Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in the Brazilian state of Maranhão enjoy many of the same legal protections available to non-LGBTQ people. In 2023, the governor of Maranhão, Carlos Brandão (PSB) vetoed 3 anti-LGBTQ bills,[7] but one of his vetoes was overrode by the state Legislative Assembly.[8] According to data from 2015 to 2025 from the Nexus agency, Maranhão has approved both bills in favor of and against transgender rights.[9]
LGBTQ rights in Maranhão | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Legal status | Legal since 1830,[1] age of consent equalised |
| Gender identity | Gender change allowed,[2] official standard for altering legal sex doesn't require surgery since 2018 |
| Military | Allowed to serve openly[3] |
| Discrimination protections | Yes, since 2019 |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | Same-sex marriage since 2013[4][5] |
| Adoption | Legal since 2010[6] |
Legality of same-sex sexual activity
editIn 1830, Brazilian Emperor Pedro I sanctioned the Imperial Penal Code, removing all references to sodomy from Brazilian law.[10]
Recognition of same-sex unions
editSame-sex marriage has been legal in Maranhão since 2013 via a decision by the National Council of Justice, in compliance with a previous decision of the Supreme Federal Court in 2011.[11]
Discrimination protections
editOn 31 June 2006, the governor of Maranhão, José Reinaldo, signed Law No. 8444, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.[12]
On 13 June 2019, the Supreme Federal Court ruled that discrimination on the basis of gender identity is a crime akin to racism.[13]
On 28 September 2022, Governor Carlos Brandão signed Law No. 11,827, which establishes the mandatory installation of signs regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender in establishments in the state.[14] The law was criticized on social media, with claims that it would mandate the installation of unisex bathrooms, but the governor denied this.[14][15] On December 21, the Legislative Assembly approved a bill to repeal the law,[16][17] which sparked protests from LGBTQ rights organizations, who urged the governor to veto the bill.[18][19] In January 2023, the governor vetoed the bill.[7]
Gender identity and expression
editIn March 2018, the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court unanimously ruled that transgender people may change their legal gender without undergoing surgery or hormonal therapy, which were previously requirements. A transgender individual seeking to change their gender to reflect their gender identity can now simply apply to do so at a registry post in the country, without the need of a judicial document or any medical report.[20]
On 21 December 2022, the Legislative Assembly of Maranhão approved a bill to prohibit the installation of unisex restrooms in the state.[21] Governor Carlos Brandão vetoed the bill in 2023.[7]
References
edit- ↑ "LEI DE 16 DE DEZEMBRO DE 1830". planalto.gov.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ↑ Abreu, Diego (October 15, 2009). "STJ autoriza transexual a mudar nome e sexo na certidão de nascimento". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ↑ do Amaral Jorge, Marcos (June 25, 2025). "Presença de grupos LGBT no exército brasileiro ainda enfrenta resistências, sugere pesquisa". Jornal da Unesp (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved May 8, 2026.
Ele ressalta que a proibição a qualquer tipo de discriminação, tal como assegurada pela Constituição Federal, implica que, de um ponto de vista prático e normativo, não haja qualquer veto à presença de pessoas gays, lésbicas ou bissexuais nas forças armadas.
[He emphasizes that the prohibition of any type of discrimination, as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution, implies that, from a practical and normative point of view, there is no veto on the presence of gay, lesbian, or bisexual people in the armed forces.] - ↑ "CNJ determina que cartórios terão de reconhecer união de pessoas do mesmo sexo". Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ↑ Brocchetto, Marilia (2013-05-15). "Brazilian judicial council orders notaries to recognize same-sex marriage". CNN. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
- ↑ Matsuura, Lilian (2006-04-05). "Justiça gaúcha autoriza adoção por casal homossexual". Consultor Jurídico. Retrieved 2025-10-10.
- 1 2 3 "Projetos que não garantiam direitos da população LGBTQIA+ são vetados no Maranhão". g1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 January 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ "Assembleia Legislativa derruba veto do governo a projeto de Lei que proíbe o uso da linguagem neutra no Maranhão". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). August 9, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
- ↑ Bernardes, Alícia (24 June 2025). "Debate sobre direitos trans se intensifica nas assembleias legislativas". Correio Braziliense (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ "Brazil - BRAZZIL - Gays in the early 1900s in Brazil - Homosexualism in Brazil - March 2000". www.brazzil.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ D'Agostino, Rosanne (14 May 2013). "Entenda o casamento gay em cartório". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ "LEI Nº 8.444 DE 31 DE JULHO DE 2006". stc.ma.gov.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ "Brazil's Supreme Court Votes to Make Homophobia a Crime". The New York Times. May 23, 2019. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- 1 2 "Governo do Maranhão sanciona lei que obriga estabelecimentos públicos e privados a colocarem placas contra LGBTfobia". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 7 October 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ Corrêa, Gabriel (5 October 2022). "Comércio e órgãos públicos terão placas contra homofobia no Maranhão". Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ "Assembleia aprova, em 1º turno, derrubada de lei que obrigava estabelecimentos a colocar placas contra LGBTfobia no MA". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 21 December 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ Corrêa, Gabriel (6 January 2023). "Projeto que desobriga avisos anti-LGBTfobia é alvo de críticas no MA". Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ "Campanha no Maranhão cobra veto a lei que revogou medida anti-homofobia". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ Nascimento, Luciano (6 January 2023). "Campanha quer veto à lei que revoga medida anti-homofobia no Maranhão". Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ Alface, Felipe (3 March 2018). "Brazil transgender groups welcome landmark court rulings". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ "Assembleia Legislativa aprova projeto de lei que proíbe a instalação de banheiros multigêneros no MA". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 22 December 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2026.