Cayo is governed by federal Belize law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Unrecognized
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Adoption
- Unknown
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- Ambiguous
- Donating Blood
- Unknown
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
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Homosexual activity in Cayo is legal.
Current status
Since Aug 10, 2016
Legal
On August 10th 2016, after 6 years of pending, the Belizean Supreme Court ruled in favor of Caleb Orosco in the landmark General case Orozco v. Attorney. The court struck down Section 53 of the Belize Penal Code which criminalized sodomy. This emphasized the rights of privacy, equality and dignity which Belizeans possess, in the process, also expanding the definition of sex in the constitution to include sexual orientation. It was the last sodomy law in Central America to be struck down.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
The Section 53 of the Belize Criminal Code states that all kinds of sexual acts, except for the natural sex, are illegal. People found guilty are liable for a 10-year imprisonment. "Every person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any person ... shall be liable to imprisonment for 10 years." Moreover, homosexual immigrants are prohibited an entry to the country.
Same-sex marriage in Cayo is unrecognized.
Current status
Unrecognized
The legal system in Belize does not recognise same sex marriages or civil unions.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Cayo is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Belize, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Cayo is illegal.
Current status
Illegal under federal Belize law
There is no legal gender recognition provided in Belize.
Gender-affirming care in Cayo is legal.
Current status
Legal
There are no known legal restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare in Belize but most trans Belizeans are unable to access it due to a lack of resources and cost.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Cayo is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
No way to change legal gender, including to non-binary.
LGBT discrimination in Cayo is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Illegal in some contexts
The constitution of Belize grants fundamental rights to all Belizeans, forbiding discrimination based on race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex and emphasizing all Belizeans are entitled to these fundamental rights regardless of characteristics. With the Orozco v Attorney General (2016) court case that struck down sodomy laws in the nation, the court also emphasized and expanded the definition of sex in the constitution to provide the constitutional right to non-discrimination based on sexual orientation.
LGBT employment discrimination in Cayo is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Sexual orientation only
The constitution of Belize grants fundamental rights to all Belizeans, forbiding discrimination based on race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex and emphasizing all Belizeans are entitled to these fundamental rights regardless of characteristics. With the Orozco v Attorney General (2016) court case that struck down sodomy laws in the nation, the court also emphasized and expanded the definition of sex in the constitution to provide the constitutional right to non-discrimination based on sexual orientation.
LGBT housing discrimination in Cayo is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Since Dec 30, 2019
Sexual orientation only
The constitution of Belize grants fundamental rights to all Belizeans, forbidding discrimination based on race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex and emphasizing all Belizeans are entitled to these fundamental rights regardless of characteristics. With the Orozco v Attorney General (2016) court case that struck down sodomy laws in the nation, the court also emphasized and expanded the definition of sex in the constitution to provide the constitutional right to non-discrimination based on sexual orientation in 2019.
However, there are no explicit protections provided on the basis of gender identity from housing discrimination.
However, there are no explicit protections provided on the basis of gender identity from housing discrimination.
Intersex infant surgery in Cayo is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Belize but not reported.
Serving openly in military in Cayo is ambiguous.
Current status
Ambiguous
There are no explicit legal provisions that allow or restrict LGBT people from serving openly in the military
Conversion therapy in Cayo is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is legal in Belize but not reported.
Equal age of consent in Cayo is equal.
Current status
Since Aug 10, 2016
Equal
The age of consent was equalized when the Supreme Court struck down the sodomy law and granted non-discrimination rights in the constituion under grounds of sexual orientation for LGBT individuals.
Legal Rights
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This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Cayo to help improve its accuracy.
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