The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 repealed all criminal provisions regarding homosexuality; setting an equal age of consent for sexual activity between men.

MSPs voted by 105 to 18 in favour of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill.
Establishes belief ceremonies, such as humanist ceremonies as a "third form of marriage", alongside religious and civil events.
Allowing transgender people to stay married, rather than having to get divorced, when obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate.
Amended guidance on the teaching of the issue in schools.
The first same-sex marriages were allowed to take place December 16, 2014.

In Scotland, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.

Previous law repealed by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003.

Legal gender recognition is possible in all four constituent countries of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) as per the Gender Recognition Act (2004, in effect 2005). Section 1 of the law states that "any person of either gender" who is aged at least 18 can make an application for "a gender recognition certificate" on the basis of— (a) living in the other gender, or (b) having changed gender under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom. These certificates are issued by a Gender Recognition Panel.
The law includes the following requirements for obtaining such certificate: (1) a "gender dysphoria" diagnosis, proved through two reports (one by a registered medical practitioner or psychologist specialised in gender dysphoria, and another one made by a registered medical practitioner); (2) having lived in the “acquired gender” for two years before filing the application, proved through different means (such as a statutory declaration or documents where their gender identity is stated -i.e. pay slips, benefit documentation, bank statements, utility bills); (3) a statutory declaration showing intention "to continue to live in the acquired gender until death"; (4) spousal consent, if the applicant is married or in a civil partnership (partner must consent to the marriage or partnership continuing after the issue of the full gender recognition certificate).

The Act gives transsexual people legal recognition as members of the sex appropriate to their gender (male or female) allowing them to acquire a new birth certificate, affording them full recognition of their acquired sex in law for all purposes, including marriage.

On May 29th 2024, the UK voted to "close the loophole" by banning private care physicians as well as prescribers registered in the European Economic Area or Switzerland from prescribing puberty blockers to children for gender incongruence. This measure also applies to Scotland and Wales. Those who already had a prescription can continue their treatment.

This measure is set to last from June 3rd until September 3rd, but could be extended.

On May 29th 2024, the UK voted to "close the loophole" by banning private care physicians as well as prescribers registered in the European Economic Area or Switzerland from prescribing puberty blockers to children for gender incongruence. Those who already had a prescription can continue their treatment.

This measure is set to last from June 3rd until September 3rd, but could be extended.

Non-binary identities are still not recognized in Scotland, despite it being previously planned in the gender recognition reform bill and most Scottish people agreeing it should be recognized.

In 2021 the UK government said (in response to a petition) that legal recognition of non-binary gender identity would have "complex practical consequences for other areas of the law, service provision and public life", and said that they felt existing legislation allowing people to change their legal gender went far enough. Courts have, however, ruled that people with non-binary identities are protected from discrimination by the Equality Act. On 4 October 2023, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asserted his stance on gender identity in a speech Wednesday, stating it was “common sense” that “a man is a man and a woman is a woman”.

This law makes stirring up hatred on the basis of gender or intersex identity illegal

The Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against any employee on the grounds of many things, including sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Equality Act 2010 made it illegal for any public or private landlord to discriminate against tenants due to many things, including sexual orientation and gender identity.

Either single or coupled LGBT people can adopt children.

In the UK it is illegal to perform medical treatment onto any person without consent. For infants, consent is given by their parents on their behalf under the Children’s Act

The British military actively recruits gay men and lesbians, all three services have deployed recruiting teams to gay pride events, and punishes any instance of intolerance or bullying. The Royal Navy advertises for recruits in gay magazines and has allowed gay sailors to hold civil partnership ceremonies on board ships and, since 2006, to march in full naval uniform at a gay pride marches. British Army and Royal Air Force personnel could march but had to wear civilian clothes until 2008, now all military personnel are permitted to attend Gay Pride marches in uniform.

In line with UK rules.

Conversion therapy ban pending.

The age of consent is 16 (or 18 for those in a position of authority) for all couples.