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LGBT Rights in United Kingdom

    Homosexuality
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✔ Legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✔ Legal, surgery not required
    Non-binary gender recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    Varies by Region
    Employment Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Housing Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Adoption
    ✔ Legal
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    Ambiguous
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal

Public opinion in United Kingdom appears to be somewhat divided on LGBTQ+ issues, as evidenced by recent studies.

United Kingdom Surveys

Support for Same-Sex Marriage (January)

(YouGov, 2023)
77%
Support
15%
Oppose
8%
Don't Know

Support for Same-Sex Marriage (March)

(YouGov, 2023)
73%
Support
17%
Oppose
10%
Don't Know

Support for Same-Sex Marriage (May)

(YouGov, 2023)
73%
Support
16%
Oppose
10%
Don't Know

Support for Same-Sex Marriage (June)

(YouGov, 2023)
78%
Support
14%
Oppose
8%
Don't Know

Support for Same-Sex Marriage (January)

(YouGov, 2022)
73%
Support
18%
Oppose
8%
Don't Know

Support for Same-Sex Marriage (March)

(YouGov, 2022)
76%
Support
14%
Oppose
11%
Don't Know

Support for Same-Sex Marriage (May)

(YouGov, 2022)
74%
Support
15%
Oppose

History

Homosexual activity in United Kingdom

?

Homosexual activity in United Kingdom is legal.

Current status
Since Nov 30, 2000
Legal
The Sexual Offences Act was successfully challenged in the European Court of Human Rights in the case of ADT v. UK in 2000. The court determined the provisions making sexual acts between more than two men illegal would be in violation of privacy laws, and therefore, those portions of the Act became unenforceable. Essentially, this was the last barrier to legalizing same-sex activity within the UK.
Sources:
legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/44
stonewall.org.uk/at_home/ha…
European Court of Human Rights in the case of ADT v. UK
Added by chris  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jul 27, 1967–Nov 30, 2000
Legal
**LEGAL, WITH RESTRICTIONS**
The Sexual Offences Act of 1967 legalized sexual acts between two men who were 21 or older (Excluding men serving in the military), but it placed new restrictions on sex for men who have sex with men. The act prohibited sex in places where a third party was likely to be present.
Added by chris  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
The Labouchere Amendment passed making sex between two men a gross indecency, punishable by imprisonment. Female homosexuality and sexual acts were not addressed in the law, and therefore, they technically would have been legal, though the law often applied the law towards women.
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1533–1861
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Under the 1533 Buggery Act, homosexuality in the UK was punishable by death until 1861.
Added by Jackninja5  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in United Kingdom

?

Same-sex marriage in United Kingdom is legal.

Current status
Since Jan 13, 2020
Legal
Marriage equality in Northern Ireland was brought into line with the rest of the UK via the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
Added by beeurd  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jul 17, 2013–Jun 12, 2020
Varies by Region
Came into force as of March 29th, 2014 . Same-sex marriage is still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland).
Added by chris  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jul 17, 20132014
Legal
The legislation allowed religious organisations to opt in to marry same-sex couples should they wish to do so and protected religious organisations and their representatives from successful legal challenge if they did not wish to marry same-sex couples.
Added by keirwilliams  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Dec 5, 2005–Jul 16, 2013
Civil unions
The Civil Partnership Act (2004).

Under the Act, same-sex couples can register a civil partnership, which has almost the same legal effects, rights and obligations as marriage does for mixed-sex couples. For that reason, civil partnership is sometimes called ‘gay marriage’. However, legally, it is not marriage, but is a separate, segregated system
Added by chris  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in United Kingdom

?

Censorship of LGBT Issues in United Kingdom is no censorship.

Current status
Since Nov 18, 2003
No censorship
Previous law repealed by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003.
Sources:
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/26/section/122
Added by beeurd  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Mar 24, 1988–Nov 17, 2003
Other punishment
Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 stated that local authorities could not "intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship". The law did not create a criminal offence, leaving staff to fear losing their jobs if they breached the rules.
Added by beeurd  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in United Kingdom

?

Right to change legal gender in United Kingdom is legal, surgery not required.

Current status
Since Apr 4, 2005
Legal, surgery not required
Surgery is not required
Added by chris  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in United Kingdom

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in United Kingdom is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
In 2021 the UK government said (in response to a petition) that legal recognition of non-binary gender identity would have "complex practical consequences for other areas of the law, service provision and public life", and said that they felt existing legislation allowing people to change their legal gender went far enough. Courts have, however, ruled that people with non-binary identities are protected from discrimination by the Equality Act.
Added by beeurd  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in United Kingdom

?

