- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Unrecognized
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Recent studies in Belize have revealed a prevalence of resistance towards LGBTQ+ rights.
OPPOSE
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History
Homosexual activity in Belize is legal.
Current status
Since Aug 10, 2016
Legal
On August 10th 2016, after 6 years of pending, the Belizean Supreme Court ruled in favor of Caleb Orosco in the landmark General case Orozco v. Attorney. The court struck down Section 53 of the Belize Penal Code which criminalized sodomy. This emphasized the rights of privacy, equality and dignity which Belizeans possess, in the process, also expanding the definition of sex in the constitution to include sexual orientation. It was the last sodomy law in Central America to be struck down.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
In 1944, the requirement for force and lack of consent to convict someone for homosexual relations was removed by Ordinance No. 4.
The Section 53 of the 2000 Belize Criminal Code states that all kinds of sexual acts, except for the natural sex, are illegal. People found guilty are liable for a 10-year imprisonment. "Every person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any person ... shall be liable to imprisonment for 10 years." Moreover, homosexual immigrants are prohibited an entry to the country.
The Section 53 of the 2000 Belize Criminal Code states that all kinds of sexual acts, except for the natural sex, are illegal. People found guilty are liable for a 10-year imprisonment. "Every person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any person ... shall be liable to imprisonment for 10 years." Moreover, homosexual immigrants are prohibited an entry to the country.
Until 1944
Legal
Until 1944, homosexuality was legal in Belize. The Criminal Code of 1888 only provided for life imprisonment for "unnatural carnal knowledge of any person, with force or without the consent of such person" and only declared consensual buggery to be a public nuisance. The consent clause was removed in 1944.
Same-sex marriage in Belize is unrecognized.
Current status
Unrecognized
The legal system in Belize does not recognise same sex marriages or civil unions.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Belize is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Belize, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Belize is illegal.
Current status
Illegal federal law
There is no legal gender recognition provided in Belize.
Gender-affirming care in Belize is legal.
Current status
Legal
There are no known legal restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare in Belize but most trans Belizeans are unable to access it due to a lack of resources and cost.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Belize is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
No way to change legal gender, including to non-binary.
LGBT discrimination in Belize is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Dec 30, 2019
Illegal in some contexts
The constitution of Belize grants fundamental rights to all Belizeans, forbiding discrimination based on race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex and emphasizing all Belizeans are entitled to these fundamental rights regardless of characteristics. With the Orozco v Attorney General (2016) court case that struck down sodomy laws in the nation, the court also emphasized and expanded the definition of sex in the constitution to provide the constitutional right to non-discrimination based on sexual orientation since 2019.
LGBT employment discrimination in Belize is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Since Dec 30, 2019
Sexual orientation only
The constitution of Belize grants fundamental rights to all Belizeans, forbidding discrimination based on race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex and emphasizing all Belizeans are entitled to these fundamental rights regardless of characteristics. With the Orozco v Attorney General (2016) court case that struck down sodomy laws in the nation, the court also emphasized and expanded the definition of sex in the constitution to provide the constitutional right to non-discrimination based on sexual orientation.
LGBT housing discrimination in Belize is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Since Dec 30, 2019
Sexual orientation only
The constitution of Belize grants fundamental rights to all Belizeans, forbidding discrimination based on race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex and emphasizing all Belizeans are entitled to these fundamental rights regardless of characteristics. With the Orozco v Attorney General (2016) court case that struck down sodomy laws in the nation, the court also emphasized and expanded the definition of sex in the constitution to provide the constitutional right to non-discrimination based on sexual orientation in 2019.
However, there are no explicit protections provided on the basis of gender identity from housing discrimination.
However, there are no explicit protections provided on the basis of gender identity from housing discrimination.
Same-sex adoption in Belize is single only.
Current status
Single only
Only singles and married couples can adopt in Belize, leaving same-sex couples unable to adopt but LGBTIQ+ singles able to.
Intersex infant surgery in Belize is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Belize but not reported.
Serving openly in military in Belize is legal.
Current status
Since Aug 10, 2016
Legal
There are no known laws banning or restricting LGBTIQ+ people from serving in the military of Belize. However, there is a clause in the 2020 Defence Act against military personnel committing “indecent or unnatural conduct of a sexual nature”. It is unknown if it’s used against LGBTIQ+ personnel for their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Blood donations by MSMs in Belize is legal.
Current status
Legal
There are no known bans or restrictions on blood donations from men who have sex with men in Belize.
Conversion therapy in Belize is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is legal in Belize but not reported.
Equal age of consent in Belize is equal.
Current status
Since Aug 10, 2016
Equal
The age of consent was equalized when the Supreme Court struck down the sodomy law and granted non-discrimination rights in the constituion under grounds of sexual orientation for LGBT individuals.
LGBT Rights by District
View the LGBT laws in each individual district of Belize.
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