LGBT rights in Texas
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Texas have some protections in state law but may face legal and social challenges not faced by others. Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalized in Texas in 2003 by the Lawrence v. Texas ruling. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled bans on same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges.
LGBT rights in Texas | |
|---|---|
Texas (US) | |
| Status | Same-sex sexual activity legal statewide since Lawrence v. Texas, 2003., legislative repeal pending. |
| Gender identity | Transgender people may change documented sex (gender) by court order |
| Discrimination protections | Federally protected; no statewide antidiscrimination laws; additional protections in some cities and counties |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | Same-sex marriage since 2015 |
| Adoption | Yes |
Texas has a hate crime statute that strengthens penalties for certain crimes motivated by a victim's sexual orientation, although crimes are rarely prosecuted under the statute. The law does not cover gender identity. While some localities in Texas have ordinances that provide a variety of legal protections and benefits to LGBT people, Texas has had no statewide law banning anti-LGBT discrimination. The federal protections against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, established in 2020 by several landmark cases, apply in Texas.
A majority of Texans support same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination laws for LGBT people.