Wikipedia

LGBTQ rights in Rio Grande do Norte

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso enjoy many of the same legal protections available to non-LGBTQ people. Homosexuality is legal in the state.

LGBTQ rights in Rio Grande do Norte
Legal statusLegal since 1830,[1] age of consent equalised
Gender identityGender change allowed,[2] official standard for altering legal sex doesn't require surgery since 2018
MilitaryAllowed to serve openly[3]
Discrimination protectionsYes, since 1989 for sexual orientation;[4] since 2019 for gender identity[5]
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsSame-sex marriage since 2012[6]
AdoptionLegal since 2010[7]

Legality of same-sex sexual activity

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Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in Brazil since 1830.[8]

Recognition of same-sex unions

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Same-sex marriage has been legal in Rio Grande do Norte since 2013 via a decision by the National Council of Justice, in compliance with a previous decision of the Supreme Federal Court in 2011.[9]

Adoption and parenting

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Since 2010, same-sex adoption has been officially permitted in the state through a decision by the Supreme Federal Court.[6]

Hate crimes and discrimination law

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The state of Rio Grande do Norte has a law against discrimination against LGBTQ people, namely State Law No. 9.036/2007. This law prohibits and punishes any discriminatory or offensive behaviour directed against homosexual, bisexual or transgender citizens.[10]

In 2019, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity was banned through a decision by the Supreme Federal Court.[5]

Gender identity and expression

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The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil ruled on 1 March 2018, that a transgender person has the right to change their official name and sex without the need of surgery or professional evaluation, just by self-declaration of their psychosocial identity.[11]

As of October 2023, Rio Grande do Norte allows non-binary people judicial gender change.[12][13] The civil registration rectification action was opened during a service mutirão carried out by the institution in Parnamirim. The decision authorizes the rectification of the name on the birth certificate and that it begins to indicate the gender of the person as “non-binary”.[14][15]

On 21 December 2023, the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Norte approved a bill to prohibit transgender people from competing in sports according to their gender identity.[16] In January 2024, the bill was vetoed by Governor Fátima Bezerra.[17]

References

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  1. ↑ "LEI DE 16 DE DEZEMBRO DE 1830". www.planalto.gov.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  2. ↑ "STJ autoriza transexual a mudar nome e sexo na certidão de nascimento". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2025-08-16. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
  3. ↑ "Final feliz na caserna". blogdofavre.ig.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
  4. ↑ "CONSTITUIÇÃO DO ESTADO DE SERGIPE" (PDF). al.se.gov.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-26. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  5. 1 2 "Brazil Supreme Court rules homophobia a crime". Reuters. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Casal homoafetivo pode adotar?". Jusbrasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2024-05-04. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  7. ↑ "Casal homoafetivo pode adotar?". Jusbrasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2024-05-04. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  8. ↑ "Brazil - BRAZZIL - Gays in the early 1900s in Brazil - Homosexualism in Brazil - March 2000". www.brazzil.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  9. ↑ D'Agostino, Rosanne (May 14, 2013). "Entenda o casamento gay em cartório" [Understand gay marriage in the registry office]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). São Paulo. Archived from the original on August 3, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  10. ↑ LEI Nº 9.036, 29 DE NOVEMBRO DE 2007. (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-02-24, retrieved 2026-06-10 Retrieved 10 June 2026
  11. ↑ "Dia da Visibilidade Trans: decisões do STF garantem direitos de travestis e transexuais". Supreme Federal Court (in Brazilian Portuguese). January 29, 2025. Archived from the original on 25 July 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  12. ↑ "Justiça do RN determina que pessoa seja registrada como não binária". Revista Oeste (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-10-06.
  13. ↑ ""Como um peixe fora d'água": Narrativa de um estudante trans não-binário no curso de Licenciatura em Música na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte" (PDF). Associação Brasileira de Educação Musical.
  14. ↑ "DPERN | Defensoria Pública do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte". www.defensoria.rn.def.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2026-01-19. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  15. ↑ "Filme potiguar sobre não binariedade estreia em Natal". Sergio Vilar (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-07-01.
  16. ↑ "Projeto de lei aprovado no RN impede participação de mulheres trans na categoria feminina em competições esportivas". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 December 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  17. ↑ Freire Feitosa, Diógenes (19 January 2024). "Governadora do RN veta PL que proíbe homens em competição feminina". Gazeta do Povo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
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