- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but restricted for minors
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- Varies by Region
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Surveys in Arizona have shown mixed views towards LGBTQ+ rights and issues.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Should businesses be able to refuse service to same-sex couples and other customers based on their religious beliefs?
(Public Policy Polling, 2014)
Do you support defining that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage in this state?
(Arizona, 2008)
Do you support defining that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage in this state?
(Arizona, 2006)
History
Same-sex marriage in Arizona is legal.
Current status
Since Oct 17, 2014
Legal
Arizona became legal when the state attorney announced that he will not appeal the decision made by federal court.
Banned
In April 1975, a bill was passed in Arizona restricting marriage to different-sex couples after a marriage license was granted to a same-sex one, revoking the license and banning same-sex marriage.
A proposition to ban any recognition was attempted in 2006 but narrowly rejected until another was passed in 2008.
A proposition to ban any recognition was attempted in 2006 but narrowly rejected until another was passed in 2008.
Right to change legal gender in Arizona is legal, but requires medical diagnosis.
Current status
Since Aug 20, 2024
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
Although the Non-Binary gender is not recognized in Arizona, it is now legal to change your gender on markers only with a provider’s approval. The surgery requirement to change gender marker was overturned by a Federal Court on August 20, 2024.
Gender-affirming care in Arizona is legal, but restricted for minors.
Current status
Since Mar 31, 2023
Legal, but restricted for minors
Adults over the age of 18 are still able to freely get gender affirming care. SB 1138, specifically prohibits doctors from giving minors defined as under 18. Surgeries are banned for minors, HRT (Hormone replacement therapy) is not.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Arizona is recognized.
Current status
Since Oct 2020
Recognized
Arizona residents can change their gender marker to an "X" on their driver's license, provided they can show a government-issued ID with the same marker.
LGBT discrimination in Arizona is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no legal protections for people who are LGBT in regards to employment. However, state employees are provided with domestic partner benefits. Additionally, state employees are protected from discrimination based upon sexual orientation only.
LGBT employment discrimination in Arizona 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 state 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 state 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). No state protections exist.
LGBT housing discrimination in Arizona is no protections.
Current status
No protections
This state does not provide any legal protections from discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identification.
However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
Same-sex adoption in Arizona is legal.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2015
Legal
Under state and federal law.
Single adoption and adoption by couples are permitted. Second parent adoption is also allowed, but only for married couples.
Single adoption and adoption by couples are permitted. Second parent adoption is also allowed, but only for married couples.
Ambiguous
While same-sex adoption is legal in Arizona, 2011 Ariz Legis Serv. 147 (S.B. 1188) gives preference to "a married man and woman" over an individual. Thus, the preference for married individuals not only discriminates against unwed individuals of all orientations, but the wording also carries allows for discrimination against LGBT couples. Second parent adoption is not permitted for same-sex couples.
Intersex infant surgery in Arizona is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
The GRS ban in AZ specifically allows for surgeries on intersex individuals.
Serving openly in military in Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona is varies by region.
Current status
Since Aug 1, 2017
Varies by Region
Pima County is currently the only jurisdiction to ban conversion therapy in Arizona. The Pima County Board of Supervisors passed the measure in a 3-2 vote with offenders being fined up to 2,500 dollars.
An executive order was implemented by Governor Hobbs in June of 2023.
State law supersedes local laws and the ban is at risk of being rendered defunct if state legislatures were to nullify the legitimacy of the scope of these laws.
No bill pends for or against banning at the moment in any state legislatures but discussion has spawned out of the topic. Despite regulators considering the practice controversial, no action has been taken against licensed therapists who pathologize the treatment.
An executive order was implemented by Governor Hobbs in June of 2023.
State law supersedes local laws and the ban is at risk of being rendered defunct if state legislatures were to nullify the legitimacy of the scope of these laws.
No bill pends for or against banning at the moment in any state legislatures but discussion has spawned out of the topic. Despite regulators considering the practice controversial, no action has been taken against licensed therapists who pathologize the treatment.
United States Equality Rank
-
#24 Delaware75
-
#25 Ohio74
-
#26 Wisconsin73
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#27 Arizona73
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#28 Utah73
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#29 Alaska72
-
#30 Montana70
#204
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