for anal sex is higher than that for other types of sexual activities.
TheBritish,French,Spanish andPortuguese colonists, who settled most of the Americas, broughtChristianity fromEurope. In particular, theRoman Catholic Church and the Protestants, both of which oppose legal recognition of homosexual relationships. These were followed by theEastern Orthodox church,[7] theMethodist Church,[8][9] and some otherMainline (Protestant) denominations, such as theReformed Church in America[10] and theAmerican Baptist Church,[11] as well asconservative evangelical organizations and churches, such as theEvangelical Alliance and theSouthern Baptist Convention.[12][13][14]Pentecostal churches, such as theAssemblies of God,[15] as well asrestorationist churches (likeJehovah's Witnesses andMormons), also take the position that homosexual sexual activity is ‘sinful’.[16][17]
However, other denominations have become more accepting of LGBT people in recent decades, including theEpiscopalian church in the United States, theEvangelical Lutheran Church (also in America), theEvangelical Lutheran Church of Canada, theAnglican Church of Canada, theUnited Church of Canada, theUnited Church of Christ, theUnitarian Universalist Association, and theSociety of Friends (Quakers), as well as some congregations of thePresbyterian Church in America. Most of these denominations now perform same-sex weddings or blessings. Furthermore, many churches in the United Methodist Church (in the US) are choosing to officiate and bless same-sex marriage despite denomination-wide restrictions.[18] In addition, in the United States,conservative Judaism,reform Judaism, andreconstructionist Judaism now welcome LGBT worshippers and perform same-sex weddings.
| Country | Pollster | Year | For | Against | Don't Know/Neutral/No answer/Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ipsos | 2023 | 71%[19] | 24% | 6% | |
| Ipsos | 2023 | 69%[19] | 22% | 9% | |
| Ipsos | 2023 | 74%[19] | 17% | 9% | |
| CADEM | 2022 | 70%[20] | 28% | 2% | |
| Ipsos | 2023 | 53%[19] | 40% | 7% | |
| Ipsos | 2023 | 60%[19] | 34% | 6% | |
| Ipsos | 2023 | 51%[19] | 42% | 7% | |
| Ipsos | 2023 | 64%[19] | 26% | 10% | |
| Equipos Consultores | 2013 | 52%[21] | 39% | 9% | |
| Equilibrium Cende | 2023 | 48%[22] (55%) | 39% (45%) | 13% |
Marriage Other type of partnership Country subject toIACHR advisory opinion Unrecognized Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples Same-sex sexual activity illegal, though penalties not enforced | Same-sex marriage Other type of partnership Unregistered cohabitation Country subject toIACHR advisory opinion No recognition of same-sex couples Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples Same-sex sexual activity illegal but law not enforced | Same-sex marriage Unregistered cohabitation Island subject toIACHR advisory opinion No recognition of same-sex couples Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage Same-sex sexual activity illegal but penalties not enforced |
| LGBTQ rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex unions | Same-sex marriage | Adoption by same-sex couples | LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military | Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(Overseas Territory of theUnited Kingdom) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23][27] | Civil unions in Quebec (2002);[29] Adult interdependent relationships inAlberta (2003);[30] Common-law relationships in Manitoba (2004)[31] | ||||||
(Autonomous Territory within theKingdom of Denmark) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | joint adoption since 2016[42] | |||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | |||||||
(Overseas collectivity ofFrance) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | Civil unions inVermont (2000),Connecticut (2005),New Jersey (2007),New Hampshire (2008),Illinois (2011),Rhode Island (2011),Delaware (2012),Hawaii (2012) andColorado (2013). | Transgender people previously allowed to serve openly,[60] but restrictions have been placed on those with a history ofgender dysphoria.[61] "Transvestites" are currently banned from the military since2012.[62] Most openlyIntersex people may be banned from the military under the Armed Forces ban of "hermaphrodites".[62] | More extensive protections exist in23 states, DC, and some municipalities. Conversion therapy for minors isbanned in 22 states, DC, and some municipalities. Sexual orientation iscovered by the federal hate crime law since 2009. | Nonbinary gender markers are available, under varying circumstances,in 25 states + DC. Employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity isprohibited nationwide since 2020. More extensive protections exist in22 states, DC, and some municipalities. |
| LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex unions | Same-sex marriage | Adoption by same-sex couples | LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military | Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | Has no military | ||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | |||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | |||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | |||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | |||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | Has no military |
| LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex unions | Same-sex marriage | Adoption by same-sex couples | LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military | Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(Overseas Territory of theUnited Kingdom) | Age of consent discrepancy + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
(Constituent country of theKingdom of the Netherlands) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
Age of consent discrepancy + UN decl. sign.[23] | |||||||
(a special municipality of theNetherlands) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
(Overseas Territory of theUnited Kingdom) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
(Overseas Territory of theUnited Kingdom) | Age of consent discrepancy[23] + UN decl. sign. | ||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | |||||||
(Constituent country of theKingdom of the Netherlands) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | Has no military | ||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | |||||||
Penalty: 10-year prison sentence (not enforced).[115] Legalization proposed[116] | Has no military | ||||||
(Overseas department ofFrance) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
| Has no military | |||||||
Penalty: 10 years and/or hard labor (Not enforced). Legalization proposed[119] | |||||||
(Overseas department ofFrance) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
(Overseas Territory of theUnited Kingdom) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
(Commonwealth of theUnited States) | |||||||
(a special municipality of theNetherlands) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
(Overseas collectivity ofFrance) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
| Has no military | |||||||
(Overseas collectivity ofFrance) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
