Itapúa is governed by federal Paraguay law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ State-enforced
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✖ Unequal
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Public Opinion
Itapúa is lacking public opinion data.
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Suggest Public Opinion DataHistory
Homosexual activity in Itapúa is legal.
Current status
Since Dec 17, 1990
Legal
Homosexuality was legalised in 1990 after Law 104/90 was enacted, removing all references to sodomy and homosexuality in Article 325 of the Paraguayan Penal Code.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
In 1910, Paraguay enacted a new Penal Code, which continued to criminalise sodomy but also criminalised lesbianism by banning "carnal intercourse between persons of the same sex".
Censorship of LGBT issues in Itapúa is state-enforced.
Current status
Since Oct 5, 2017
State-enforced
On 5 October 2017, the Minister of Education and Science Enrique Riera signed Resolution N° 29664, which prohibits the use of printed and digital materials referring to "gender theory and/or ideology" in educational institutions. Enrique Riera later said he would volunteer to "burn the books in a public square if they contained gender ideology". The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights expressed its concern about the decision and declared that "these types of measures represent a serious omission of the duty of the State to protect children from all forms of violence and discrimination, in all spheres, and especially in school".
Additionally, there are also cases of the police disproportionately using loitering laws on LGBTIQ+ people and targeting them in public spaces for document verification.
Additionally, there are also cases of the police disproportionately using loitering laws on LGBTIQ+ people and targeting them in public spaces for document verification.
State-enforced
The dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner saw brutal repression of LGBTIQ+ people, and all activism was snuffed out. A notable case was in September 1959 when 108 suspected homosexuals were taken in by authorities and interrogated after a fire broke out in Asuncion, with police blaming homosexuality and Stroessner himself encouraging hatred and violence against the LGBTIQ+ community. Several LGBTIQ+ people fled the country during this period to avoid persecution.
Right to change legal gender in Itapúa is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Gender change on official documents is illegal. The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare approved Resolution 695 (Resolución 695) establishing that all transgender people may use their social name on offcial documents including medical records, medical history and forms. It also states that officials will be required to provide assistance and obligatory treat transgender patients with the social name with which they identify themselves.
Gender-affirming care in Itapúa is legal.
Current status
Legal
Gender-affirming care in Paraguay is largely unregulated and very few professionals are trained to administer it. Access to general healthcare for transgender people in Paraguay is extremely difficult and specialised gender-affirming care is even more difficult although there are no legal or regulatory restrictions.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Itapúa is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Paraguay does not recognize non-binary identities.
Intersex people must be registered as Male or Female.
Intersex people must be registered as Male or Female.
LGBT discrimination in Itapúa is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since 2016
Illegal in some contexts
Some specific laws and decrees contemplate in their articles the prohibition of discrimination or protection based on sexual orientation or gender identity, such as:
Decree 6973 regulating Law 577/2016 on "Comprehensive protection of women against all forms of violence", in its article 3 on "Protected persons" establishes that the protection of women in situations of violence without any kind of discrimination based on sexual orientation;
Law 6149/2018 on Protection and Facilities for the Naturalization of Stateless Persons, in its article 9 on "Non-discrimination" establishes that: "The authorities will guarantee the free and full exercise of all the rights recognized in this law to the stateless person or applicant for recognition of such a condition that is subject to the jurisdiction of the country, without any discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.";
Law 6534/2020 on the Protection of Personal Credit Data, in its article 3(b) defines as sensitive personal data "Those that refer to the intimate sphere of its owner, or whose improper use may give rise to discrimination or entail a serious risk personal data that may reveal aspects such as <...> data related to health, life, preference or sexual orientation, <...>."
Decree 6973 regulating Law 577/2016 on "Comprehensive protection of women against all forms of violence", in its article 3 on "Protected persons" establishes that the protection of women in situations of violence without any kind of discrimination based on sexual orientation;
Law 6149/2018 on Protection and Facilities for the Naturalization of Stateless Persons, in its article 9 on "Non-discrimination" establishes that: "The authorities will guarantee the free and full exercise of all the rights recognized in this law to the stateless person or applicant for recognition of such a condition that is subject to the jurisdiction of the country, without any discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.";
Law 6534/2020 on the Protection of Personal Credit Data, in its article 3(b) defines as sensitive personal data "Those that refer to the intimate sphere of its owner, or whose improper use may give rise to discrimination or entail a serious risk personal data that may reveal aspects such as <...> data related to health, life, preference or sexual orientation, <...>."
Until 2016
No protections
In 2007, senators Carlos Filizzola and Miguel Abdón Saguier presented the “Bill Against All Forms of Discrimination”, which presents sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories. In November 2014, after 7 years of being present, the Senate rejected and definitively archived the project, with 21 votes against, 17 in favor, one abstention and six absences.
LGBT employment discrimination in Itapúa is no protections.
Current status
No protections
No protection is afforded specifically for sexual orientation or gender identity
LGBT housing discrimination in Itapúa is no protections.
Current status
No protections
No protection is afforded for neither gender identity or sexual orientation
Same-sex adoption in Itapúa is illegal.
Current status
Since Apr 17, 2020
Illegal
Current Adoption Laws (Law No. 6486/Law No. 1136) do not explicitly prohibit single people from adopting regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. However, Paraguay has declared itself a "Pro-Family and Pro-Life" country and they do not allow and ignore adoptions requested by LGBTQIAP+ people.
Until Apr 17, 2020
Illegal
Adoption Law No. 1136 allows adoption by single persons.
There are no laws that explicitly prohibit people from adopting based on their sexual identity.
Paraguay is a "pro-family" country, so it is constant in not allowing non-traditional families to adopt.
There are no laws that explicitly prohibit people from adopting based on their sexual identity.
Paraguay is a "pro-family" country, so it is constant in not allowing non-traditional families to adopt.
Intersex infant surgery in Itapúa is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Paraguay and continues to be practiced.
Serving openly in military in Itapúa is legal.
Current status
Legal
There are no explicit prohibitions against LGBTQ+ people serving in the Armed Forces of Paraguay. However, there are no inclusive and anti-discrimination measures towards LGBT people in the Armed Forces. Gender change is not possible.
In June 2010, a bill was introduced that would ban homosexuals from serving in the Armed Forces and the police force, however, 42 out of 46 deputies voted against it.
In June 2010, a bill was introduced that would ban homosexuals from serving in the Armed Forces and the police force, however, 42 out of 46 deputies voted against it.
Blood donations by MSMs in Itapúa is legal.
Current status
Legal
MSM individuals are not singled out and have to follow the same criteria as everyone else.