- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, surgery not required
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (3-month deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Suggest Public Opinion Data
Until Jun 15, 2020
Until Dec 8, 2022
Until Sep 7, 2016
Public Opinion
Support for LGBT protections by US state ?
Ranked #1 out of 50 regions surveyed. (Source: PRRI, 2018)
Favor (68%)
Opposition of religiously based refusals to serve gay and lesbian people ?
Ranked #1 out of 50 regions surveyed. (Source: PRRI, 2018)
Oppose (59%)
Support of same-sex marriage by US state ?
Ranked #23 out of 51 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research, 2014)
(37%) Oppose
Favor (54%)
Support of homosexuality by US state ?
Ranked #22 out of 51 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research, 2014)
(30%) Oppose
Support (63%)
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 no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
There are currently no laws in Pennsylvania that prohibit the discussion of LGBTQIA+ Topics.
Section 7 of the Pennsylvania Consitution garuntees that
"The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man "
Section 7 of the Pennsylvania Consitution garuntees that
"The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man "
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.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Pennsylvania is recognized.
Current status
Since Jul 23, 2020
Since Jul 23, 2020
Recognized
Pennsylvania residents can change their gender marker to X on their state IDs and driver's licenses.
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 sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Protected federally by a Supreme Court ruling.
Until Jun 15, 2020
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 sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Dec 8, 2022
Since Dec 8, 2022
Sexual orientation and gender identity
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act bans discrimination in hiring, firing, housing, and schooling on the basis of sex. In December 2022, with implemented legally-binding regulations the sex option also explicitly includes sexual orientation and gender identity.
Until Dec 8, 2022
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.
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.
Blood donations by MSMs in Pennsylvania is banned (3-month deferral).
Current status
Since Apr 2, 2020
Since Apr 2, 2020
Banned (3-month deferral)
Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
Banned (1-year deferral)
Blood donation centers followed the non-binding FDA one year deferral guidance.
Conversion therapy in Pennsylvania is banned.
Current status
Since Aug 16, 2022
Since Aug 16, 2022
Banned
On August 16, 2022, Pennsylvania governor signed an executive order against conversion therapy.
While not a full on ban, it forbids providers from receiving any government funds or reimbursement for such practices and offers ways to denounce any providers who partake in it.
While not a full on ban, it forbids providers from receiving any government funds or reimbursement for such practices and offers ways to denounce any providers who partake in it.
Ambiguous
In some cities and counties, state wide conversion therapy ban pending.
Until Sep 7, 2016
Not banned
Conversion Therapy is currently legal. No law currently bans it, despite organizations such as the American Psychological Association denouncing it.
Equal age of consent in Pennsylvania is equal.
Current status
Equal
The Age of consent in Pennsylvania is 16, and the laws applies equally regardless of gender or orientation.
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