Goa is governed by federal India law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Unregistered cohabitation
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ Gender identity only
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ Gender identity only
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
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Suggest Public Opinion DataHistory
Homosexual activity in Goa is legal.
Current status
Since Sep 6, 2018
Legal
In the Supreme Court case of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, a five-judge Constitutional Bench overturned the Supreme Court's decision in Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation and decriminalized homosexuality by striking down the provisions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that deemed sexual acts between consenting adults as criminal.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
In the Supreme Court case of Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation, a two-judge Division Bench overturned the Delhi High Court's decision in Naz Foundation v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi, upholding the constitutionality of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalized same-sex sexual intercourse and carried a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.
Legal
In the Delhi High Court case of Naz Foundation v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi, a two-judge Division Bench decriminalized homosexuality by striking down the provisions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that deemed sexual acts between consenting adults as criminal.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
The Indian Penal Code was enacted by the Imperial Legislative Council, the legislature during British direct rule in India. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code criminalized same-sex sexual acts and carried a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.
Same-sex marriage in Goa is unregistered cohabitation.
Current status
Since Oct 17, 2023
Unregistered cohabitation
In the Supreme Court case of Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty v. Union of India, a five-judge Constitutional Bench held that LGBTQ+ persons have the right to choose a partner, cohabit and enjoy physical & mental intimacy, free from physical threat and coercive action. The State is bound to protect the exercise of these rights.
Unregistered cohabitation
The Uttarakhand High Court acknowledged that cohabitation and "live-in relationships" are protected by law.
Unrecognized
There are currently several same-sex marriage petitions pending with the courts. On 12 June 2020, the Uttarakhand High Court acknowledged that while same-sex marriage may not be legal, cohabitation and "live-in relationships" are protected by the law.
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Goa is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In India, there are no laws restricting to discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Goa is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Since Dec 5, 2019
Legal, but requires surgery
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 allows for transgender individuals to change their gender marker to either "male" or "female" only after showing proof of their gender confirmation surgery issued by a medical officer to the District Magistrate. This provision contradicts the Supreme Court decision in 2014. This contradiction has been challenged as unconstitutional in the Indian Supreme Court. As of June 2020, a second petition alleging unconstitutionality has been entered, and will be heard along with the first. Overall, the petitions challenge Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Act, claiming that they also contradict the Constitution of India. This case is still pending a decision.
Under section 6 of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, a trans person may apply to be issued a certificate of identity that certifies that they are transgender (denoted as "Transgender"). Upon receiving this certificate, the applicants have the right to be recorded as transgender in all official documents.
Under section 6 of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, a trans person may apply to be issued a certificate of identity that certifies that they are transgender (denoted as "Transgender"). Upon receiving this certificate, the applicants have the right to be recorded as transgender in all official documents.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Goa is recognized.
Current status
Since Apr 15, 2014
Recognized
India's Supreme Court has ruled to recognize a third gender commonly known as hijra. Indian passports display this with the descriptor "O" (other), with other identification documents also availble with "T" (transgender) and "TG" (third gender).
LGBT employment discrimination in Goa is gender identity only.
Current status
Since Jan 2020
Gender identity only
In India, there is only protections in employment for gender identity.
LGBT housing discrimination in Goa is gender identity only.
Current status
Since Jan 2020
Gender identity only
There are currently only protections for Gender Identity for Housing.
Same-sex adoption in Goa is single only.
Current status
Single only
Same-sex couples are not permitted to adopt a child in India but single LGBTQ parents are.
Serving openly in military in Goa is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Although homosexuality and gender transition are legal in India, LGBT personnel are not permitted in the military.
Blood donations by MSMs in Goa is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Since 2017
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Court decision pending.
Conversion therapy in Goa is banned.
Current status
Since Jun 7, 2021
Banned
On 7 June 2021, in delivering the verdict on this case, Justice N Anand Venkatesh prohibited Conversion Therapy with India becoming only the 2nd country in Asia to ban conversion therapy behind Taiwan
Until Jun 7, 2021
Not banned
Strongly condemned by Indian Psychiatric Society. Not criminalized. Conversion therapy ban pending. Under ruling from the supreme court legalizing of same sex activity.
Equal age of consent in Goa is equal.
Current status
Since Sep 6, 2018
Equal
The age of consent is equal since decriminalization. In the Supreme Court case of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, a five-judge Constitutional Bench overturned the Supreme Court's decision in Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation and decriminalized homosexuality by striking down the provisions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that deemed sexual acts between consenting adults as criminal.