- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- Varies by Region
- 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
💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!
Public Opinion
Surveys in Pennsylvania have shown mixed views towards LGBTQ+ rights and issues.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 5 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Pennsylvania.
Overall
Perceived Safety**Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
Homosexual activity in Pennsylvania is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Legal
US Supreme Court ruling issued in Lawrence v. Texas struck down all sodomy laws on the basis of privacy and liberty. The decision overturned any laws remaining in all US states which prohibited acts of sodomy.
Same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania is legal.
Current status
Since May 20, 2014
Legal
"U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III, a federal judge appointed by President George W. Bush, ruled in favor of the freedom to marry, striking down Pennsylvania's ban on marriage for same-sex couple[s]."
Censorship of LGBT issues in Pennsylvania is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
There are currently no laws in Pennsylvania that prohibit the discussion of LGBTQIA+ Topics.
Section 7 of the Pennsylvania Consitution garuntees that
"The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man "
Section 7 of the Pennsylvania Consitution garuntees that
"The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man "
Right to change legal gender in Pennsylvania is legal, but requires medical diagnosis.
Current status
Since Aug 8, 2016
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
Under Pennsylvania’s new policy, which is similar to the process for updating gender markers on US passports, proof of sex reassignment surgery is no longer a requirement in changing one’s gender on their birth certificate. Individuals with a Pennsylvania birth certificate can update the gender by having their physician submit a letter stating that they have had appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition. Information about specific treatment is not required, but it can include counseling related to gender identity or living in accordance with their gender identity.
Gender-affirming care in Pennsylvania is legal.
Current status
Legal
While Pennsylvania does not have any laws targeting or protecting gender affirming care, Pittsburg has made their city a safe haven for adults and minors getting gender affirming care. In Pennsylvania, the local government has not passed any bills relating to gender affirming care.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Pennsylvania is recognized.
Current status
Since Jul 23, 2020
Recognized
Pennsylvania residents can change their gender marker to X on their state IDs and driver's licenses.
LGBT discrimination in Pennsylvania is varies by region.
Current status
Varies by Region
Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity isn't explicitly prohibited at the state level, but certain cities and counties like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, and Reading have enacted bans against such discrimination.
LGBT employment discrimination in Pennsylvania is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Protected federally by a Supreme Court ruling.
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. However, public employees of the state are protected based on both sexual orientation as well as gender identities, and domestic partners of public employees are granted benefits.
LGBT housing discrimination in Pennsylvania is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Dec 8, 2022
Sexual orientation and gender identity
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act bans discrimination in hiring, firing, housing, and schooling on the basis of sex. In December 2022, with implemented legally-binding regulations the sex option also explicitly includes sexual orientation and gender identity.
Until Dec 8, 2022
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)."
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)."
Same-sex adoption in Pennsylvania is legal.
Current status
Since 2002
Legal
Any individual may petition for single parent or joint adoption. Second-parent adoption is permitted via case law referenced below.
Intersex infant surgery in Pennsylvania is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Pennsylvania is legal.
Current status
Since Sep 20, 2011
Legal
Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
Blood donations by MSMs in Pennsylvania is legal.
Current status
Since May 11, 2023
Legal
New FDA Regulations for Blood Screening on a Federal Level; therefore, the state laws in PA shall not apply anymore.
Deferral for MSM or WSM is no longer required.
Deferral for MSM or WSM is no longer required.
Banned (less than 6-month deferral)
Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
Banned (1-year deferral)
Blood donation centers followed the non-binding FDA one year deferral guidance.
Conversion therapy in Pennsylvania is banned.
Current status
Since Aug 16, 2022
Banned
On August 16, 2022, Pennsylvania governor signed an executive order against conversion therapy.
While not a full on ban, it forbids providers from receiving any government funds or reimbursement for such practices and offers ways to denounce any providers who partake in it.
While not a full on ban, it forbids providers from receiving any government funds or reimbursement for such practices and offers ways to denounce any providers who partake in it.
Until Jan 1, 2017
Not banned
Conversion Therapy is currently legal. However, organizations such as the American Psychological Association denounce it.
Equal age of consent in Pennsylvania is equal.
Current status
Equal
The Age of consent in Pennsylvania is 16, and the laws applies equally regardless of gender or orientation.
US Equality Rank
#163
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
Top Contributors
- imullin01 8 contributions
- Unknownmiles 5 contributions
- Notdog1996 5 contributions
- aidanwelsford 4 contributions
- TommmyThorpe 4 contributions
- JerofDoorhandle 3 contributions
- tsusamu 3 contributions
- danlev 2 contributions
- Khinch 2 contributions
- Markissik 2 contributions
- Belmount 2 contributions
- Dante 1 contribution
Pennsylvania LGBT Organizations
Share Region
LGBT Pennsylvania Flag
