- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- Ambiguous
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but banned for minors
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Intersex only
- Discrimination
- ✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✔ Full ban
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!
Public Opinion
Maranhão is lacking public opinion data.
Help expand our understanding of the public's view on LGBTQ+ issues in Maranhão by sharing a link to a survey from a reputable organization.
Suggest Public Opinion DataHave you lived in or visited Maranhão?
Share your experience of being LGBTQ+ in Maranhão.
Take SurveyHistory
Homosexual activity in Maranhão is legal.
Current status
Since Dec 16, 1830
Legal under federal Brazil law
Shortly after Brazil gained independence from Portugal, in 1830, the Imperial Penal Code decriminalized sodomy.
Brazil's 1988 Constitution further strengthened affirmative protections by prohibiting any form of discrimination. Since then courts have since affirmed this additionally applies to sexual orientation.
Brazil's 1988 Constitution further strengthened affirmative protections by prohibiting any form of discrimination. Since then courts have since affirmed this additionally applies to sexual orientation.
Same-sex marriage in Maranhão is legal.
Current status
Since May 16, 2013
Legal under federal Brazil law
Following a resolution by the National Council of Justice (CNJ), any same-sex union can be converted into a marriage. It was approved on May 14 and came into force on May 16. Brazil was the second South American country after Argentina, and the twelfth in the world to legalise gay marriage.
Civil unions (marriage rights)
Until 2013, Maranhao provided legal recognition for same-sex couples as civil unions under federal Brazilian law.
Civil unions (marriage rights) under federal Brazil law
Censorship of LGBT issues in Maranhão is ambiguous.
Current status
Since Aug 8, 2023
Ambiguous
In January 2023, a bill was due to go into effect in Maranhao prohibiting the use of gender-neutral and non-binary language in schools but it was vetoed by State Governor Carlos Brandao. However, in August, the Legislative Assembly overturned his veto. A lawsuit was filed against the Supreme Court for this. This is despite the 2020 Supreme Court ruling that censorship of LGBTIQ+ issues in education was unconstitutional.
No censorship
Until 2023, there were no laws censoring LGBTIQ+ topics in Maranhão.
State-enforced under federal Brazil law
On March 31, 1964, a coup d'état took place that implemented a military dictatorship in Brazil, the military regime was rigid and conservative, and this led to persecution by the military against the LGBT community, the community was completely censored by the media and the regime, any type of content related to "homosexuality" and "transsexualism" was punished with any type of punishment
Right to change legal gender in Maranhão is legal, no restrictions.
Current status
Since Mar 1, 2018
Legal, no restrictions under federal Brazil law
In March 2018, the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled that transgender people have the right to change name and sex on their birth certificate without the need of sexual reassignment surgery or doctor letters. The change can be made at a notary's office now.
Legal, but requires surgery under federal Brazil law
Until 2018, surgery was required to change your legal gender in Brazil.
Gender-affirming care in Maranhão is legal, but banned for minors.
Current status
Since Apr 16, 2025
Legal, but banned for minors under federal Brazil law
In 2025, Brazil’s Federal Council for Medicine issued a new resolution raising the minimum age for hormone therapy to 18 and the minimum age for surgeries to 21, banning its care to youth. This does not effect those already undergoing such care.
Legal under federal Brazil law
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Maranhão is intersex only.
Current status
Since Sep 12, 2021
Intersex only
In 2021, Maranhao began providing legal recognition to intersex people under federal Brazilian law. However, nonbinary people still lack legal recognition.
A nonbinary person achieved recognition through a court ruling in October 2024 but this case did not guarantee full recognition to nonbinary people in the state and only applied to the individual.
A nonbinary person achieved recognition through a court ruling in October 2024 but this case did not guarantee full recognition to nonbinary people in the state and only applied to the individual.
LGBT discrimination in Maranhão is illegal.
Current status
Since Jun 13, 2019
Illegal
In 2019, Maranhao provided protections from discrimination in healthcare on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and in education on the basis of gender identity under federal Brazilian law.
Illegal in some contexts
In 2006, Maranhao passed Law 8444 which provided protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and goods and services. However, only sexual orientation was protected in education and there were no protections from discrimination in healthcare.
Same-sex adoption in Maranhão is legal.
Current status
Legal under federal Brazil law
Same-sex adoption was never banned in Brazil, but it was formalized on April 27, 2010, when the Supreme Federal Court authorized it. However, couples were still able to adopt before then.
Serving openly in military in Maranhão is legal.
Current status
Since Aug 8, 2013
Legal under federal Brazil law
After Supreme Federal Court recognition, LGBT people can serve openly in military in Brazil.
People who are legally male at the age of 18 are obligated to serve, including trans men who have transitioned or trans women who haven't changed their legal gender yet. The latter can be dispensed once the change is made.
People who are legally male at the age of 18 are obligated to serve, including trans men who have transitioned or trans women who haven't changed their legal gender yet. The latter can be dispensed once the change is made.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell under federal Brazil law
There has never been any specific law banning homosexuals from serving in the army. However, Article 235 of 1969 of the Military Penal Code, which prohibits the "practice of a libidinous act, homosexual or not", was often used to persecute gays in the military and try to expel them.
Blood donations by MSMs in Maranhão is legal.
Current status
Since May 8, 2020
Legal under federal Brazil law
The Supreme Court has ruled that the blood donation ban is unconstitutional in May of 2020.
Banned (1-year deferral) under federal Brazil law
In 2002, Brazil reduced the ban on blood donations from MSMs to a 1-year deferral period.
Banned (indefinite deferral) under federal Brazil law
In 1993, Brazil banned blood donations from men who have sex with men.
Conversion therapy in Maranhão is banned.
Current status
Since Jan 2018
Banned under federal Brazil law
In January 2018, the Federal Psychology Council established norms of performance for psychologists in relation to transsexual and transvestite people, also banning any conversion therapy.
Sexual orientation only under federal Brazil law
The same judge changed his decision, keeping the “treatment” banned.
Sexual orientation only under federal Brazil law
On March 22, 1999, Brazil became the first country to ban gay conversion therapy. The Federal Council of Psychology enacted Resolution CFP No. 001/99, which explicitly states that "homosexuality does not constitute a disease, disorder, or perversion." This landmark decision prevents psychologists from engaging in practices intended to 'cure' or alter an individual's sexual orientation.
Equal age of consent in Maranhão is equal.
Current status
Since Dec 16, 1830
Equal under federal Brazil law
Since decriminalisation in 1830, the age of consent for homosexual relations has always remained equal to that of heterosexual ones in Brazil.
According to the Brazilian Penal Code of 1940, the age of consent for sexual intercourse is the same for both heterosexual and homosexual couples: 14 years old.
According to the Brazilian Penal Code of 1940, the age of consent for sexual intercourse is the same for both heterosexual and homosexual couples: 14 years old.
Legal Rights
95 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Maranhão to help improve its accuracy.
#585
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
Top Contributors
- DaisyGeekyTrans 20 contributions
- beeurd 1 contribution
- Ro_Guy 1 contribution
Maranhão LGBT Organizations
There are no organizations listed in Maranhão. Suggest one
Share Region
Compare Maranhão
Common queries:
- Is it illegal to be gay in Maranhão?
- Is homosexuality legal in Maranhão?
- Is gay marriage legal in Maranhão?