LGBT rights in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

Status| Legal since 2003; codified in 2006
Gender identity| Transgender people are legally allowed to change their gender
Military| Sexual orientation: Yes

Gender identity: Yes Transvestism: No

Intersex status: No
Discrimination protections| As of June 2020, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity was removed from the new civil code of Puerto Rico - enacted with a signature from the Governor of Puerto Rico Wanda Vázquez Garced.[1]
Family rights
Recognition of relationships| Same-sex marriage since 2015[2]
Adoption| Full adoption rights since 2015

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Puerto Rico have most of the same protections and rights as non-LGBT individuals. Public discussion and debate about sexual orientation and gender identity issues has increased, and some legal changes have been made. Supporters and opponents of legislation protecting the rights of LGBT persons can be found in both of the major political parties. Public opposition still exists due, in large part, to the strong influence of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as socially conservative Protestants. Puerto Rico has a great influence on the legal rights of LGBT citizens. Same-sex marriage has been legal in the commonwealth since July 2015, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage bans are unconstitutional.

## Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

[edit]

In 2002, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court ruled that the commonwealth's ban on sodomy was constitutional.[3] The next year, however, the U.S. Supreme Court declared unconstitutional all state and territorial statutes penalizing consensual sodomy, when limited to noncommercial acts between consenting adults in private, in Lawrence v. Texas. Puerto Rico modified its Penal Code in 2004 to reflect the decision and remove private, non-commercial sexual activity between consenting adults from its sodomy statute.[4]

## Recognition of same-sex relationships

[edit]

Main article: Same-sex marriage in Puerto Rico

### Legal restrictions

[edit]

On March 19, 1999, Governor Pedro Rosselló signed into law H.B. 1013, which defined marriage as "a civil contract whereby a man and a woman mutually agree to become husband and wife."[5]

In 2008, there was an unsuccessful attempt in the Legislative Assembly to submit a referendum to voters to amend Puerto Rico's Constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and to ban same-sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnership benefits.[6] Similar legislation failed in 2009.[7]

### Conde-Vidal v. Garcia-Padilla

[edit]

Two women residing in Puerto Rico, represented by Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico on March 25, 2014, seeking recognition of their 2004 marriage in Massachusetts.[8] Four more couples joined as plaintiffs in June.[9]

Judge Juan Pérez-Giménez dismissed the lawsuit on October 21, 2014, ruling that the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Baker v. Nelson (1972) prevented him from considering the plaintiffs' arguments. He concluded that Puerto Rico's definition of marriage did not conflict with the U.S. Constitution.[10]

The plaintiffs appealed the decision to the First Circuit Court of Appeals. On March 20, 2015, Puerto Rico Secretary of Justice César Miranda and Governor Alejandro García Padilla announced they had determined that Puerto Rico's statute banning the licensing and recognition of same-sex marriage was legally indefensible.[11] They asked the Court of Appeals to reverse the district court.[12]

On April 14, 2015, the First Circuit suspended proceedings pending a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court in similar same-sex marriage cases.[13]

### Supreme Court decision

[edit]

As soon as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015, that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, Governor Padilla signed an executive order requiring government agencies to comply with the ruling within 15 days,[14] and all parties to the Conde-Vidal lawsuit asked the First Circuit to overrule the district court as soon as possible.[15] The first same-sex couples began applying for marriage licenses on July 13, 2015.[2]

While same-sex marriage is legal in Puerto Rico, the territory's laws have yet to be changed to reflect this. In June 2018, a bill removing the heterosexual definition of marriage in Puerto Rican law and instead substituting a gender-neutral definition was introduced to the Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly. The bill would also raise the age of marriage from 14 to 18.[16]

### Domestic partner benefits

[edit]

In 2013, Governor Garcia Padilla signed an order extending health insurance coverage to the same-sex domestic partners of workers in the executive branch.[17]

### Domestic violence

[edit]

In 2013, Representatives Luis Vega Ramos, Carlos Vargas Ferrer and José Báez Rivera introduced House Bill 488 to extend domestic violence protections to all households, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.[18] The House passed the legislation on 24 May.[17] Governor Garcia Padilla signed the legislation into law on 29 May.[19]

## Adoption and parenting

[edit]

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, Puerto Rico's Department of Family ordered agency workers to consider only the "best interests of the child without prejudice" in future adoption and foster home placements. Families headed by same-sex couples are also entitled to apply for benefits such as those offered to opposite-sex families. These policies were announced on July 13, 2015.[20][21] The first successful adoption order for a same-sex couple in Puerto Rico was approved by a Puerto Rican court on December 10, 2015.[22]

