Homosexual activity is legal according to the Uruguay Penal Code.

Same-sex marriage became legal in Uruguay after the passing of the Equal Marriage Act. Uruguay became the fourteenth country in the world to legalise gay marriage, and the third South American country to do so after Argentina and Brazil.

In Uruguay, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics since the end of the military dictatorship in 1985.

Uruguay's Law on the Right to Gender Identity and Change of Name and Sex in Identification Documents was passed in 2009 and provided for legal gender recognition. While neither surgery nor medical diagnosis was required, until 2018, it had to be analysed by a civil registry specialising in gender identity for approval.

On October 18, 2018, Uruguay modified the procedure in the Comprehensive Trans Law requiring the applicant to request the amendment before the Honorary Advisory Commission for Identity and Gender Change and provided self-identification.

Every trans person in Uruguay has the right to access comprehensive gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy and surgical interventions, through the public healthcare system (SNIS), private healthcare providers, or a combination of both.

For minors, access to gender-affirming care requires either the consent of their legal representatives or judicial authorization. In cases requiring judicial authorizations, the court must determine that the procedure is in the best interest of the minor before granting approval.

When it comes to irreversible genital surgeries for minors, the consent of their legal representatives is mandatory.

Law No. 19,684 2018 (Article 19-21) guarantees the training of a team specialized in gender identity and sexual diversity, informed consent, data confidentiality, access to relevant information/guidance/advice, and a collaborative decision-making process. It also prohibits discrimination in healthcare, ensuring equal access for all.

Non-binary people are recognized in its definitions by law, but there is no third gender marker option available for ID documents.

However in 2023, the governing council of the University of the Republic (Udelar) in Uruguay has approved the implementation of a non-binary option on their degree titles. The non-binary option allows individuals who do not identify strictly as male or female to be represented accurately on their academic credentials. This decision is significant as it reflects a broader societal shift towards recognizing and respecting non-binary gender identities.

In 2004, an official anti-discrimination bill was passed that includes provisions for sexual orientations and gender identities in all areas. The law is actively enforced.

In 2004, Uruguay passed Law 17,817 which prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment.

In 2004, Uruguay passed Law 17,817 which prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in housing.

In 2009, Uruguay became the first Latin American country to allow same-sex couples to adopt children when they were explicitly granted equal rights to different-sex couples in adoption. However, adoption was in practice already allowed since 2004.

Unnecessary medical procedures for intersex children and adolescents have been prohibited since January 2018 by Article 22 of Law No. 19,580.

In 2009, Uruguay lifted the ban on LGBTIQ+ people joining the armed forces imposed by the 1973-85 military dictatorship.

From December 16, 2020, the rules changed, and now Gay men can donate blood under the same conditions as the rest of the population.

In 2017, Uruguay implemented a mental health law that covers the ban on conversion therapy under Law 19,529.

The age of consent in Uruguay is 15 years old regardless of the type of intercourse.