- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- Unknown
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, surgery not required
- Discrimination
- Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- Ambiguous
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Suggest Public Opinion Data
History
Homosexual activity in Pennsylvania is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Since Jun 26, 2003
Legal
US Supreme Court ruling issued in Lawrence v. Texas struck down all sodomy laws on the basis of privacy and liberty. The decision overturned any laws remaining in all US states which prohibited acts of sodomy.
Same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania is legal.
Current status
Since May 20, 2014
Since May 20, 2014
Legal
"U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III, a federal judge appointed by President George W. Bush, ruled in favor of the freedom to marry, striking down Pennsylvania's ban on marriage for same-sex couple[s]."
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Pennsylvania is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Right to change legal gender in Pennsylvania is legal, surgery not required.
Current status
Legal, surgery not required
surgery not required in this state or under federal law.
LGBT discrimination in Pennsylvania is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Illegal in some contexts
Some cities and counties have Employment non discrimination laws but there is no law on a state level
LGBT employment discrimination in Pennsylvania is no protections.
Current status
No protections
As of December 16, 2014, there are no legal protections for people who are LGBT in regards to employment. However, public employees of the state are protected based on both sexual orientation as well as gender identities, and domestic partners of public employees are granted benefits.
LGBT housing discrimination in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania is legal.
Current status
Since 2002
Since 2002
Legal
Any individual may petition for single parent or joint adoption. Second-parent adoption is permitted via case law referenced below.
Homosexuals serving openly in military in Pennsylvania 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.
Conversion therapy in Pennsylvania is ambiguous.
Current status
Ambiguous
Conversion Therapy is currently legal. No law currently bans it, despite organizations such as the American Psychological Association denouncing it. Though it's not actually ambiguous (It is in fact legal), this is the best indicator of the available options.
Equal age of consent in Pennsylvania is equal.
Current status
Equal
Age of consent laws are equitable regardless of gender or orientation.
Equality Index ?
80 / 100
Legal Rights
80 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Pennsylvania to help improve its accuracy.
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