Prior to this directive, adoption of children by same-sex couples and stepchild adoption by same-sex partners was prohibited by Puerto Rican law. In February 2013, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, in a 5–4 decision, affirmed the practised ban on same-sex adoption in Puerto Rico. The court's majority opinion held that Puerto Rico's Constitution "does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation" and accepted arguments presented by the Legislative Assembly that the "traditional family, composed of a father, a mother, and their children best protected the well-being of minors."[23] In January 2018, Governor Ricardo Rosselló signed into law a bill which brought Puerto Rico's adoption laws in line with Obergefell v. Hodges. The law now explicitly allows all couples, same-sex or opposite-sex, married or unmarried, to apply to adopt.[24]

## Discrimination protections

[edit]

An anti-discrimination bill (House Bill 1725) was introduced on May 21, 2009 to the island's House of Representatives, and it was approved by a 43 to 6 vote on November 11, 2009.[25] House Bill 1725 would have amended existing Puerto Rican civil rights laws to forbid discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the areas of employment, public transportation and public facilities, business transactions, and housing. The legislation addressed sexual orientation only, not gender identity. The bill was referred to Puerto Rico's Senate and first discussed on December 18, 2009. The Senate Committees for Labor & Human Resources, and for Civil Matters, were both reviewing the measure. However, the President of the Senate, Thomas Rivera Schatz, a vocal opponent of the legislation, stated in early April 2010 on the Senate floor that the legislation would not be approved by the Senate. The Senate held no hearings and took no action.[26] At the same time, Governor Luis Fortuño, a member of the island's New Progressive Party and affiliated with the mainland Republican Party indicated that any discrimination law needs to state exemptions for organizations that object to homosexuality on the grounds of beliefs.

In 2013, Senator Ramón Luis Nieves introduced Senate Bill 238 to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It acquired 14 co-sponsors, assuring its passage.[27] The Senate approved the legislation 15 to 11. By the time it passed by the House on a vote of 29 to 22 on 24 May, it had been amended to apply only to employment discrimination.[17] After final action by the Senate, Governor Garcia Padilla signed the legislation into law on 29 May.[19]

In 2017, the Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly approved a religious freedom bill, which would have authorized public businesses to legally discriminate against LGBT people. Governor Ricardo Rosselló vetoed the bill in February 2018.[28] On 11 June 2019, the Puerto Rico House of Representatives voted to approve a new religious freedom bill, amid outcry and protests.[29] On 13 June 2019, Rosselló asked lawmakers to withdraw the bill.[30][31][32][33]

### Hate crime law

[edit]

In 2002, Puerto Rico amended its hate crime statutes to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics.[34] Puerto Rico is also covered by U.S. federal law, notably the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

2020 was the first year anyone in Puerto Rico was charged with a hate crime. Sean Díaz de León and Juan Pagán Bonilla were charged under the Hate crime law after Bonilla's confession, in which he stated he and Díaz de León murdered two transgender women on 22 April 2020.[35]

## Gender identity and expression

[edit]

Until 2018, Puerto Rican law forbade transgender people from changing their legal gender on their birth certificates. There had been unsuccessful legislative proposals to repeal this law.[36]

In April 2017, Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of four transgender Puerto Ricans, challenging the law. They argued that denying transgender Puerto Ricans the ability to obtain accurate birth certificates violates the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the U.S. Constitution: "Puerto Rico categorically prohibits changes to the gender marker on birth certificates, even for those whose birth certificate does not match who they are. This policy has no rational justification in law or practice. In fact, government officials in Puerto Rico know this, as they, appropriately, allow transgender individuals to correct the gender marker on their drivers' licenses. Puerto Rico's birth certificate policy is at odds with the Federal Government's policies, with 46 out of the 50 states in the United States and the District of Columbia, and with common sense."[37]

In early April 2018, a federal judge struck down the law, ruling it unconstitutional. Local LGBT activists celebrated the judge's decision, with Lambda Legal labelling it "a tremendous victory for transgender people born in Puerto Rico". Shortly thereafter, a spokesperson for the Puerto Rican Government announced that the Government would not appeal the ruling.[38][39]

Since October 15, 2020, under the New Progressive Party (PNP) administration Puerto Rico Medicaid services explicitly covers transition, cost of care, hospital care treatment, sex reassignment surgery, hormone replacement therapy, and other gender related issues, etc.[40][41]

### 2021 State of emergency

[edit]

In January 2021, it was reported that the Governor of Puerto Rico Pedro Pierluisi issued a state of emergency effective immediately - due to ongoing murders, assaults and rape of transgender individuals on Puerto Rico.[42]

## Military service

[edit]

The military defense of Puerto Rico has been the responsibility of the U.S. military, pursuant to the Treaty of Paris (1898) under which Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States. The U.S. military formerly had a "don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) policy regarding LGBT service members, and this presumably applied to the island's National Guard as well. The policy was repealed in December 2010 and ended on September 22, 2011.

