This previous Penal Code from 1872 was replaced in 1929. The new legal order aimed to modify the legal architecture of the Porfirio Díaz dictatorship, which was based on penal repression, to align it with the context of the constitutional guarantees and social justice proclaimed by the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

Once again, any notion of homosexuality (both male and female) was formally excluded from the document. The potential criminalization allowed by the previous code due to the vagueness of the sanctions related to 'offenses against public morality and good customs' is now technically limited solely to a prohibition of pornography. Thus, Article 536 536 (Second Book; Title 8 'Crimes against Public Morality'; Chapter I 'Offenses against Public Morality or Good Customs') mentions imprisonment and fines for those who reproduce or manufacture obscene writings, images, or objects, as well as for those who display or commercialize such obscene expressions in public.

Again, in 1931, the penal code was substituted by the one that still governs at the federal level today. However, in 1966, Article 201 (Third Book; Title 8 'Crimes against Public Morality and Good Customs'; Chapter II 'Corruption of Minors') was reformed, and for the first time, a reference to homosexuality appeared. It established imprisonment for anyone who induces or incites a minor under 18 years old to engage in 'homosexual practices.' The penalty was doubled if the act was repeated and resulted in the minor 'acquiring habits of homosexual practices.'

Finally, those last provisions that indirectly incited the criminalization of homosexuality were eliminated in the 1999 reform.

Same-sex marriage became legal in Veracruz after the legislature approved a reform to the Civil Code on June 13, 2022. The reform passed with 38 votes for and four against.

In Veracruz, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the removal of homosexuality from Mexico's federal "corruption of minors" law. There were no state laws that considered homosexuality a "corruption of minors" in Veracruz.

In 2025, Veracruz provided for legal gender recognition on the basis of self-identification.

There are no government restrictions placed on gender-affirming care and government guidelines for public health institutions endorse medical intervention with transgender youth. However availability proves a problem in many areas.

There is no legal gender recognition provided to nonbinary and intersex people in Veracruz.

Sexual orientation has been a protected characteristic from discrimination in Veracruz since 2003 under federal Mexican law. Veracruz would later add it as such in its own anti-discrimination law in 2013.

However, gender identity remains unprotected.

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Article 1(3) of the Federal Act to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination (2003) includes “sexual preferences” as one of the prohibited grounds of discrimination. This law applies to housing as per Article 9(XXI). Gender identity is not explicitly mentioned

Same-sex adoption was legalised in Veracruz in 2016 under Law 259.

There is no ban on intersex infant surgery in Mexico, and they are reportedly commonplace.

Since 2012, LGBTIQ+ people are permitted to serve openly in the Mexican military.

NOM 253 removes targeted restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men. Instead, it prohibits donations from individuals with HIV or hepatitis, their partners, and those who participate in "high-risk sexual practices," irrespective of their sexual orientation.

Conversion therapy is banned in Veracruz under federal Mexican law.

Illegal with a minor under 12, ambiguous rulings observed 12-18, universally legal 18+.