LGBT Rights in Meghalaya
State

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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Meghalaya

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Homosexual activity in Meghalaya is legal.

Current status
Since Sep 6, 2018
Legal under federal India law
In the Supreme Court case of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, a five-judge Constitutional Bench overturned the Supreme Court's decision in Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation and decriminalized homosexuality by striking down the provisions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that deemed sexual acts between consenting adults as a crime.
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Same-sex marriage in Meghalaya

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Same-sex marriage in Meghalaya is unregistered cohabitation.

Current status
Since Oct 17, 2023
Unregistered cohabitation under federal India law
In the Supreme Court case of Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty v. Union of India, a five-judge Constitutional Bench held that LGBTQ+ persons have the right to choose a partner, cohabit and enjoy physical & mental intimacy, free from physical threat and coercive action. The State is bound to protect the exercise of these rights.
Sources:
Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty v. Union of India (2023) 2023 INSC 920 (Supreme Court of India) [web.archive.org/web/2023101…
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Jun 12, 2020–Oct 16, 2023
Unregistered cohabitation under federal India law
The Uttarakhand High Court acknowledged that cohabitation and "live-in relationships" are protected by law.
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Meghalaya

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Meghalaya is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship under federal India law
In India, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQIA topics.
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6.7, Paragraph 14
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Right to change legal gender in Meghalaya

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

Current status
Since Dec 5, 2019
Legal, but requires surgery under federal India law
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 allows for transgender individuals to change their gender marker to either "male" or "female" only after showing proof of their gender confirmation surgery issued by a medical officer to the District Magistrate. This provision contradicts the Supreme Court decision in 2014. This contradiction has been challenged as unconstitutional in the Indian Supreme Court. As of June 2020, a second petition alleging unconstitutionality has been entered, and will be heard along with the first. Overall, the petitions challenge Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Act, claiming that they also contradict the Constitution of India. This case is still pending a decision.

Under section 6 of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, a trans person may apply to be issued a certificate of identity that certifies that they are transgender (denoted as "Transgender"). Upon receiving this certificate, the applicants have the right to be recorded as transgender in all official documents.
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Gender-affirming care in Meghalaya

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Gender-affirming care in Meghalaya is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Meghalaya

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Meghalaya is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT discrimination in Meghalaya

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LGBT discrimination in Meghalaya is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT employment discrimination in Meghalaya

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LGBT employment discrimination in Meghalaya is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT housing discrimination in Meghalaya

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LGBT housing discrimination in Meghalaya is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Same-sex adoption in Meghalaya

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Same-sex adoption in Meghalaya is single only.

Current status
Single only under federal India law
Same-sex couples are not permitted to adopt a child in India but single LGBTQ parents are.
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Intersex infant surgery in Meghalaya

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Intersex infant surgery in Meghalaya is not banned.

Current status
Since Apr 22, 2019
Not banned
Meghalaya has yet to ban intersex infant surgery however throughout India pressure to ban these surgeries has risen in recent years.
Until Apr 22, 2019
Not banned under federal India law
Before Tamil Nadu's ban, no Indian states had passed bans on intersex infant surgery.

Serving openly in military in Meghalaya

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Serving openly in military in Meghalaya is illegal.

Current status
Illegal under federal India law
Although homosexuality and gender transition are legal in India, LGBT personnel are not permitted in the military.
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Blood donations by MSMs in Meghalaya

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Blood donations by MSMs in Meghalaya is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Conversion therapy in Meghalaya

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Conversion therapy in Meghalaya is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is legal in Meghalaya.
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Equal age of consent in Meghalaya

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Equal age of consent in Meghalaya is equal.

Current status
Since Sep 6, 2018
Equal under federal India law
The age of consent has been equal since decriminalization. In the Supreme Court case of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, a five-judge Constitutional Bench overturned the Supreme Court's decision in Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation and decriminalized homosexuality by striking down the provisions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that deemed sexual acts between consenting adults as criminal.
Sources:
Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) 2018 INSC 790 (Supreme Court of India) [web.archive.org/web/2020070…
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