## Conversion therapy

[edit]

Conversion therapy has a negative effect on the lives of LGBT people, and can lead to low self-esteem, depression and suicide ideation. There are a few known cases of minors being subjected to such practices in Puerto Rico. Between 2007 and 2008, a young gay man was repeatedly electrocuted as a part of a "treatment" to "cure" his homosexuality. He finally received an arrest warrant against his parents, who forced him to undergo the pseudoscientific practice.[43]

A bill to ban the use of conversion therapy on minors (Senate Bill 1000) was introduced to the Puerto Rican Senate on 17 May 2018, the International Day Against Homophobia.[43] The Senate approved this legislation 20 to 7, with two abstaining from voting, on March 7, 2019.[44] On March 18, 2019, the Puerto Rico House of Representatives blocked a vote on the bill, by refusing to vote on it or hold public hearings. The bill's author was Zoé Laboy from the New Progressive Party.[45] Nevertheless, House Speaker Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló said in an interview that there was little evidence the practice was widely practiced in Puerto Rico. Some members of the House further thought that the definition of conversion therapy was "too broad" and could potentially include other types of rehabilitation therapy, such as for drug addiction.[46] Later that same day, Governor Ricardo Rosselló said he would issue an executive order banning conversion therapy for minors in the territory.[46] He issued such an executive order on March 27, taking effect immediately.[47] Territorial agencies were provided 90 days for promulgation of the new order.

In 2021 another Senate bill 184 to ban conversion therapies was voted down in the Commission of Community Incentives and Mental Health (Comisión de Iniciativas Comunitarias y Salud Mental).[48][49] Members of the New Progressive Party (PNP), Popular Democratic Party (PPD) and Joanne Rodríguez Veve of Proyecto Dignidad voted against the measure.[50][51] A similar bill was also introduced in the house and has been referred to various committees.[52]

## Blood donation

[edit]

Since April 2020, gay and bi men across the United States are allowed to donate blood - only after a 3 month deferral period.[53]

## Political parties

[edit]

Growing societal acceptance has encouraged many LGBT Puerto Ricans to come out, including singer Ricky Martin, pictured here at a Human Rights Campaign award show in 2010.

Politicians from the Partido Popular Democrático and the Partido Nuevo Progresista de Puerto Rico, which are the island's two main political parties, include both supporters and opponents of LGBT rights. This face was most recently demonstrated by the House of Representatives vote on November 11, 2009, approving Bill 1725 (forbidding discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation). The bill passed by a vote of 43 to 6, with most representatives from both parties voting in favor. The six representatives voting against the bill were equally divided between both parties. Under the administration of Ricardo Rosselló the Governor's mansion for the first time in history was illuminated with rainbow colors in support of the LGBTQ community.[54]

The Puerto Rican Independence Party is a member of the Socialist International, and is on record as supporting full rights for LGBT citizens. Other smaller left wing pro-independence groups are also on record supporting LGBT rights. Yet, they have not proposed much legislation on advancing LGBTQ issues. In the Puerto Rican general election, 2012, all of the recently founded parties–Movimiento Unión Soberanista, the Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party, and the Working People's Party of Puerto Rico–supported same-sex marriage and banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.[55]

On November 6, 2012, Popular Democratic Party candidate Pedro Peters Maldonado became the first openly gay politician elected to public office in the island's history, when he won a seat on San Juan's City Council.[56]

On September 24, 2020, New Progressive Party candidate Jorge Báez Pagán became the first openly gay member of the House of Representatives in the island's history.[57]

## Public opinion

[edit]

According to a Pew Research Center survey, conducted between November 7, 2013 and February 28, 2014, 33% of Puerto Ricans supported same-sex marriage, 55% were opposed.[58][59]

## Summary table

[edit]