Penalty: Fine and/or 10-year prison sentence (Not enforced).[23] Legalization proposed[126] | Has no military | ||||||
(a special municipality of theNetherlands) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
(Constituent country of theKingdom of the Netherlands) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
Penalty: Up to 5-year prison sentence (not enforced, Court of Appeal ruling that reinstated buggery and gross indecency laws; previously struck down by lower court in 2018; appeal to Privy Council pending.) | |||||||
(Overseas Territory of theUnited Kingdom) | Age of consent discrepancy + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
(Territory of theUnited States) |
| LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex unions | Same-sex marriage | Adoption by same-sex couples | LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military | Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | Cohabitation unions nationwide since 2015[135] | pending nationwide. Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2010 | Transgender persons have a law reserving 1% of Argentina's public sector jobs. Economic incentives included in the new law aim to help trans people find work in all sectors.[140] | ||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | |||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 1999[157][158] | ||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2021 | Transgender persons can change their registral sex and name, no surgeries or judicial order for adults above 18 years old since 2019.[167] | |||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | |||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2014 | ||||||
(Overseas Territory of theUnited Kingdom) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
(Overseas department ofFrance) | + UN decl. sign.[23] | ||||||
Penalty: Up to life imprisonment (Not enforced).[23] Legalization proposed[185] | |||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2022 | ||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | |||||||
(Overseas Territory of theUnited Kingdom) | + UN decl. sign. | ||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[23] | |||||||
+ UN decl. sign.[212] |
| Country | Pollster | Year | For | Against | Neutral[a] | Margin of error | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 12% | - | - | [214] | ||
| Ipsos | 2023 | 70% | 16% [8% support some rights] | 14% not sure | ±3.5% | [215] | |
| 2021 | 46% | [216] | |||||
| AmericasBarometer | 2014 | 11% | - | - | [217] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2014 | 8% | - | - | [217] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 35% | - | - | [214] | ||
| Ipsos | 2023 | 51% | 29% [15% support some rights] | 20% not sure | ±3.5%[b] | [215] | |
| Ipsos | 2023 | 69% | 17% [7% support some rights] | 15% not sure | ±3.5% | [215] | |
| Ipsos | 2023 | 65% | 24% [18% support some rights] | 12% | ±3.5% | [215] | |
| Ipsos | 2023 | 49% | 33% [21% support some rights] | 18% | [215] | ||
| CIEP | 2018 | 35% | 64% | 1% | [218] | ||
| Gallup | 2019 | 63.1% | 36.9% | [219] | |||
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 10% | - | - | [214] | ||
| CDN 37 | 2018 | 45% | 55% | - | [220] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2019 | 22.9% | 51.3% | 25.8% | [221] | ||
| Universidad Francisco Gavidia | 2021 | 82.5% | [222] | ||||
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 12% | - | - | [214] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 23% | - | - | [214] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 21% | - | - | [217] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 5% | - | - | [214] | ||
| CID Gallup | 2018 | 17% | 75% | 8% | [223] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 16% | - | - | [214] | ||
| Ipsos | 2023 | 58% | 28% [17% support some rights] | 14% not sure | ±4.8%[b] | [215] | |
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 25% | - | - | [214] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 22% | - | - | [214] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 26% | - | - | [214] | ||
| Ipsos | 2023 | 41% | 40% [24% support some rights] | 19% | ±3.5%[b] | [215] | |
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 9% | - | - | [214] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 11% | - | - | [214] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2017 | 4% | - | - | [214] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2014 | 18% | - | - | [217] | ||
| AmericasBarometer | 2014 | 16% | - | - | [217] | ||
| Marquette | 2022 | 72% | 28% | – | [224] | ||
| Selzer | 2022 | 74% (83%) | 13% (17%) | 13% not sure | [225][226] | ||
| Quinnipiac | 2022 | 68% (77%) | 22% (23%) | 10% | [227] | ||
| Ipsos | 2023 | 54% | 31% [14% support some rights] | 15% not sure | ±3.5% | [215] | |
| Equipos Consultores | 2019 | 59% | 28% | 13% | [228] | ||
| Equilibrium Cende | 2023 | 55% (63%) | 32% (37%) | 13% | [229] |
| Country | Pollster | Year | For | Against | Neutral[a] | Margin of error | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 35.9% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 30.7% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 42.1% | - | [230] | ||
| OUTBermuda | 2020 | 53% | 35% | 11% | [231] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 56.1% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 58.7% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 36.4% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 46.8% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 39.2% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 38.8% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 38.7% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 54% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 41.7% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 34.2% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 28.6% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 46% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 38.5% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 38.8% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 44.4% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 52.2% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 37.1% | - | [230] | ||
| Pew Research Center | 2014 | 33% | 55% | 12% | [232] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 32.4% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 37.9% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 38.6% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 37.7% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 31.4% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 33.8% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 56.5% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 44.4% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 43.9% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 54.3% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 43% | - | [230] | ||
| INEGI | 2017 | - | 37.4% | - | [230] |
ILGA was invoked but never defined (see thehelp page).Solid majorities across both parties agree that... marrying someone of the same sex...are rights that should be guaranteed to all citizens...