- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
According to recent survey data, Massachusetts shows to be supportive of the LGBTQ+ community in comparison to other parts of the world.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 7 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Massachusetts.
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 Massachusetts is legal.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Massachusetts is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
No LGBT censorship in Massachusetts
Right to change legal gender in Massachusetts is legal, no restrictions.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2024
Legal, no restrictions
Since July of 2024, transgender people in Massachusetts are no longer required to undergo medical intervention in order to change their legal gender. Drivers licenses are also able to be changed under this law.
Until Jul 1, 2024
Ambiguous
Massachusetts requires a notarized statement proving that “the person has completed medical intervention, appropriate for that individual, for the purpose of permanent sex reassignment and is not of the sex recorded on the record. (Cited from NTCE)" All other documents are able to get apply freely and no other documentation is required. Minors under 18 will have to get parents approval.
Gender-affirming care in Massachusetts is legal.
Current status
Since 2022
Legal
Minors must get consent from both parents/guardian figures to get gender affirming care. Adults are able to get insurance under MassHealth for gender affirming care. Insurance explicitly states that anyone over 18 qualifies for their gender affirming care coverage.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Massachusetts is recognized.
Current status
Since Nov 13, 2019
Recognized
Massachusetts residents can self-identify as non-binary with an X gender marker on their driver's license, IDs and birth certificate.
LGBT discrimination in Massachusetts is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
People are protected from discrimination based upon both sexual orientation and gender identification.
LGBT employment discrimination in Massachusetts is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since 2012
Sexual orientation and gender identity
State law provides for protections against employment discrimination in regards to both sexual orientation and gender identification.
LGBT housing discrimination in Massachusetts is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Sexual orientation and gender identity
This state explicitly bans housing discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identification.
Additionally, 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)."
Additionally, 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 Massachusetts is legal.
Current status
Since 1993
Legal
Any person of "full age" may adopt, and second-parent adoption is also legal.
Intersex infant surgery in Massachusetts is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Some hospitals will refuse to do it, but at large no Massachusetts statute or ruling bans it.
However, on December 7th, 2019, The Massachusetts Medical Society endorsed a resolution affirming the principle that surgical procedures on intersex children should be postponed until they reach an age of autonomy, capable of making such determinations themselves. Medical and surgical interventions on intersex infants are not allowed, except during emergency circumstances where it is necessary.
However, on December 7th, 2019, The Massachusetts Medical Society endorsed a resolution affirming the principle that surgical procedures on intersex children should be postponed until they reach an age of autonomy, capable of making such determinations themselves. Medical and surgical interventions on intersex infants are not allowed, except during emergency circumstances where it is necessary.
Serving openly in military in Massachusetts is legal.
Current status
Since Apr 30, 2021
Legal under federal United States law
President Joe Biden removed former President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military, and transgender people are still allowed to serve as of 2025.
In January of 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military. However, before his executive order can take effect, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth needs to submit a plan on how the military will implement the order.
In January of 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military. However, before his executive order can take effect, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth needs to submit a plan on how the military will implement the order.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
New policy goes into effect barring individuals with a "condition" known as "gender dysphoria."
Legal under federal United States law
In 2011, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed by the Obama Administration. Former President Obama allowed members who were dishonorably discharged under DADT, to receive an honorable discharge.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell under federal United States law
Don't Ask, Don't Tell was the historic compromise signed by President Bill Clinton authorizing people who are LGBT to serve in the military provided they didn't disclose sexuality. The law also removed the ability for others in the military from asking for a service member's orientation.
Blood donations by MSMs in Massachusetts is legal.
Current status
Since May 11, 2023
Legal under federal United States law
The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
Banned (less than 6-month deferral) under federal United States law
The FDA announced changes to the blood donor eligibility policy in April 2020, reducing the MSM deferral period from 12 months to 3 months. The change came amid the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, where blood was needed urgently.
Banned (1-year deferral) under federal United States law
After a series of recommendations, the FDA has moved to a 12 months deferral.
Banned (indefinite deferral) under federal United States law
Starting in 1983, the United States implemented a full ban on blood donations from gay men. The primary justification for the ban was the perceived high risk of HIV transmission, with health regulators identifying men who have sex with men (MSM) as a significant risk to the safety of the blood supply.
Conversion therapy in Massachusetts is banned.
Current status
Since Apr 8, 2019
Banned
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed HR 140, a bill that bans gay conversion therapy on minors, into law on April 8, 2019.
Until Apr 8, 2019
Ambiguous
Conversion Therapy is currently legal. No law currently bans it, despite organizations such as the American Psychological Association denouncing it. Though it's not actually ambiguous (It is in fact legal), this is the best indicator of the available options.
Equal age of consent in Massachusetts is equal.
Current status
Equal
It was determined in 'E.C.O. v. Compton' that a 16 year old is able to consent to sex with an adult over online communication.
United States Equality Rank
- #1 New Hampshire87
- #2 Connecticut87
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#3 Massachusetts86
- #4 Rhode Island86
- #5 Maine86
- #6 Colorado85
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