Same-sex sexual activity legal  |  (Since 2003, codified from 2004)

|

Equal age of consent  |  (Since 2004)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment  |
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services  |
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech)  |
Hate crime laws include sexual orientation and gender identity  |  (Since 2002)
Same-sex marriage  |  (Since 2015)
Recognition of same-sex couples  |  (Yes for domestic violence purposes since 2013)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples  |  (Since 2015)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples  |  (Since 2015)
Gays, lesbians and bisexuals allowed to serve openly in the military  |  (Since 2011)
Transgender people allowed to serve openly in the military  | / (Most Transgender personnel allowed to serve openly since 2021)[60]
Transvestites allowed to serve openly in the military  | [61]
Intersex people allowed to serve openly in the military  | / (Current DoD policy bans "Hermaphrodites" from serving or enlisting in the military)[62]
Access to IVF for lesbians  |  (Since 2021)[63]
Automatic parenthood on birth certificates for children of same-sex couples  |
Conversion therapy banned on minors  |  (Since 2019)
LGBT anti-bullying law in schools and colleges  |
Sex education in schools covers sexual orientation and gender identity  |
Intersex minors protected from invasive surgical procedures  |
Right to change legal gender  |  (Since 2018)
Third gender option  |
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples  |
MSMs allowed to donate blood  | / (3 month deferral period since 2020)[53]

## See also

[edit]

* LGBT portal
* Puerto Rico portal

* LGBT in Puerto Rico
* Politics of Puerto Rico
* LGBT rights in the Americas
* LGBT rights in the United States
* Same-sex marriage in Puerto Rico

