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.

Legalized in 2021.

In Zacatecas, 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 Zacatecas.

In 2023, Zacatecas provided 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 Zacatecas.

Sexual orientation has been a protected characteristic from discrimination in Zacatecas since 2003 under federal Mexican law. Zacatecas would later add it as such in its own anti-discrimination law in 2006.

However, gender identity remains unprotected.

In 2003, sexual orientation became a protected characteristic from discrimination in employment in Zacatecas under federal Mexican law. However, gender identity remains unprotected.

In 2003, sexual orientation became a protected characteristic from discrimination in housing in Zacatecas under federal Mexican law. However, gender identity remains unprotected.

Same-sex adoption has been legal in Zacatecas since 2024.

Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Zacatecas.

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.

The Zacatecas Congress approved banning and sanctioning conversion therapies or ECOSIG (Efforts to Correct Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) almost on a par with Yucatan.

Conversion therapy is a federal offence under Article 209 Quintus of the Federal Penal Code (Código Penal Federal) and Article 465 Ter of the General Health Law (Ley General de Salud).

Conversion therapy is defined as any treatment, service, therapy, or practice intended to obstruct, restrict, impede, diminish, annul, or suppress sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Those liable under the law include anyone who practices, conducts, imparts, applies, forces, or funds such activities.

Sanctions include:
- 2 to 6 years in prison and a fine of 2,000 UMA (Unidad de Medida y Actualización, a unit updated yearly based on inflation. In 2024, 2,000 UMA exceeded $11,000 USD).
- Sanctions are doubled if the victim is a minor (-18), an elderly person (+60), or a person with a disability; or if the perpetrator is a public/government employee, or they have any relationship with the victim (such as family member; or employer, teacher, medical professional, doctor, nurse, or psychologist). Additionally, the latter will face professional dismissal, disqualification, and suspension (1 to 3 years or equivalent to the prison sentence).
- Sanctions are further doubled if any kind of violence (physical, psychological, or moral) is used against the victim.

As an additional layer of protection for LGBTQ+ people in Mexico, the federal ban hasn’t stopped the 32 federal entities from maintaining and enforcing their own local prohibitions. New local measures to outlaw conversion therapies has been approved since 2025.

Additionally, the Mexican Supreme Court declared that allowing parents of LGBTQ+ minors to avoid penalties for authorizing conversion therapies on them, as established in the Article 177 Ter of the Penal Code of the state of Guerrero (Second Book Special Part; Title 4 'Offenses Against the Free Development of Personality'; Chapter VII 'Crimes Against a Person’s Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity'), is unconstitutional, and rendered the provision null and void.

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