- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Recent surveys in Maryland indicate a moderate level of acceptance for LGBTQ+ rights in specific areas.
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Same-sex marriage in Maryland is legal.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2013
Legal
On January 1st, 2012, Maryland legalized same-sex marriage. It took effect the next year.
Banned
In 1973, Maryland became the first state in the United States to legally define a marriage as between a man and a woman and ban same-sex couples from marrying. However, there were cases of marriages outside the state being recognised.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Maryland is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
There are no laws censoring LGBT topics in Maryland.
Right to change legal gender in Maryland is legal, no restrictions.
Current status
Since 2019
Legal, no restrictions
Minors 16 and over, and Adults are able to get an drivers license as of 2019. Birth Certificates and other governmental documents are be abled to be changed as well.
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
In 2015, Maryland allowed for legal gender recognition but required medical documentation.
Gender-affirming care in Maryland is legal.
Current status
Legal
Minors over the age of 16 (with certain younger exceptions) and Adults can receive gender-affirming care in Maryland. In 2024, Department of Health of Maryland required Medicaid to give access to gender-affirming care to those who are on Medicaid. This includes hormones, gender-affirming surgeries, voice surgery and therapy, facial surgery, preventative care after transition, and reversal of gender-affirming surgeries for detransitioners.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Maryland is recognized.
Current status
Since Oct 1, 2019
Recognized
Maryland residents can self-identify their gender (with an X gender marker as one of the options) on their driver's license or state IDs.
LGBT discrimination in Maryland is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
People are protected from discrimination based upon both sexual orientation and gender identification.
LGBT employment discrimination in Maryland is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Apr 20, 2012
Sexual orientation and gender identity
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).
In 2014 (October 1st), Maryland enacted a law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity in employment.
In 2014 (October 1st), Maryland enacted a law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity in employment.
Sexual orientation only
Maryland's state legislature passed and the governor signed the Anti-Discrimination Act of 2001, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment. It took effect in October of that year.
LGBT housing discrimination in Maryland is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Maryland explicitly bans housing discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identification.
Additionally, 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)."
Additionally, 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 Maryland is legal.
Current status
Legal
State statute permits any adult to petition for adoption per MD Code Ann. Fam. Law, §5-331. Second-parent adoption has been allowed in lower courts.
Intersex infant surgery in Maryland is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Genital "normalisation" surgeries occur throughout the United States and there have been reports of such surgeries in Maryland.
Serving openly in military in Maryland is legal.
Current status
Since Mar 18, 2025
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
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth filed in court a memo on February 10th, 2025 relating to President Trump’s executive order from the previous month.
From now on, The U.S. military will prohibit transgender individuals from enlisting, and will cease providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.
From now on, The U.S. military will prohibit transgender individuals from enlisting, and will cease providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.
Legal under federal United States law
President Joe Biden removed former President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military, and transgender people are still allowed to serve as of 2025.
In January of 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military. However, before his executive order can take effect, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth needs to submit a plan on how the military will implement the order.
In January of 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military. However, before his executive order can take effect, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth needs to submit a plan on how the military will implement the order.
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 Maryland 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.
Equal age of consent in Maryland is equal.
Current status
Since Jan 19, 1999
Equal
Maryland defines anyone under 16 years of age to be unable to consent, but has no distinction between heterosexual and homosexual acts.
United States Equality Rank
#187
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