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Puerto Rico governor signs new Civil Code". June 2, 2020. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
2. ^ a b Michael Lavers (July 13, 2015). "Same-sex couples apply for marriage licenses in Puerto Rico". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
3. ^ "Puerto Rico's Sodomy Law Just "Tip of the Iceberg"". Thegully.com. March 14, 2003. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
4. ^ "2004 Penal Code of Puerto Rico" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
5. ^ "H.B. 1013" (PDF). Oficina de Servicios Legislativos. March 19, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
6. ^ "Puerto Rico gov. allows referendum against gay marriage". USA Today. January 23, 2008. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
7. ^ Good news for gays of Puerto Rico Archived June 3, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ "Puerto Rican Wants Same-Sex Marriages Recognized". ABC News. March 26, 2014. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
9. ^ Lavers, Michael K. (June 25, 2014). "Four same-sex couples join Puerto Rico marriage lawsuit". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
10. ^ Johnson, Chris (October 12, 2014). "Judge upholds Puerto Rico ban on same-sex marriage". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
11. ^ "Expresiones del Gobernador Alejandro García Padilla". Office of the Governor. March 20, 2015. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
12. ^ "Brief of Defendants-Appellees in Puerto Rico marriage case". Scribd.com. First Circuit Court of Appeals. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
13. ^ Thomaston, Scottie (April 14, 2015). "First Circuit: No arguments in Puerto Rico marriage case until Supreme Court decides issue". Equality on Trial. Archived from the original on October 7, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
14. ^ Danica Coto (June 26, 2015). "Puerto Rico amends laws after US ruling on gay marriage". Yahoo News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
15. ^ "Joint Proposal Further Proceedings". Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
16. ^ "Charbornier anuncia radicación de proyecto de ley del nuevo Código Civil". El Nuevo Dia. June 18, 2018. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
17. ^ a b c "Puerto Rico Outlaws Discrimination Based On Gender Or Sexual Orientation". Fox News Latino. May 25, 2013. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
18. ^ "Proyectos legislativos buscan prohibir discrimen en comunidades LGBTT". Microjuris - Puerto Rico. January 29, 2013. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
19. ^ a b "Puerto Rico governor signs bills for gay rights". U.S. News & World Report. May 29, 2013. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
20. ^ "Gay couples may adopt children in Puerto Rico (English translated version)". El Nuevo Dia. July 13, 2015. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
21. ^ "Parejas gay podrían adoptar menores en Puerto Rico (Spanish original version)". El Nuevo Dia. July 13, 2015. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
22. ^ "For the first time, Puerto Rico allows same-sex couple to adopt". LGBTQ Nation. Associated Press. December 10, 2015. Archived from the original on April 11, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
23. ^ "Puerto Rico Supreme Court upholds gay adoption ban". February 20, 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
24. ^ elvocero.com, Redacción. "Gobernador aprueba adopción para parejas homosexuales y no casadas". El Vocero de Puerto Rico. Archived from the original on January 28, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
25. ^ "Cámara de Representantes de Puerto Rico Decimosexta Asamblea Legislativa P C1725 Certificación de Votación". November 11, 2009. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
26. ^ "Tambahkan Peningkatan Bisnis Anda Dengan Pemasaran Facebook" (PDF). www.prparatodos.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
27. ^ "Medida para prohibir discrimen por orientación sexual tiene los votos en el Senado". Primera Hora. March 4, 2013. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
28. ^ Puerto Rico governor vetoes religious freedom bill Archived July 27, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, The Washington Blade, February 7, 2018
29. ^ Lavers, Michael K. (June 12, 2019). "Puerto Rico House of Representatives approves religious freedom bill". The Washington Blade. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
30. ^ Lavers, Michael K. (April 26, 2019). "Puerto Rico activists criticize religious freedom, conversion therapy bills". The Washington Blade. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
31. ^ Lavers, Michael K. (June 13, 2019). "Puerto Rico governor tells lawmakers to withdraw religious freedom, conversion therapy bills". The Washington Blade. Archived from the original on June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
32. ^ Besanvalle, James (June 14, 2019). "Ricky Martin helps get Puerto Rico 'religious freedom' bill axed". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
33. ^ Assunção, Muri (June 13, 2019). "Puerto Rico governor backs down from anti-LGBTQ legislation, hours after Ricky Martin slams bill as 'open door to hatred and discrimination'". Daily News. Archived from the original on June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
34. ^ "H. B. 96" (PDF). Oficina de Servicios Legislativos. March 4, 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
35. ^ "Denuncia del FBI por asesinato de trans en Humacao es el primer caso federal por crimen de odio en Puerto Rico". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). May 5, 2020. Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
36. ^ Andrés Duque (November 27, 2007). "Puerto Rico: In lieu of civil unions, de Castro Font offers "shared residence" measure". Blabbeando.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
37. ^ "Lambda Legal Sues Puerto Rico for Anti-Trans Birth Certificate Policy - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News Archive". Windy City Times. April 6, 2017. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
38. ^ Court orders Puerto Rico to issue accurate birth certificates to transgender residents Archived December 16, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, April 4, 2018
39. ^ US court grants rights to transgender people in Puerto Rico, The Washington Post, April 4, 2018
40. ^ "Puerto Rico Medicaid program now covers transition-related health care". October 15, 2020. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
41. ^ Lavers, Michael K. "Puerto Rico Medicaid Program Now Covers Transition-Related Health Care". southfloridagaynews.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
42. ^ Browning, Bil. "Puerto Rico declares state of emergency over murders of multiple transgender people". LGBTQ Nation. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
43. ^ a b "Unión tripartita en contra de la homofobia" [Tripartite union against homophobia]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). May 20, 2018. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020.
44. ^ "Senado de Puerto Rico aprueba con enmiendas, proyecto sobre el aborto" [Senate of Puerto Rico approves abortion project with amendments]. LA Times (in Spanish). March 7, 2019. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020.
45. ^ "Zoé Laboy lamenta se cuelgue proyectos terapias de conversión y alega ofreció detalles a caucus cameral". La Perla del Sur (in Mexican Spanish). March 19, 2019. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
46. ^ a b Lavers, Michael (March 18, 2019). "Puerto Rico lawmkers block vote on bill to ban conversion therapy for minors". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
47. ^ "Gobernador Rosselló Nevares firma orden ejecutiva que prohíbe terapias de conversión o reparativas | La Fortaleza". www.fortaleza.pr.gov. March 27, 2019. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020.
48. ^ "La medida que prohibiría las terapias de conversión en Puerto Rico es derrotada en la Comisión de Salud Mental del Senado" [The measure that prohibits conversion therapies in Puerto Rico was defeated in the commission of mental health of the Senate]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). May 6, 2021. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
49. ^ "Se cuelga proyecto para prohibir las terapias de conversión | Metro" [Bill to prohibit converison therapies is defeated]. www.metro.pr (in Spanish). May 6, 2021. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
50. ^ Salamán, Adriana De Jesús. "Comisión senatorial derrota medida sobre las terapias conversión" [Senatorial Commission defeats measure on converison therapies]. www.noticel.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
51. ^ "José Luis Dalmau justifica su no voto en proyecto de terapias de conversión | Gobierno | elvocero.com" [José Luis Dalmau justifies his no vote on converison therapy project]. El Vocero (in Spanish). May 7, 2021. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
52. ^ "Registro de Medida "Ley para la prohibición de las terapias de conversión o reparación"" [Registry of measure: "Law to prohibit converison or reparative therapy"]. sutra.oslpr.org (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
53. ^ a b Plautz, Jason (April 2, 2020). "FDA Relaxes Blood Donation Restrictions On Gay And Bisexual Men During Shortage". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
54. ^ "La Fortaleza se ilumina con los colores LGBTT". El Nuevo Día. May 18, 2019. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
55. ^ Serrano, Pedro Julio (September 19, 2012). "Los partidos políticos y las comunidades LGBTT…". Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
56. ^ "Homosexual gana por primera vez unas elecciones en la Isla". Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
57. ^ "Juramentado el primer legislador abiertamente gay en Puerto Rico". Metro Puerto Rico. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
58. ^ "Social Attitudes on Moral Issues in Latin America - Pew Research Center". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. November 13, 2014. Archived from the original on April 11, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
59. ^ "Appendix A: Methodology". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. November 13, 2014. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
60. ^ "Biden reverses Trump ban on transgender people in military". AP NEWS. April 20, 2021. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
61. ^ Military.com (May 10, 2021). "Medical Conditions That Can Keep You from Joining the Military". Military.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
62. ^ Military.com (May 10, 2021). "Medical Conditions That Can Keep You from Joining the Military". Military.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
63. ^ "IVF for lesbian couples and single women in France has difficult birth". January 8, 2022. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* LGBT Puerto Rico Website
* Conde-Vidal v. Garcia-Padilla, U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico, October 21, 2014

