- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but banned for minors
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Parental approval required
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Recent surveys in England have revealed a mixed response towards LGBTQ+ rights and issues.
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 61 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited England.
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 England is legal.
Current status
Since Nov 30, 2000
Legal under federal United Kingdom law
The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 repealed all criminal provisions regarding homosexuality; setting an equal age of consent for sexual activity between men.
Legal
**LEGAL, WITH RESTRICTIONS**
The Sexual Offences Act of 1967 legalized sexual acts between two men who were 21 or older (Excluding men serving in the military), but it placed new restrictions on sex for men who have sex with men. The act prohibited sex in places where a third party was likely to be present.
The Sexual Offences Act of 1967 legalized sexual acts between two men who were 21 or older (Excluding men serving in the military), but it placed new restrictions on sex for men who have sex with men. The act prohibited sex in places where a third party was likely to be present.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Section 11 of The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 built on previous legislation. It was famously used against Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing.
1533–1885
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
The Buggery Act 1553 legistated against sodomy and while it did not explicitly target any perticular gender it was mainly used to convict men who had sex with men.
Censorship of LGBT issues in England is no censorship.
Current status
Since Nov 18, 2003
No censorship under federal United Kingdom law
Previous law repealed by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003.
Current status
Since Nov 18, 2003
No censorship
In England, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Other punishment
Section 28 was put in place during Margaret Thatcher’s government and prohibited the “promotion of homosexuality” by local authorities. This harmed LGBT+ support groups and prevented schools from discussing LGBT+ matters, impacts which have been felt for years after the law was repealed.
Right to change legal gender in England is legal, but requires medical diagnosis.
Current status
Since Apr 4, 2005
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis under federal United Kingdom law
Per the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (in effect 2005) in all four constituent countries of the UK. The requirements are as follows:
1. Must be 18 years of age
2. Must have a gender-dysphoria diagnosis
3. Must intend "to continue to live in the acquired gender until death"
4. Has lived in the acquired gender for at least 2 years.
5. If married: must acquire the consent of the spouse.
Eligibility is determined by a Gender Recognition Panel and if approved then one is granted a gender recognition certificate and may change the gender marker on legal documents.
1. Must be 18 years of age
2. Must have a gender-dysphoria diagnosis
3. Must intend "to continue to live in the acquired gender until death"
4. Has lived in the acquired gender for at least 2 years.
5. If married: must acquire the consent of the spouse.
Eligibility is determined by a Gender Recognition Panel and if approved then one is granted a gender recognition certificate and may change the gender marker on legal documents.
Gender-affirming care in England is legal, but banned for minors.
Current status
Since Jun 3, 2024
Legal, but banned for minors under federal United Kingdom law
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 originally was meant to last from June 3rd until September 3rd, but was extended twice and is now indefinite.
This measure originally was meant to last from June 3rd until September 3rd, but was extended twice and is now indefinite.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in England is not legally recognized.
Current status
Since Feb 10, 2004
Not legally recognized
No official ‘x’ marking option on official documents, applications etc. for non binary individuals.
LGBT discrimination in England is illegal.
Current status
Since Oct 1, 2010
Illegal in some contexts
All discrimination apart from stirring up hatred on the basis of gender identity is illegal
Current status
Since Oct 1, 2010
Illegal under federal United Kingdom law
LGBT discrimination in the United Kingdom of Great Britain is illegal, as per the Equality Act of 2010. Sexual orientation and gender identity are covered as protected groups by the Equality Act.
Until Oct 1, 2010
Illegal in some contexts
LGBT employment discrimination in England is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Oct 1, 2010
Sexual orientation and gender identity
It is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Same-sex adoption in England is legal.
Current status
Since Dec 30, 2005
Legal
Adoption discrimination is illegal in England. IVF treatment is available for lesbian couples too.
Intersex infant surgery in England is parental approval required.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1989
Parental approval required
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
Serving openly in military in England is legal.
Current status
Since Jan 12, 2000
Legal
Military service is allowed regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Blood donations by MSMs in England is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 14, 2021
Legal
Donors of any gender will be asked about their recent sexual activity, and those who have only had one sexual partner within the last 3-months will be eligible to donate.
Equal age of consent in England is equal.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2001
Equal
United Kingdom Equality Rank
-
#1 Wales79
-
#2 Northern Ireland77
-
#3 England68
-
#4 Scotland65
#126
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
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Alternative names: England