Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✔ Legal, no restrictions
    Gender-Affirming Care
    Unknown
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    Unknown
    Employment Discrimination
    Ambiguous
    Housing Discrimination
    Ambiguous
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    Unknown
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    Unknown
    Conversion Therapy
    Ambiguous
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!

Public Opinion

American Samoa is lacking public opinion data.

Help expand our understanding of the public's view on LGBTQ+ issues in American Samoa by sharing a link to a survey from a reputable organization.

Suggest Public Opinion Data

Have you lived in or visited American Samoa?

Share your experience of being LGBTQ+ in American Samoa.

Take Survey

History

Homosexual activity in American Samoa

?

Homosexual activity in American Samoa is legal.

Current status
Since 1980
Legal
Homosexual acts were legalized prior to the federal ruling which legalized homosexuality for all federal jurisdictions in 2003.
Details
Sources:
bbc.com/news/world-26016267
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in American Samoa

?

Same-sex marriage in American Samoa is foreign same-sex marriages recognized only.

Current status
Since Dec 13, 2022
Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
In 2022, the US Congress passed the Respect for Marriage Act, requiring all US states and territories to recognize legal same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.
Details
Sources:
congress.gov/bill/117th-con…
xtramagazine.com/power/resp…
congress.gov/bill/117th-con…
Report error  ·  Log
Until Dec 13, 2022
Unrecognized
Same-sex marriage is not legal, and since American-Samoa has no federal courts, it is unclear if they can be sued for marriage equality at the state level as other states have done. However, due to Supreme Court case, United States vs. Windsor, legally married couples are granted at the federal level. This would include people from American-Samoa if it were recognized.
Details
Sources:
marriageequality.org/region…
Report error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT issues in American Samoa

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in American Samoa is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
no censorship
Details
Sources:
no laws against LGBT topica
Report error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in American Samoa

?

Right to change legal gender in American Samoa is legal, no restrictions.

Current status
Legal, no restrictions
Under USA Sex change law amendment. Missing non binary option on documents.
Details
Report error  ·  Log

Gender-affirming care in American Samoa

?

Gender-affirming care in American Samoa is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in American Samoa

?

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

Current status
Not legally recognized
Not currently legally recognized.
Details
Sources:
familyequality.org/resource…
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in American Samoa

?

LGBT discrimination in American Samoa is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT employment discrimination in American Samoa

?

LGBT employment discrimination in American Samoa is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
Some under federal hate crime laws.
Details
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in American Samoa

?

LGBT housing discrimination in American Samoa is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
Unknown.
Details
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in American Samoa

?

Same-sex adoption in American Samoa is single only.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2017
Single only
Under American Samoa territory law. legal under federal law.
Details
Sources:
mljadoptions.com/samoa/
Report error  ·  Log

Intersex infant surgery in American Samoa

?

Intersex infant surgery in American Samoa is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in American Samoa

?

Serving openly in military in American Samoa is legal.

Current status
Since Feb 26, 2021
Legal under federal United States law
President Biden removed former President Trumps ban on transgender people serving in the military, transgender people are still allowed to serve as of 2024.


A year after the ban was lifted, Admiral Levine was sworn into being an Admiral, becoming the first transgender woman to hold a high rank in the Navy and in Cabinet.
Details
Sources:
whitehouse.gov/briefing-roo…
defense.gov/News/News-Stori…
nbcnews.com/news/military/b…
Report error  ·  Log
Apr 11, 2019–Feb 26, 2021
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
New policy goes into effect barring individuals with a "condition" known as "gender dysphoria."
Details
Sources:
cnn.com/2019/04/12/politics…
Report error  ·  Log
Sep 20, 2011–Apr 11, 2019
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.
Details
Sources:
hrc.org/our-work/stories/re…
whitehouse.gov/ppo/briefing…
Report error  ·  Log
Dec 21, 1993–Sep 20, 2011
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.
Details
Sources:
gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-104p…
catalog.archives.gov/id/122244870 *official document for DADT signed by Former President Clinton*
gao.gov/assets/nsiad-92-98.pdf *study from 1992 to 1998*
history.com/news/dont-ask-d…
Report error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in American Samoa

?

Blood donations by MSMs in American Samoa is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Conversion therapy in American Samoa

?

Conversion therapy in American Samoa is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
Unknown.
Details
Report error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in American Samoa

?

Equal age of consent in American Samoa is equal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1980
Equal
Details
Report error  ·  Log
Equality Index ?
74 / 100
Legal Rights
74 / 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 American Samoa to help improve its accuracy.
#169
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?

Top Contributors

American Samoa LGBT Organizations

There are no organizations listed in American Samoa. Suggest one

Share Region

LGBT American Samoa Flag
LGBT American Samoa Flag

Compare American Samoa

100
French Polynesia Flag

Compare with
French Polynesia

29
Samoa Flag

Compare with
Samoa

29
Tonga Flag

Compare with
Tonga

71
Cook Islands Flag

Compare with
Cook Islands

100
Wallis and Futuna Flag

Compare with
Wallis and Futuna

23
Tuvalu Flag

Compare with
Tuvalu

58
Tokelau Flag

Compare with
Tokelau

58
Niue Flag

Compare with
Niue

Common queries:
  • Is it illegal to be gay in American Samoa?
  • Is homosexuality legal in American Samoa?
  • Is gay marriage legal in American Samoa?

LGBT Rights in Polynesia

100
French Polynesia Flag

LGBT Rights in
French Polynesia

29
Samoa Flag

LGBT Rights in
Samoa

29
Tonga Flag

LGBT Rights in
Tonga

71
Cook Islands Flag

LGBT Rights in
Cook Islands

100
Wallis and Futuna Flag

LGBT Rights in
Wallis and Futuna

23
Tuvalu Flag

LGBT Rights in
Tuvalu

58
Tokelau Flag

LGBT Rights in
Tokelau

58
Niue Flag

LGBT Rights in
Niue

91
Pitcairn Islands Flag

LGBT Rights in
Pitcairn Islands