Compare LGBT Rights in United States & Canada

Equality Index ?
70 / 100
79 / 100
Legal Index ?
84 / 100
96 / 100
Public Opinion Index ?
56 / 100
62 / 100
Law
Homosexual activityLegal
Since 2003
Legal
Since 1969
Same-sex marriageLegal
Since 2015
Legal
Since 2005
Censorship of LGBT issuesVaries by Region
Since 1987
No censorship
Right to change legal genderVaries by Region
Since 2025
Legal, no restrictions
Since 2017
Gender-affirming careVaries by Region
Since 2021
Legal
Since 2025
Legal recognition of non-binary genderRecognized
Since 2025
Recognized
Since 2019
Hate crime protectionsSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2009
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2017
LGBT discriminationVaries by Region
Since 2015
Illegal
Since 2017
LGBT employment discriminationSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2017
LGBT housing discriminationVaries by RegionSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2015
Same-sex adoptionLegal
Since 2017
Legal
Since 2011
Intersex infant surgeryNot bannedNot banned
Serving openly in militaryLesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
Since 2025
Legal
Since 1992
Blood donations by MSMsLegal
Since 2023
Legal
Since 2022
Conversion therapyVaries by RegionBanned
Since 2022
Equal age of consentEqualEqual
Since 2019
Public Opinion
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
81% Did not mention homosexuals
13% Mentioned homosexuals
90% Did not mention homosexuals
10% Mentioned homosexuals
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
44% Justifiable
25% Not justifiable
62% Justifiable
10% Not justifiable
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
72% Support
15% Against
82% Support
8% Against
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
72% Agree
22% Disagree
81% Agree
13% Disagree
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents
(World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
53% Agree
17% Disagree
72% Agree
9% Disagree
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
72% Yes
21% No
85% Yes
10% No
Support for same-sex marriage (North and South America)
(AmericasBarometer, 2016-2017)
61% Approve
39% Disapprove
76% Approve
24% Disapprove
Acceptance of gay people in public office (North and South America)
(AmericasBarometer, 2016-2017)
73% Approve
27% Disapprove
80% Approve
20% Disapprove
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2010-2014)
32% Justifiable
31% Not justifiable
Region not surveyed
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
60% Yes
33% No
80% Yes
14% No
Perceptions of local area as a "good place" for gay and lesbian people
(Gallup, 2013)
70% Good place
22% Not a good place
80% Good place
12% Not a good place
Full DetailsFull Details

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