- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Recent surveys in Maryland indicate a moderate level of acceptance for LGBTQ+ rights in specific areas.
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Maryland is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
There are no laws censoring LGBT topics in Maryland.
Gender-affirming care in Maryland is legal.
Current status
Since Jan 8, 2024
Legal
Minors over the age of 16 (with certain younger exceptions) and Adults can receive gender-affirming care in Maryland. In 2024, Department of Health of Maryland required Medicaid to give access to gender-affirming care to those who are on Medicaid.
This includes hormones, gender-affirming surgeries, voice surgery and therapy, facial surgery, preventative care after transition, and reversal of gender-affirming surgeries for detransitioners.
This includes hormones, gender-affirming surgeries, voice surgery and therapy, facial surgery, preventative care after transition, and reversal of gender-affirming surgeries for detransitioners.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Maryland is recognized.
Current status
Since Oct 1, 2019
Recognized
Maryland residents can self-identify their gender (with an X gender marker as one of the options) on their driver's license or state IDs.
LGBT discrimination in Maryland is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
People are protected from discrimination based upon both sexual orientation and gender identification.
LGBT employment discrimination in Maryland is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since 2014
Sexual orientation and gender identity
State law provides for protections against employment discrimination in regards to both sexual orientation and gender identification.
LGBT housing discrimination in Maryland is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Maryland explicitly bans housing discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identification.
Additionally, 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)."
Additionally, 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 Maryland is legal.
Current status
Legal
State statute permits any adult to petition for adoption per MD Code Ann. Fam. Law, §5-331. Second-parent adoption has been allowed in lower courts.
Intersex infant surgery in Maryland is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Maryland 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.
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.
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."
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 Maryland 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 Maryland is equal.
Current status
Equal
Maryland defines as anyone 16 years of age to be unable to consent, this includes MSM and Female relationships.
United States Equality Rank
#187
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