Section 354 of the Guyana Criminal Law (Offences) Act of 1893 states “Everyone who commits buggery, either with a human being or with any other living creature, shall be guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment for life.”

Buggery is also known as anal sexual intercourse. This law generally goes unenforced, however LGBT people still regularly face discrimination and violence.

Same-sex marriage is banned in Guyana, as per the Constitution.

In 2018, the Caribbean Court of Justice struck down Guyana’s law criminalising the gender expression of trans women. Since then, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics in Guyana.

There is no legal gender recognition provided in Guyana. Crossdressing was also criminalised until 2018.

Guyana provides for hormone therapy but not sex reassignment surgery.

Guyana does not allow people to legally change their gender.

Some protections based on sexual orientation.

The Medical Practitioners (Code of Conduct and Standards of Practice) Regulations 2008:
-Section 4(h) states that a medical practitioner shall render medical service to any person regardless of their sexual orientation.
-Section 25(13) on "Working with colleagues in consultation" states that a medical practitioner shall not discriminate against colleagues because of their sexual preferences.

The Data Protection Act (2023) states that "Sensitive personal data" means personal data consisting of information on a data subject’s sexual orientation or sexual life.

No law expressly prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression.

There are no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Guyana.

There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Guyana.

The Adoption of Children Act (2009) limits joint adoption to married or cohabiting heterosexual couples. Single individuals are also eligible to adopt.

In 2015, the director of Guyana’s CPA stated there are no restrictions for same-sex couples. Nevertheless, there are restrictions in specific legal provisions that remain in place.

Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Guyana but not widely practiced.

The Personnel Policy of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), issued in 2021, states the following:

4050.
a. Definition. Homosexuality is the unnatural tendency of a man or woman to have
sexual inclinations towards a member of his or her own sex. Buggery i.e. sodomy, is an
offence at common law, the punishment for which is fixed by the Offences Against the
Person Act, section 76.

b. Involvement. Involvement in homosexual and buggery practices will normally
result in discharge from the Force either by disciplinary or administrative procedure. The
same applies to other forms of sexual deviancy such as sadism, transvestism and carnal
abuse of minors.

c. Discouragement. All Ranks must discourage such practices and are in no
way to condone homosexual or other deviant acts which come to their notice and should
report them to their superiors as a matter of priority. In particular, officers, warrant
officers and NCOs are to be especially alert for attempts to involve young members of
the Force.

d. Alteration of sexual organs/parts of the body.
(1) Members of the GDF are not to subject themselves to hormonal or surgical
alterations to obtain the character of the opposite sex. These include
augmentation/ enlargement of the male/female sexual organs and other body
parts.
(2) Members of the GDF are forbidden to engage in transvestite behaviours.
Such behaviours refer primarily to cross dressing.

e. Reports. Commanding Officers are to report details of all cases of actual or
suspected homosexuality or other deviant behaviour to the Headquarters, which will
advise whether disciplinary or administrative action is appropriate.

f. Discharge. Where an application for discharge is to be made, the Rank is to be reminded of his right to have audience with the competent military authority in respect of his application.

g. Recruits. All recruits are to be warned of the Force‟s policy on homosexuality
and buggery before the final decision is made about joining, and warnings are to be
included in lectures at training establishments.

In Guyana, there are currently no restrictions on men who have sex with men donating blood.

Conversion therapy is legal in Guyana.

For men, the age of consent for homosexuality is N/A because it is illegal. For women, it is equal compared to heterosexual sex.