- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- Varies by Region
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (3-month deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- Varies by Region
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Suggest Public Opinion Data
Until Jul 1, 2017
Public Opinion
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
Ranked #13 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(13%) Against
Support (76%)
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
Ranked #8 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(21%) Disagree
Agree (71%)
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors ?
Ranked #15 out of 79 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
(11.8%) Mentioned homosexuals
Did not mention homosexuals (88.2%)
Justifiability of homosexuality ?
Ranked #11 out of 79 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
(14.9%) Not justifiable
Justifiable (61.8%)
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents ?
Ranked #15 out of 74 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
(19.6%) Disagree
Agree (54.7%)
"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2019) ?
Ranked #8 out of 34 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
(14%) No
Yes (81%)
"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2013) ?
Ranked #5 out of 39 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
(18%) No
Yes (79%)
Perceived Acceptance of Gay People ?
Ranked #6 out of 119 regions surveyed. (Source: Gallup, 2013)
(10%) Not a good place
Good place (72%)
By The Numbers
4%
of Australians described themselves as being gay, lesbian or bisexual
(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2020)
78%
of Australians agree trans people deserve the same rights and protections as other Australians
66%
of Australians agree that young people should be able to access healthcare that supports them to live as their true selves.
66%
of Australians agree that religious schools should not be able to fire someone or expel a student for being transgender.
(YouGov, 2020)
History
Same-sex marriage in Australia is legal.
Current status
Since Dec 9, 2017
Since Dec 9, 2017
Legal
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Australia since 9 December 2017. The legislation to allow same-sex marriage, the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017, passed the Australian Parliament on 7 December 2017 and received royal assent from the Governor-General the following day.
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Australia is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
Not mentioned in law, not punished either. Bias of coverage is more based on media concentration.
Right to change legal gender in Australia is varies by region.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2017
Since Jul 1, 2017
Varies by Region
Legal, but surgery requirements vary by region. Most states don't allow you to change your gender marker more than once in a 12-month period. The High Court of Australia has ruled that gender reassignment surgery does not need to be comprehensive, just be socially identifiable as your preferred gender.
• Any government department that operates at a federal level does not require surgery.
• In NSW a gender marker change requires GRS, top surgery, or orchiectomy.
• In Queensland gender change requires an application confirming surgery or proof of reassignment surgery.
• In South Australia no surgery is required, only proof of psychological counseling.
• In Tasmania no surgery is required, they may require proof of psychological counseling for persons under 18.
• In Victoria no surgery is required, you just have to attest you are the gender you claim.
• In Western Australia surgery is not required.
• In Northern Territory clinical treatment, either: surgery, hormone therapy, or counselling is required.
• Any government department that operates at a federal level does not require surgery.
• In NSW a gender marker change requires GRS, top surgery, or orchiectomy.
• In Queensland gender change requires an application confirming surgery or proof of reassignment surgery.
• In South Australia no surgery is required, only proof of psychological counseling.
• In Tasmania no surgery is required, they may require proof of psychological counseling for persons under 18.
• In Victoria no surgery is required, you just have to attest you are the gender you claim.
• In Western Australia surgery is not required.
• In Northern Territory clinical treatment, either: surgery, hormone therapy, or counselling is required.
Legal, surgery not required
- Victoria 2020
- Northern Territory 2018
- South Australia 2017
- Western Australia 2000
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- Australian Capital Territory
- Tasmania
Legal, but requires surgery
Until Jul 1, 2017
Legal, but requires surgery
Legal, but requires hormone treatment
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Australia is recognized.
Current status
Recognized
Australia does have recognition of nonbinary gender through the X marker on legal documentation.
LGBT discrimination in Australia is illegal in some contexts.
LGBT housing discrimination in Australia is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jun 28, 2013
Since Jun 28, 2013
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Serving openly in military in Australia is legal.
Current status
Since Nov 24, 1992
Since Nov 24, 1992
Legal
Blood donations by MSMs in Australia is banned (3-month deferral).
Conversion therapy in Australia is varies by region.
Current status
Varies by Region
Conversion therapy is illegal in the ACT, Queensland and Victoria. Other states are either planning to introduce a bill, or have not introduced a bill as of yet.
Banned
- Victoria 2021
- Queensland 2020
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
Not banned
Equal age of consent in Australia is equal.
Current status
Since Sep 16, 2016
Since Sep 16, 2016
Equal
Following the amendment in the Queensland Criminal Code, the age of consent is now equal across all states and territories of Australia.
LGBT Rights by State
View the LGBT laws in each individual state of Australia.
- Western Australia
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Territory)
- Australian Capital Territory (Territory)
- Northern Territory (Territory)