- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- Ambiguous
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Public Opinion
Recent studies in Arkansas show a discernible level of opposition to LGBTQ+ rights among the population.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
History
Same-sex marriage in Arkansas is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2015
Since Jun 26, 2015
Legal
The US Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide.
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Arkansas is ambiguous.
Current status
Since Mar 14, 2023
Since Mar 14, 2023
Ambiguous
Mentioning gender identity or sexual orientation to students before grade 5 is banned, ambiguous is the best indicator considering it depends on the grade.
Until Mar 14, 2023
No censorship
LGBTQ discussion allowed in all schools, in some contexts, parents get permission slips to decide whether their student will be part of a lesson.
Right to change legal gender in Arkansas is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Since 2002
Since 2002
Legal, but requires surgery
Arkansas will amend after receipt of a court order verifying that they have undergone sex-reassignment surgery and that their names have been changed.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Arkansas is recognized.
Current status
Since Dec 2010
Since Dec 2010
Recognized
Arkansas rolled out its gender policy quietly in 2010. "Our official policy is to allow a licensee to change their gender as requested, no questions asked, no documentation required." -former Assistant Commissioner of Operations and Administration Mike Munns.
Arkansas residents were thus able to change their marker on their driver's license (including to an X) since 2010, but this has only started being known since 2018.
Arkansas residents were thus able to change their marker on their driver's license (including to an X) since 2010, but this has only started being known since 2018.
LGBT employment discrimination in Arkansas is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Protected federally under a Supreme Court ruling.
LGBT housing discrimination in Arkansas 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 Arkansas is legal.
Current status
Since Apr 7, 2011
Since Apr 7, 2011
Legal
Originally banned in a measure on a ballot, but Arkansas Supreme Court Overruled. Any unmarried individual may petition for adoption, and any married individuals must petition jointly before the court. While the Supreme Court of Arkansas has struck down bans to limit same-sex adoption on privacy grounds, all adoption cases are handled on a case by case basis before a lower court judge. Lower courts have a history of hostile rulings for same-sex adoptive parents as displayed in Larson v. Larson, 902 S.W.2d 254 (App. 1995).
Serving openly in military in Arkansas is legal.
Current status
Since Sep 20, 2011
Since Sep 20, 2011
Legal
Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
Blood donations by MSMs in Arkansas is legal.
Current status
Since May 11, 2023
Since May 11, 2023
Legal
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 (3-month deferral)
Blood donation centers follow the non-binding FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
Banned (1-year deferral)
Blood donation centers followed the non-binding FDA one year deferral guidance.
Equal age of consent in Arkansas is equal.
Current status
Since 2001
Since 2001
Equal
Equal age of consent is 16.
US Equality Rank
#160
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
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Arkansas LGBT Organizations
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