LGBT rights in Vermont
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The establishment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in the U.S. state of Vermont is a recent occurrence, with most progress having taken place in the late 20th and the early 21st centuries. Vermont was one of 37 U.S. states, along with the District of Columbia, that issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples until the landmark Supreme Court ruling of Obergefell v. Hodges, establishing equal marriage rights for same-sex couples nationwide.
LGBT rights in Vermont | |
---|---|
Status | Legal since 1977 (Legislative repeal) |
Gender identity | Transgender persons allowed to change gender without surgery |
Discrimination protections | Protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity |
Family rights | |
Recognition of relationships | Same-sex marriage since 2009 |
Adoption | Both joint and stepchild adoption |
Moreover, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations is prohibited. In terms of criminal justice, the use of conversion therapy on minors is legally banned since 2016 and since 2021 the common-law "gay and/or trans panic defence" was abolished and repealed.[1] Vermont is often regarded as one of the most LGBT-friendly states in the country.[2] It was the first state to legally recognize same-sex unions, when it established civil unions for same-sex couples in 2000. Same-sex marriage was legalized in 2009, with opinion polls showing large popular support.[3]