* v
* t
* e

LGBT rights in the United States

By entity|

| Federal|

* One, Inc. v. Olesen (1958)
* Executive Order 12968
* Romer v. Evans (1996)
* Executive Order 13087
* Lawrence v. Texas (2003)
* Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
* Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
* Violence Against Women Act
* United States v. Windsor (2013)
* Executive Order 13672
* Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)
* Pavan v. Smith (2016)
* Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (2018)
* Bostock/Harris Funeral Homes/Altitude Express (2020)
* G.G. v. Gloucester County School Board (2020)
* Executive Order 13988
* Respect for Marriage Act
* 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis (2023)

Repealed or
overturned
federal laws|

* Immigration Act of 1917
* Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952
* Executive Order 10450
* Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
* Bowers v. Hardwick (1986)
* DoD Directive 1304.26 ("Don't ask, don't tell")
* Defense of Marriage Act
* Presidential Memorandum of August 25, 2017

States|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Federal district|

* District of Columbia

Tribal nations|

* Navajo Nation
* Indian Country

Unincorporated
territories|

* American Samoa
* Guam
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Puerto Rico
* U.S. Virgin Islands

By type|

* Adoption
* Age of consent
* Conversion therapy bans
* Hate crimes
* Housing discrimination
* Intersex rights
* Military
* Transgender
* Intersex
* Sexual orientation
* Employment discrimination
* by municipality
* State bans on local anti-discrimination laws
* Immigration
* Anti-LGBT curriculum laws
* Florida Parental Rights in Education Act
* Public accommodations
* Religious exemptions
* Same-sex unions
* Civil unions
* Domestic partnerships
* by municipality
* Marriage
* Transgender rights
* voting
* Bathroom bill

Repealed or
overturned|

* U.S. state constitutional amendments banning same-sex unions
* Same-sex marriage law in the United States by state
* Sodomy laws in the United States

Movements|

* LGBT movements in the United States
* LGBT history in the United States
* History of violence against LGBT people in the United States
* 2020s anti-LGBT movement in the United States

Related|

* Congressional Equality Caucus
* Lavender Scare
* Save Our Children
* LGBT people in prison
* Arnold Schwarzenegger and LGBT rights
* LGBT protests against Donald Trump
* Disney and Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act

* LGBT portal
* Category

* v
* t
* e

LGBT rights in the Americas

* United States and Canada
* Latin America and the Caribbean

Regions|

* Latin America
* Hispanic
* North America
* Northern
* Caribbean
* Central America
* South America

Sovereign states|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Canada
* Chile
* Colombia
* Costa Rica
* Cuba
* Dominica
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Grenada
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucia
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Dependencies and
other territories

* Anguilla
* Aruba
* Bermuda
* Bonaire
* British Virgin Islands
* Cayman Islands
* Curaçao
* Falkland Islands
* French Guiana
* Greenland
* Guadeloupe
* Martinique
* Montserrat
* Puerto Rico
* Saba
* Saint Barthélemy
* Saint Martin
* Saint Pierre and Miquelon
* Sint Eustatius
* Sint Maarten
* South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* U.S. Virgin Islands

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template