- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- Varies by Region
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but banned for minors
- 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
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Public opinion in Utah appears to be somewhat divided on LGBTQ+ issues, as evidenced by recent studies.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
History
Homosexual activity in Utah is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Legal
The SCOTUS ruling Lawrence v. Texas decriminalised gay sex nationwide. In 2019, Utah repealed its defunct sodomy provisions from its state constitution.
Until Jun 26, 2003
Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
Federally struck down, but still on the books.
Same-sex marriage in Utah is legal.
Current status
Since Oct 6, 2014
Legal
Supreme Court dismisses the appeal, making same-sex marriage legal.
Ambiguous
US Supreme Court puts Utah gay marriage on hold, pending an appeal from the state.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Utah is varies by region.
Current status
Since May 7, 2025
Varies by Region
In 2025, Utah became the first state to ban the display of pride flags on government buildings and in schools.
The day before the state-level ban took effect, the Salt Lake City Council adopted three new official flags, two of which were pride flags. The bill allowed exceptions for official flags, so as a result, the ban effectively does not apply to Salt Lake City.
The day before the state-level ban took effect, the Salt Lake City Council adopted three new official flags, two of which were pride flags. The bill allowed exceptions for official flags, so as a result, the ban effectively does not apply to Salt Lake City.
No censorship
In 2017, Utah replaced the section of the public education curriculum that prohibited the advocacy of homosexuality with one that instead prohibited “premarital or extramarital sexual activity.”
Right to change legal gender in Utah is legal, but requires medical diagnosis.
Current status
Since 1995
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
While surgery is not explicitly a requirement, Utah requires medical documentation of transition in order to recognise a change in one’s legal gender.
Gender-affirming care in Utah is legal, but banned for minors.
Current status
Since Jan 28, 2023
Legal, but banned for minors
Adults are still able to get gender affirming care under Utah law, Minors are unable to get gender affirming care under HB0316. Incarcerated transgender people will be placed in their biological sexes holding cells. Example being a transgender male to get incarcerated then he would go to the females holding cells due to his biological sex. Under SB16, inmates are forced to go to their gender assigned at birth cells.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Utah is recognized.
Current status
Recognized
In the state of Utah people can get a gender X marker on your permit/driving license, it just has to reflect your birth certificate. People need a court document as well as of 2024.
LGBT discrimination in Utah is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Mar 12, 2015
Illegal in some contexts
Discrimination on grounds of housing and employment is prohibited for both sexual orientations and gender identities
Until Mar 12, 2015
No protections
No protections from discrimination exist based upon sexual orientation or gender identification.
LGBT employment discrimination in Utah is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Mar 12, 2015
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Anti discrimination bill in housing and employment for sexual orientations and gender identities passes and becomes law
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 statewide protections existed at the time.
LGBT housing discrimination in Utah is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Mar 12, 2015
Sexual orientation and gender identity
A bill protecting LGBT people from discrimination in employment was passed by the Utah state legislature and signed into law in March of 2015. Varying protections also exist at the federal level.
Until Mar 12, 2015
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 Utah is legal.
Current status
Since Oct 6, 2014
Legal
Same sex marriage became legal, effectively overturning the same sex couple adoption
Illegal
Utah Code Ann. § 78B-6-117(3): Adoption may not be permitted to individuals who are not entered into a legal marriage in a cohabitation situation. This applies to foster parenting as well (§ 62A-4a-602).
Second parent adoption is outlawed as well for same-sex couples.(§ 62A-4a-60)
Second parent adoption is outlawed as well for same-sex couples.(§ 62A-4a-60)
Intersex infant surgery in Utah is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Utah's ban on gender-affirming care allows exceptions for intersex infant surgery.
Serving openly in military in Utah 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 Utah 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 Utah is equal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Equal
Age of consent laws are equitable regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
United States Equality Rank
#170
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