- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✖ State-enforced
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but banned for minors
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Hate Crime Protections
- ✖ No protections
- Discrimination
- Varies by Region
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- Varies by Region
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
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Homosexual activity in Mississippi is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Legal
Consensual same-sex sexual activity has been legal in Mississippi since the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Lawrence v. Texas, which overturned the remaining anti-sodomy laws nationwide in 2003.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
The first Mississippi criminal code to reference same-sex sexual activity was enacted in 1802, it criminalized sodomy and later "crimes against nature," therefore criminalising same-sex sexual activity.
In 1995, those convicted of sodomy were required to register with the sheriff's office under sex offender laws; however, by this time, the enforcement of Mississippi's sodomy law had diminished.
In 1995, those convicted of sodomy were required to register with the sheriff's office under sex offender laws; however, by this time, the enforcement of Mississippi's sodomy law had diminished.
Until Jun 1802
Legal
In Mississippi's first criminal codes, pre-statehood, there were no references to sodomy and in the precolonial era, same-sex sexual activity was not believed to be criminalised.
Same-sex marriage in Mississippi is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2015
Legal
The US Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide.
Banned
In 1996, the Mississippi governor issued an executive order to ban same sex marriage. The state then furthered this by passing a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in November of 2004. The amendment was ruled unconstitutional in November 2014 by a district court judge, and then the fifth circuit court of appeals affirmed this, staying enforcement until appeal.
Right to change legal gender in Mississippi is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Since Nov 4, 2021
Legal, but requires surgery
Mississippi law requires individuals to change their name, court order, and proof of surgery for an updated state ID and/or amended birth certificate.
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
Trans people require a medical diagnosis in order to change their legal gender in Mississippi.
Gender-affirming care in Mississippi is legal, but banned for minors.
Current status
Since Feb 28, 2023
Legal, but banned for minors
It is Illegal to provide gender affirming care to minors in Mississippi following bill HB1125. As always, there is an exception made for intersex infants categorised in the aforementioned bill as "medically verifiable disorder of sex development".
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Mississippi is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Mississippi does not legally recognize a third gender.
Hate crime protections in Mississippi is no protections.
Current status
No protections
Mississippi law does not provide hate crime protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
LGBT discrimination in Mississippi is varies by region.
Current status
Varies by Region
Clarksdale, Holly Springs, Jackson, Magnolia, and Rosedale provides local discrimination protections in employment, housing, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Otherwise, no statewide protections exist.
LGBT employment discrimination in Mississippi is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation only
President Trump's Department of Justice and the EEOC revoked protections for gender identity in employment discrimination. No statewide protections exist.
Sexual orientation and gender identity
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled that “[A]llegations of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation necessarily state a claim of discrimination on the basis of sex”, and are barred by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This ruling applies at both the state and federal levels. No statewide protections exist.
Gender identity only
In a landmark decision, Democratic President Obama's EEOC ruled that gender identity was included under Title VII protections from the Civil Rights Act (originally written to protect people based on sex discrimination). Statewide protections do not exist.
LGBT housing discrimination in Mississippi is varies by region.
Current status
Varies by Region
Clarksdale, Holly Springs, Jackson, Magnolia, and Rosedale provides local discrimination protections in housing on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Otherwise, no statewide protections exist.
Additionally, HUD's 2012 Equal Access Rule prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for housing programs, shelters and other HUD-funded providers.
Additionally, HUD's 2012 Equal Access Rule prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for housing programs, shelters and other HUD-funded providers.
Same-sex adoption in Mississippi is legal.
Current status
Since Mar 31, 2016
Legal
Federal Judge ruled that the ban on same sex couple adopting was unconstitutional
Intersex infant surgery in Mississippi is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Mississippi's ban on gender-affirming care allows exceptions for intersex infant surgery.
Serving openly in military in Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi is not banned.
Current status
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 Mississippi is equal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Equal
Mississippi law states anyone under 16 to 17 years old is unable to consent, this goes for everyone, though not stated clearly.
United States Equality Rank
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#48 Tennessee57
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#49 South Carolina56
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#50 Alabama55
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#51 Mississippi54
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#52 Arkansas52
#180
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Mississippi LGBT Organizations
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