Homosexuality
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✔ Legal
    Censorship
    ✖ State-enforced
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
    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
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
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Public opinion in Louisiana appears to be somewhat divided on LGBTQ+ issues, as evidenced by recent studies.

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History

Homosexual activity in Louisiana

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Homosexual activity in Louisiana is legal.

Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Legal
Lawrence v. Texas, U.S. Supreme Court (2003)
Sources:
Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003)
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Same-sex marriage in Louisiana

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Same-sex marriage in Louisiana is legal.

Current status
Since Jun 26, 2015
Legal
The US Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide.
Sep 18, 2004–Jun 26, 2015
Banned
The state passed a referendum question defining marriage to be a union between one man and one woman.
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Louisiana

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Louisiana is state-enforced.

Current status
Since Jul 1, 2022
State-enforced
Schools are no longer allowed to mention anything related to lgbt.
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Right to change legal gender in Louisiana

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

Current status
Legal, but requires surgery
To change all documents. Changes pending. Missing non binary options on documents.
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Gender-affirming care in Louisiana

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Gender-affirming care in Louisiana is legal, but banned for minors.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2024
Legal, but banned for minors
In Louisiana, Minors under the age of 18 under SB463 are prohibited for gender affirming care. Those on gender affirming care are to "ween" off of it. Minors have until the end of this year in December of 2024 to "ween" off of it according to the new bill. Adults are still able to get gender affirming care as of 2024. The House and Senate of Louisiana passed the bill after a Governor veto.

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Louisiana

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

Current status
Not legally recognized
Not currently recognized.
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LGBT discrimination in Louisiana

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LGBT discrimination in Louisiana is no protections.

Current status
No protections
No protections from discrimination exist based upon sexual orientation or gender identification.
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Aug 10, 2016–Sep 18, 2018
Illegal in some contexts
Full state discrimination protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression since June 13, 2018.They have only city protections. as well as protection under federal and Louisiana hate crime law for sexual orientation. Also in Full city discrimination protection in two cities. Full Employment, Housing and Public accommodations state wide discrimination protections pending.
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LGBT employment discrimination in Louisiana

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

Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Protected federally under a Supreme Court ruling.
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Until Jun 15, 2020
No protections
As of December 16, 2014, there are no legal protections for people who are LGBT in regards to employment.
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Aug 10, 2016–Sep 18, 2018
Sexual orientation and gender identity
State employment discriminaiton protections for sexual orientation and gender idneitty and gender expression since June 13, 2018. some under city protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. under hate crime law for sexual orientation. complete protection under federal hate crime law.
Sources:
content://com.sec.android.app.sbrowser/readinglist/0616195908.mhtml
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LGBT housing discrimination in Louisiana

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LGBT housing discrimination in Louisiana 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)."
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Mar 1, 2012–Sep 25, 2018
Ambiguous
In the city of New Orleans and Shreveport. As well as Full State discrimination protections under the current governor. Pending statewide.
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Same-sex adoption in Louisiana

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Same-sex adoption in Louisiana is legal.

Current status
Since 1982
Legal
Individuals and married couples jointly may petition for adoption per La. CHC 1198, 1202.

Second-parent adoption is not legal.
Sources:
lifelongadoptions.com/lgbt-…
aclu.org/files/assets/aclu_…
La. CHC 1198, 1202
www.lambdalegal.org/states-region/louisiana
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Jan 1, 1982–Sep 22, 2018
Single only
Under state law only. Legalization pending.
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Intersex infant surgery in Louisiana

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Intersex infant surgery in Louisiana is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
No US state has enacted a ban on surgeries that attempt to change an intersex minors sex without their consent.
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Serving openly in military in Louisiana

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Serving openly in military in Louisiana 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.
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."
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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.
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.
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…
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Blood donations by MSMs in Louisiana

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Blood donations by MSMs in Louisiana 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.
Apr 2, 2020–May 11, 2023
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.
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Dec 21, 2015–Apr 1, 2020
Banned (1-year deferral) under federal United States law
After a series of recommendations, the FDA has moved to a 12 months deferral.
Sources:
web.archive.org/web/2015010…//www.fda.gov/biologicsbloodvaccines/bloodbloodproducts/questionsaboutblood/ucm108186.htm
vox.com/2015/12/21/10635076…
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1983–Dec 21, 2015
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.
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Conversion therapy in Louisiana

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Conversion therapy in Louisiana 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. Though it's not actually ambiguous (It is in fact legal), this is the best indicator of the available options.
Sep 28, 2016–Sep 7, 2018
Not banned
Conversion therapy ban pending.

Equal age of consent in Louisiana

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Equal age of consent in Louisiana is equal.

Current status
Equal
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