- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Hate Crime Protections
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Discrimination
- ✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Recent studies in Illinois indicate significant support for LGBTQ+ rights among the population.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 10 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Illinois.
Overall
Perceived Safety**Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
Homosexual activity in Illinois is legal.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1962
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
In 1809, the Illinois Territory was created and it adopted all of the laws used by the Indiana Territory, replacing the Northwest Territory law. Indiana's code punished sodomy (with no gender-specification) with up to five years in prison, a fine of $100-$500, and up to 500 lashes.
In 1819, the penalty was adjusted to set the imprisonment sentence to 1-5 years, and the flogging penalty at 100-500 lashes. The fine of $100-$500 was not changed.
In 1819, the penalty was adjusted to set the imprisonment sentence to 1-5 years, and the flogging penalty at 100-500 lashes. The fine of $100-$500 was not changed.
Jul 14, 1795–Feb 1, 1809
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
In 1795, Illinois, as part of the original Northwest Territory, adopted the English buggery law through an ordinance issued by the territorial government. This made sodomy committed by males a capital offense.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Illinois is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
There are no laws that censor the LGBTQ community in Illinois.
Illinois actually requires schools to teach students about the LGBTQ community.
Illinois actually requires schools to teach students about the LGBTQ community.
Right to change legal gender in Illinois is legal, no restrictions.
Gender-affirming care in Illinois is legal.
Current status
Legal
Illinois has no specific laws on gender affirming care, however Illinois has allowed minors with parental consent to gender affirming care. Adults may get gender affirming care as well.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Illinois is recognized.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2023
Recognized
On July 1st, 2023 non-binary people were given the option of “X” on their birth certificate. Although non-binary options for drivers licenses and ids were legalized in 2019, it wasn’t until March 29th, 2024 that technology issues in the Illinois DMV became resolved and allowed for a non-binary option.
Hate crime protections in Illinois is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Illinois law protects individuals from hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
LGBT discrimination in Illinois is illegal.
Current status
Since 1979
Illegal
People are protected from discrimination based upon both sexual orientation and gender identification.
LGBT employment discrimination in Illinois is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since 2006
Sexual orientation and gender identity
State law provides for protections against employment discrimination in regards to both sexual orientation and gender identification.
LGBT housing discrimination in Illinois is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Sexual orientation and gender identity
This state explicitly bans housing discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identification.
Same-sex adoption in Illinois is legal.
Current status
Legal
All forms of adoption are accessible to LGBT persons per state law.
Intersex infant surgery in Illinois is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Illinois does not have a ban on intersex infant surgery but it was home to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, which became the first of its kind to pledge to end the practice.
Serving openly in military in Illinois is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
Current status
Since May 6, 2025
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
Midday on May 6th, 2025, the Supreme Court issued an order allowing the Trump administration to enforce its ban on transgender service members while the court reviews their case.
Legal under federal United States law
On the evening of March 18th, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes blocked the implementation of Trump's executive order banning transgender people from the military. The judge said that not only was the order unconstitutional but “a solution in search of a problem.”.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
On January 27th, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military.
On February 10th, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth filed in court a memo relating to President Trump’s executive order from the previous month.
From then until March 18th, 2025, The U.S. military prohibited transgender individuals from enlisting and ceased providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.
On February 10th, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth filed in court a memo relating to President Trump’s executive order from the previous month.
From then until March 18th, 2025, The U.S. military prohibited transgender individuals from enlisting and ceased providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.
Legal under federal United States law
In 2021, former President Joe Biden removed then-former President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
The Trump administration enacted a new policy barring individuals with a "condition" known as "gender dysphoria." from serving in the military.
Legal under federal United States law
In 2011, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed by the Obama Administration. Former President Obama allowed members who were dishonorably discharged under DADT, to receive an honorable discharge.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell under federal United States law
Don't Ask, Don't Tell was the historic compromise signed by President Bill Clinton authorizing people who are LGBT to serve in the military provided they didn't disclose sexuality. The law also removed the ability for others in the military from asking for a service member's orientation.
Blood donations by MSMs in Illinois is legal.
Current status
Since May 11, 2023
Legal under federal United States law
The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
Banned (less than 6-month deferral) under federal United States law
The FDA announced changes to the blood donor eligibility policy in April 2020, reducing the MSM deferral period from 12 months to 3 months. The change came amid the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, where blood was needed urgently.
Banned (1-year deferral) under federal United States law
After a series of recommendations, the FDA has moved to a 12 months deferral.
Banned (indefinite deferral) under federal United States law
Starting in 1983, the United States implemented a full ban on blood donations from gay men. The primary justification for the ban was the perceived high risk of HIV transmission, with health regulators identifying men who have sex with men (MSM) as a significant risk to the safety of the blood supply.
Conversion therapy in Illinois is banned.
Current status
Since Aug 20, 2015
Banned
The Governor signed into law banning conversation therapy for youth. THe law will go into effect on January 1st, 2016.
Until Aug 20, 2015
Not banned
Conversion Therapy is currently legal. No law currently bans it, despite organizations such as the American Psychological Association denouncing it.
Equal age of consent in Illinois is equal.
Current status
Equal
Age of consent is 17 in Illinois.
United States Equality Rank
#210
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