💬 NEW! Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!

LGBT Rights in Kentucky State

    Homosexuality
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✔ Legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
    Non-binary gender recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ Illegal in some contexts
    Employment Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✔ Legal
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal

Recent surveys in Kentucky have revealed a mixed response towards LGBTQ+ rights and issues.

History

Homosexual activity in Kentucky

?

Homosexual activity in Kentucky is legal.

Current status
Since Sep 24, 1992
Legal
Sodomy law remains in the Kentucky statutes but is not enforceable due to the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Lawrence v. Texas (2003)
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1974–Sep 24, 1992
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Kentucky Revised Statutes were revised in 1974 to criminalize non-procreative sexual acts only between people of the same sex. A conviction could have led to up to 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $500.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1798–1974
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Punishment for violating the sodomy statute ranged from two (2) to five (5) years in prison
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1792–1798
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Upon admission to the Union, Kentucky received it's sodomy statutes from the Commonwealth of Virginia whose sodomy laws attacked any non-procreative sexual act (even between men and women). Those found guilty potentially faced execution.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Kentucky

?

Same-sex marriage in Kentucky is legal.

Current status
Since Jun 26, 2015
Legal
The US Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide.
Added by danlev  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Nov 2, 2004–Jun 26, 2015
Unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned
The Commonwealth of Kentucky only recognizes marriages between a man and woman regardless of where the ceremony was performed.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Kentucky

?

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Kentucky is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
There are no laws censoring LGBT topics in Kentucky.
Added by Notdog1996  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Kentucky

?

Right to change legal gender in Kentucky is legal, but requires surgery.

Current status
Since 2005
Legal, but requires surgery
Sex-reassignment surgery is required to change legal documents in Kentucky.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jan 1, 2005–Sep 10, 2018
Legal, but requires surgery
Requires surgery to change documents. Changes pending. Missing non binary options on documents.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Kentucky

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Kentucky is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
Not currently recognized.
Added by Notdog1996  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Kentucky

?

LGBT discrimination in Kentucky is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since 1792
Illegal in some contexts
The Commonwealth of Kentucky does not have statewide LGBT fairness protections. Currently only six cities have LGBT protections: Louisville, Lexington, Covington, Vicco, Frankfort, and Morehead. Governor Steve Beshear, by Executive Order, prohibited discrimination
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jan 1, 1792–Sep 1, 2018
Illegal in some contexts
Only in State Employment Only. Full employment state discrimination protections pending. Full state housing discrimination protections pending. Full state Public accommodation discrimination protections pending. Full discrimination protection under Federal law VII ruled under state law which includes gender identity. Full discrimination protection in 2 counties and 8 cities.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Kentucky

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Kentucky is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Protected federally by a Supreme Court ruling.
Added by Notdog1996  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until Jun 15, 2020
No protections
In the absence of a Statewide Fairness law, employment, housing, and public accommodations discrimination is still legal against LGBT people. However, public employees of the state are protected based on both sexual orientation as well as gender identities.
Added by CLH2030  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jan 1, 2018–Sep 7, 2018
Ambiguous
Full state employment discrimination protections. Full discrimination protection in 2 counties and 9 cities. Full discrimination protection for gender identity for all discrimination protection.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Kentucky

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Kentucky is no protections.

Current status
No protections
In the absence of a Statewide Fairness law, employment, housing, and public accommodations discrimination is still legal against LGBT people. In a progressive move, the Kentucky Housing Corporation announced a statewide policy change in 2013 to mirror HUD's adoption of LGBT discrimination protections in federally-supported housing.
Added by CLH2030  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Mar 1, 2012–Sep 29, 2018
Ambiguous
There is no current state housing or federal housing discrimination protections in place. However there is city and county discrimination protection.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Kentucky

?

Same-sex adoption in Kentucky is legal.

Current status
Since Sep 12, 2008
Legal
Under federal law since 2015.

Single adoption, joint adoption for married couples and second parent adoption for married couples are all allowed for LGBT people.

In Kentucky, businesses can discriminate against LGBT people on the basis of religion. While it is unclear if this also applies to adoption agencies, such a case has been brought up in court and ended up with the judge resigning.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until Sep 12, 2008
Single only
Kentucky law permits married (heterosexual) couples and single people to adopt. KY Revised Statutes §199.470.

Second-parent adoption had been permitted, but is not now considered unlawful following the appellate court ruling in S.J.L.S. v. T.L.S., 265 S.W.3.d 804 (Ky. App. 2008).
Sources:
opinions.kycourts.net/coa/2…
lifelongadoptions.com/lgbt-…
aclu.org/files/assets/aclu_…
www.lambdalegal.org/states-region/kentucky
Kentucky §199.470
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Kentucky

?

Serving openly in military in Kentucky is legal.

Current status
Since Sep 20, 2011
Legal
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Kentucky

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Kentucky is legal.

Current status
Since May 11, 2023
Legal
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.
Added by 4anahiv  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Apr 2, 2020–May 11, 2023
Banned (3-month deferral)
Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
Added by JerofDoorhandle  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Dec 21, 2015–Apr 2, 2020
Banned (1-year deferral)
Blood donation centers followed the non-binding FDA one year deferral guidance.
Added by JerofDoorhandle  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1977–Dec 21, 2015
Banned (indefinite deferral)
United States federal law bans the donation of blood by men who have sex with men.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Kentucky

?

Conversion therapy in Kentucky 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.
Added by imullin01  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Sep 7, 2016–Sep 1, 2018
Not banned
Not criminalize in the state.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Kentucky

?

Equal age of consent in Kentucky is equal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1975
Equal
The Age of consent in Kentucky is 16 years old.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log