Consensual same-sex activity has been legal in the Northern Territory since 1984.

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.

In the Northern Territory, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.

However, in 2025, the Northern Territory government had banned the display of pride flags at hospitals.

In 2018. the Northern Territory removed the requirement for surgery for legal gender recognition in its Births, Deaths and Marriages Regulations Act but retained that proof of “appropriate clinical treatment” be provided.

Australian youth outside of Queensland can begin accessing puberty blockers at the age of 10, full HRT is not typically prescribed until 16 and GCS is often not done until 18. However, nobody can access irreversible treatment until 15.

For Oestrogen or Testosterone two independent child and adolescent psychiatrists must do a standardised assessment of psychological development as well as a formal assessment of the child’s gender identification and capacity to understand the proposed treatment. A paediatric endocrinologist establishes the child’s pubertal stage, excludes disorders and discusses with the child and parents the effects and risks of puberty suppression.

For Puberty blockers a young person requires a multidisciplinary team consisting of a paediatrician, two mental health professionals (one must be a psychiatrist), and a fertility expert, to agree treatment is in the child’s best interests. It is then necessary to make an application to the Family Court for authorisation of treatment.

People can register their gender on their birth certificate as non-binary, intersex, indeterminate or other in the Northern Territory since 2018.

In 1993, the Northern Territory's Anti-Discrimination Act of 1992 came into effect, prohibiting discrimination in all areas on the basis of "sexuality", which included "transsexuality", providing protections to trans people as well. Later amendments would replace sexuality with sexual orientation and add gender identitty in 2022.

In 1993, the Northern Territory's Anti-Discrimination Act of 1992 came into effect, prohibiting discrimination in employment on the basis of "sexuality", which included "transsexuality", providing protections to trans people as well. Later amendments would replace sexuality with sexual orientation and add gender identitty in 2022.

In 1993, the Northern Territory's Anti-Discrimination Act of 1992 came into effect, prohibiting discrimination in housing on the basis of "sexuality", which included "transsexuality", providing protections to trans people as well. Later amendments would replace sexuality with sexual orientation and add gender identitty in 2022.

On March 13, 2018, the Northern Territory passed a new law allowing same-sex couples to adopt children.

No territory or state besides the Australian Capital Territory has banned intersex infant surgery.

In 2010, Australia lifted its ban on transgender people serving in the military.

In July 2025, Australia will lift the deferral period on blood donations from men who have sex with men.

According to ILGA, laws in force in Northern Territory do not regulate or restrict sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression change efforts.

In 2004, the Northern Territory lowered the age of consent for homosexual relations to 16, making it equal to heterosexual ones.