LGBT discrimination in United Kingdom is varies by region.

Current status
Since Oct 1, 2010
Varies by Region
Discrimination in the United Kingdom is illegal. However, in Northern Ireland It's only Illegal in some contexts.
Added by chris  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Illegal

  1. Gibraltar 2013
  2. England 2010
  3. Scotland 2010
  4. Wales 2010
  5. London, City of 2010
  6. Isles of Scilly
  7. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Illegal in some contexts

  1. Northern Ireland 2010

LGBT employment discrimination in United Kingdom

?

LGBT employment discrimination in United Kingdom is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Added by robertshippey  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in United Kingdom

?

LGBT housing discrimination in United Kingdom is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Oct 1, 2010
Sexual orientation and gender identity
For Local Authorities they would be bound by Equality Act 2010 and have a duty under Public Sector Equality Duty. For private landlords would be bound by Equality Act 2010
Added by l_oam  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in United Kingdom

?

Same-sex adoption in United Kingdom is legal.

Current status
Since Nov 7, 2002
Legal
IVF treatment is available for lesbian couples too.
Added by chris  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in United Kingdom

?

Serving openly in military in United Kingdom is legal.

Current status
Since Jan 12, 2000
Legal
The Ministry of Defence were forced to change their stance on when the European Court of Human Rights ruled in September 1999 that the then current ban on gays in the military was unlawful.
Added by chris  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1967–Jan 11, 2000
Illegal
The Sexual Offences Act of 1967 explicitly made serving in the military as an openly gay/bi man illegal. Prior to this act, it was illegal for a man to have sex with another man entirely, and therefore, it was also illegal.
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until 1967
Illegal
Same-sex sexual activity was illegal for men, and therefore, these individuals were not permitted in the military.
Added by imullin01  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in United Kingdom

?

Blood donations by MSMs in United Kingdom is legal.

Current status
Since Jun 14, 2021
Legal
The 3-month deferral for MSM has been dropped in England, Wales and Scotland. Instead, donors of any gender will be asked about their recent sexual activity, and those who have only had one sexual partner within the last 3-months will be eligible to donate.
Northern Ireland is due to follow suit with these changes in September 2021.
Added by beeurd  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jan 2017–Jun 13, 2021
Banned (3-month deferral)
In 2017, the 3-month blood donation rule came into force at blood donation centres in Scotland in November, and in early 2018 in England.
Added by danlev  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

2011–Nov 2017
Banned (1-year deferral)
Added by chris  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in United Kingdom

?

Conversion therapy in United Kingdom is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Jan 14, 2023
Ambiguous
The UK government is discussing a ban on conversion therapy. It has been discussed in parliament and the ban is said to be put into effect ‘shortly’ however a specific date has not yet been confirmed.
Added by juliefancourtt  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until Jan 14, 2023
Not banned
Conversion therapy ban has been discussed for many years. Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to ban conversion therapy in July 2020 and this was reiterated in the 2021 Queen's Speech. In March 2022, the plans were dropped, only for a partial U-turn just hours later when the government announced that the ban would go ahead but not cover trans people.

On January 17 2023, the government announced they'd pass a new law to include transgender people in the conversion therapy ban.

Until Jan 1, 2017
Not banned
Conversion therapies are reportedly a major issue in the UK, but it's rarely discussed. A ban is being discussed by British leaders.
Added by bradwbu  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in United Kingdom

?

Equal age of consent in United Kingdom is equal.

Current status
Since Aug 1, 2001
Equal
On November 30, 2000 a bill was signed to make the ages of consent equitable, regardless of gender. The law came into effect on August 1, 2001. The age of consent for men who have sex with men was reduced from 18 to 16, on par with different sex individuals.
Added by chris  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1994–Jul 31, 2001
Unequal
A bill was signed to reduce the age of consent for men who have sex with men from 21 to 18.
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Unequal
The Sexual Offenses Act made sex between two men legal in 1967*, but it was only legal between consenting men who were 21 or older, whereas the age of consent for different sex couples was 16.

*Sex between more than two men remained illegal until later.
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until 1967
Unequal
Sexual activities between two or more men were illegal prior to 1967, and therefore, the age of consent was irrelevant; it was all illegal.
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log


LGBT Rights by unitary authority

View the LGBT laws in each individual unitary authority of United Kingdom.