Germany fully repealed section 175 of the German Criminal Code and legalized homosexual activity in 1994.

A bill for marriage equality passed the Bundestag on 30 June 2017 and the Bundesrat on 7 July, becoming law on 1 October.
Paragraph 1353 of the German Civil Code.

Article 5 of the German Basic Law guarantees freedom of press, speech and opinion.

The German Federal Constitutional Court found in the decision 1 BvR 3295/07 that several provisions of the Transsexuals Act were unconstitutional.
The court ruled that the Transsexuals Act massively violated transgender people in their dignity (Art. 1 Basic Law), in their right to free development of personality (Art. 2, § 1), their right to physical integrity (Art. 2, § 2) as well as their rights as married couples to enjoy the special protection of the state (Art. 6, § 1). This has also been criticized in regard to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

In order to change the first names and gender entry, two psychological evaluations, which are generally paid for privately, as well as a court order are required.

In 2017, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSJ) commissioned the Humboldt University in Berlin to prepare an expert opinion on the "need for regulation and reform for transgender people".
It found that the current assessment procedure is in many cases characterized by disproportionate time and expense as well as degrading and discriminatory experiences and violates the fundamental rights of the applicants.

The non-governmental organization Deutsche Gesellschaft für Transidentität und Intersexualität e.V. (dgti) issues a supplemental ID card which contains one's self-chosen first names, pronouns and gender before a legal name change has taken place. It is known and accepted by German ministries, the police, and many authorities. The supplemental ID card is often a condition to correct one's name at, among others, schools, universities, banks and insurance companies. In five German states, references to the ID have been included in coronavirus ordinances and associated explanations to recognize it as an identification document, e.g., together with vaccination certificates.
It has a special status of recognition in Germany. The legal basis of the supplemental ID card is the implementation of the request of the European Parliament, communicated in the 11th legislative period of the German parliament.

The Civil Status Act (PStG) was amended to include Parapraph 45b to allow intersex people to identify themselves as "diverse" ("divers") or remove the gender entry.

Germany is introducing a law (Selbstbestimmungsgesetz) that will allow transgender and non-binary people to change their legal first names and gender identity once a year through self-identification.
If the legislation passes, transgender and non-binary people in Germany will no longer require psychological evaluations to legally change their name and gender.
In this newly presented Self-Determination Act, from the age of 14, minors may make the declaration themselves with the consent of their guardians. In order to protect the personal rights of young people, the family court can replace the parents' decision at the request of the minor in cases where the custodians do not consent, based on the best interests of the child.
Children under 14 will need their parents or guardians to make a registry office application on their behalf.

National law was amended in 2006 when the Treaty of Amsterdam was signed - giving all people the same rights under law.

The Federal Constitutional Court of Germany clarified in 1 BvR 2019/16 that the general right of personality (Article 2 (1) in conjunction with Article 1 (1) of the Basic Law) protects gender identity. It also protects the gender identity of non-binary people.
Article 3 (3) of the Basic Law includes non-binary people on the protection against discrimination on ground of their gender.

Due to Germany being a Federal Republic many states have had anti-discrimination laws as early as 1992. But by signing the Treaty of Amsterdam (EU) Germany amended its national anti-discrimination laws to include sexual orientation.

Section 1 of the General Act on Equal Treatment (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG) prohibits discrimination on housing.

Section 1741 of the German Civil Code grants all married couples the right to adopt children.

Article 3 (1) of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany and Article 14 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms protect against unequal treatment on grounds of sexual orientation.

On April 1 2023, the Transfusion Act (Transfusionsgesetz, TFG) was amended to fully remove restrictions on blood donations by MSMs.
Accordingly, the amendment to the law is obliging the German Medical Association to subsequently adapt the blood donation guidelines within four months in agreement with the Paul Ehrlich Institute, Germany’s medical regulatory body.

The Law for the Protection Against Conversion Treatments (KonvBehSchG) bans providing, arranging and advertising conversion therapy. Conducting conversion therapy on minors, or persons of legal age is those whose consent was obtained without their volition, is also explicitly banned.

Providing, arranging or advertising conversion therapy is punishable by a fine up to €30,000.
Carrying out conversion therapy on a minor, or an adult whose consent was obtained without their volition, is punishable by up to a year of imprisonment or a fine.

The age of consent of 14 years is equal for everyone.