- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✖ State-enforced
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but banned for minors
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally 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
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Public opinion in Tennessee appears to be somewhat divided on LGBTQ+ issues, as evidenced by recent studies.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 11 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Tennessee.
Overall
Perceived Safety**Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
Homosexual activity in Tennessee is legal.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Tennessee is state-enforced.
Current status
Since Apr 1, 2023
State-enforced
Tennessee introduced a bill banning "adult show performances" where minors could be present or be able to see.
The wording of the bill describes "dressing as a gender different from the one assigned at birth" as part of a performance to be not suited for minors and thus banned in public spaces.
This not only bans drag shows, but any performance from a trans person in public.
The wording of the bill describes "dressing as a gender different from the one assigned at birth" as part of a performance to be not suited for minors and thus banned in public spaces.
This not only bans drag shows, but any performance from a trans person in public.
Right to change legal gender in Tennessee is illegal.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2023
Illegal
On July 1st 2023, Tennessee passed a new law preventing people from changing their gender marker on their documents if it differs from the one assigned at birth. This includes birth certificates, driver's licenses, and other legal documents.
Illegal
In 2008, Tennessee allowed the changing of gender markers on drivers’ licenses provided that surgery has been undertaken. However, changing one’s birth certificate is prohibited.
Gender-affirming care in Tennessee is legal, but banned for minors.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2023
Legal, but banned for minors
Adults are still able to receive gender affirming care under Tennessee Law, Minors are not able to receive gender affirming care. Under SB001, Minors are prohibited to receive gender affirming care. Adults are unable to help minors to get gender affirming care, they will face prosecution, if found doing such.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Tennessee is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Tennessee does not legally recognize a third gender.
LGBT discrimination in Tennessee is no protections.
Current status
No protections
Tennessee has laws removing the right to discrimination in same-sex marriages. Same-sex couples can be discriminated against, in any setting. This law also applies to transgender people as well, LGBTQ discrimination is illegal in the USA. However, Tennessee has laws against same-sex marriage and transgender people.
LGBT employment discrimination in Tennessee 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 statewide 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 statewide 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 protections exist at the state level.
LGBT housing discrimination in Tennessee 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 Tennessee is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2017
Legal
Any single person is permitted to adopt per statute. State law allows any married individual to adopt their spouse's child via stepparent adoption, even though some counties or judges might give LGBT prospective parents trouble.
Married LGBT couples can adopt jointly.
Married LGBT couples can adopt jointly.
Intersex infant surgery in Tennessee is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Despite Tennessee banning gender affirming care for minors, non-consensual, and in many cases medically unnecessary surgeries performed on intersex infants remain legal.
Serving openly in military in Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee is not banned.
Current status
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 Tennessee is equal.
Current status
Since Jan 26, 1996
Equal
Age of consent laws are equitable regardless of gender or orientation.
United States Equality Rank
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#48 Arkansas57
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#49 South Carolina56
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#50 Alabama56
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#51 Tennessee56
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#52 Mississippi55
#107
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